Expedition Ge-Force incident 28.04.10

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Dylan
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I've just been reading on Screamscape and TPR about an incident on Expedition Ge-Force where the train stalled at a height of about 20 meters above the ground.
The photo's seem to show that the fourth car of the train seems to have derailed from the track, which sounds VERY dodgy.
Link below to the TPR thread and photo's. They don't show anything very clearly, but imagine what could have happened if the train was running at a higher speed.

[url=http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/vi ... =2&t=55050" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;]http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/vi ... =2&t=55050[/url]
Craig

Bloody hell! I'm reserving proper judgement until we see some clearer pics and info but that doesn't look good at all. At least everyone is ok, but yet another incident involving Intamin really isn't good, whether it's down to the park or the manufacturer.

Won't stop me going on in October providing it's open though!
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Michaél
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That looks like it is potentially really bad. :| The last thing I would expect on a modern roller coaster, made a by an acclaimed manufacturer, to de-rail like that. :o

I hope it isn't as bad as that picture suggests and no one was seriously hurt.
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Sam
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Oh my god, this is absolutely shocking news.

One of the world's top rollercoasters and this has happened. This is truly bizarre. I have no idea how this could have happened.

I remember in 2007 a VERY similar looking derailment happened on Fujin Raijin II at Expoland which killed a girl. Mainly because it was a stand up and when it titled to the side her head hit the side rails.

Fujin Raijin II:

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EGF:

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AstroDan

Pretty shocking news. How on earth would that happen?

It's already had loads of downtime in the past 12 months! If it isn't re-open by October, meet my extra day at EP!

:)
Sazzle

Wow. Those photos make for grim viewing :(. I've just read the entire TPR thread (having never done so, I find some of the contributors very arrogant.. no names mentioned), and it would appear as though nothing has been confirmed as to what failed - speculation only. I would imagine, given the nature of this incident, that we will never get a straight answer.

The park's press release says 'emergency brakes were applied'. On a 20m camelback incline? Right.. Am I missing something? I rode in 2007, and I don't recall any rollbacks/trims on the track at the point where this occurred. Someone suggested emergency brakes on the train? I have no evidence to completely dismiss this claim, but common sense says that's horse doodoo - brakes on a train are surely impractical considering if they malfunctioned (for example on the drop - this IS Intamin!) they could cause more severe damage than this.

One thing that really irritated me on that *LOVELY* TPR thread was the 'praise' for the 'safety features' working 'exactly as they should'. It is my opinion that the only 'safety features' I can see are the very wheels which are designed to hold the train on the track, yes? How the HELL is that a safety feature? That's basic roller coaster design! [/rant]

Intamin are sure getting themselves a bad name of late, even where they're not directly responsible :(.
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Dylan
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I think had this been the first or last car of the train it may have been much worse, which is quite frightening.
Strangely on Wednesday night I was discussing coasters with a friend who said 'I'm really scared of them, I don't feel safe, Final Destination 3 etc etc', where I pointed out that the likelihood of a car separating from the track is pretty much impossible due the wheel configurations etc. Then I saw this report the following morning.
Yes, thankfully nobody was hurt but this is a pretty serious issue. Will be interested to see how it develops and if we do in fact find out wether it was a park maintenance issue or not.

I have never heard of emergency brakes on a train either? And would the operator be able to control these when the train is mid circuit anyway?
CF1

this Park have no good Maintenance, and we all know that this was only a thing by time.
I hope that they no sold the Park, because with this management they have no future.
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CGM
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Just heard about this and it's pretty shocking. It's unbelievably lucky that this accident occured where it did, at the top of a hill in the middle of the train. Had it been a different section of track such as the drop or an overbank or the clearances had not been wide enough or had it been the front or rear cars that went, it could have been so much worse.

I just can't understand how something like this is possible on a modern coaster, it's not even a case of a single wheel coming off, the entire axle is missing! It's yet another blot in the safety book for Intamin and with their record as it stands, parks must be beggining to question their safety credentials. I personally have had my doubts about them for a while. People keep defending Intamin and saying that the parks' maintainance is casting a bad light on their products but the same parks have B&Ms and Vekomas and the number of incidents we hear about their coasters is miniscule in comparison.

Intamin really need to sort things out. This sort of incident should mean that all simular cars on other coasters will have to be looked at or modified as a precaution
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Adz
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Hopefully they'll fix whatever the problem is with the current trains. If the ride were to get completely new trains it would no doubt end up with Stealth/Rita style horrible restraints. That along with the trims would kill the ride off completely...
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Craig

[quote=""Adz""]Hopefully they'll fix whatever the problem is with the current trains. If the ride were to get completely new trains it would no doubt end up with Stealth/Rita style horrible restraints. That along with the trims would kill the ride off completely...[/quote]

Eek it never even crossed my mind that that could happen. Thinking back to our visit during Tipi Trouble 1 (ahh memories!) the trains never looked fantastic, quite bedraggled really I thought. Just hope something is sorted by October!
CF1

I hope also that the egf runs in Oktober on the Meeting.
But when not, we have another good ride. HoPa get the Mouse from Loudon Castle... lol NO JOKE
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Pedro
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Some news from Hassloch, I'll try to explain it in english.

The TÜV is still working on EGF after that incident, it may need a few more weeks.
The coaster remains closed at the moment, park entrance is temporary lowered to 22.50€ (children price).

The german website morgenweb.de gives a bit more information here (In german)
It says EGF is going to be closed for 4 more weeks. They are searching to find if the incident is due to a maintenance problem.

In fact the coaster will certainly be reopened in august, so there's no need to worry for the october trip.
Craig

Thanks for the info Pedro. Roll on October :)
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popTART
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[quote=""Pedro""]Some news from Hassloch, I'll try to explain it in english.

The TÜV is still working on EGF after that incident, it may need a few more weeks.
The coaster remains closed at the moment, park entrance is temporary lowered to 22.50€ (children price).

The german website morgenweb.de gives a bit more information here (In german)
It says EGF is going to be closed for 4 more weeks. They are searching to find if the incident is due to a maintenance problem.

In fact the coaster will certainly be reopened in august, so there's no need to worry for the october trip.[/quote]

Thanks for that too mate that is good news fingers crossed
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Pedro
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[quote=""morgenweb.de""]Hassloch. Die nach einem Notstopp in 20 Meter Höhe stillgelegte Achterbahn "Expedition GeForce" im Haßlocher Holiday Park geht heute wieder in Betrieb. Feuerwehr und Angestellte des Parks mussten Ende April 26 Fahrgäste mit Drehleitern aus der stehengebliebenen Bahn befreien.[/quote]


EGF Reopened Today!


But there's no informations about the investigation. Apparently they don't want to explains the reason of the incident!
Bad maintenance?...

Here is the link for the entire article (in German of course), that remind us another problem happened in october 2009
Alex

Article from website above translated into English, with some grammer issues ;]
Hassloch. The went to an emergency stop in 20 meters height abandoned roller coaster "Expedition GeForce" in Hassloch Holiday Park today again. Firefighters and employees of the park had to end April 26 passengers free with ladders from the left standing train.

Eight passengers had complained of nausea and bruises after that - another later claimed to have suffered a whiplash injury. As a result, the park announced a preliminary investigation shortly after the break-down, one of the seven-car train jumped off the track so the train came to a halt.

In October 2009, the GeForce had seen once before because of an emergency stop for headlines. At that time the rope had snapped at the haul up the track. sin
AstroDan

Glad to see this has opened now. Looking forward to ERT and riding in October!

:D
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