Sounds like the lift exit photocell was blocked with something - probably a spiders web (which got wet in the rain) - at one end. As the computer system could not confirm the track was clear, the control system did exactly what it should have done and stopped the train.
The exact same has happened on other rides in parks all over the World. I have seen Nemesis stopped for the same reason too - although on the brake-run. Photocell had a spiders web in it and fine-mist rain clinging to the web made the light beam break.
There is nothing the parks maintenance team can do about spiders or rain. Even if they clean the photocells daily, it does not take long for a spider and a bit of rain to come along. As above, the control system detects something wrong and shuts the ride down.
Ride Downtime
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Sawboss
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- Location: Devon
Today someone at work asked where we were going away too on my week off next week, told them we were going caving and she said 'Glad you didn't say you were off to Alton Towers again, they've had another fiasco!'. She even said about the ride full of people being stuck upside down, I pretty quickly explained it was bad reporting. So yes, it definitely affects peoples opinions.
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Burniel
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- Location: Dragon's Fury's SRQ
The park dealt with the breakdown very well. If you've ever actually got stuck on Air or Glactica, you'll know that the experience is far from traumatising. I was on the front row of a train early on opening morning 2014 when it stopped at the top of the lift hill for around 10-15 minutes and it didn't affect me at all (in fact, I rode Air five times that day). The restraints are comfortable and you get great views of Nemesis :P. Staff kept the riders up-to-date and reassured those who were scared; there's no way any sensible person would be screaming for help. According to the BBC article, riders were offered free entry tickets, which is more than generous (I was given a free fastrack which wasn't necessary as the queue never went past the merge point, feeling a bit ripped off now :P).
To suggest that any upset felt by any rider on that train was the fault of Alton Towers Resort is ridiculous.
To suggest that any upset felt by any rider on that train was the fault of Alton Towers Resort is ridiculous.
Burniel | Great at theme park knowledge, not so great at designing signatures.
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ChainedOak
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I have noticed that friends of mine, all occasional visitors, are getting irritated by all of the bad reporting and scaremongering by the news outlets about Alton Towers recently. I don't know if this is truly indicative of the feeling of the general public but I would hope that people are getting wary of the dodgy reporting and rumour spreading.
In other news, what I really want to know is what happens to the VR when it halts on the lift
In other news, what I really want to know is what happens to the VR when it halts on the lift
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Coaster123
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On park today & The Smiler is closed. Apparently it's an all-dayer.
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owenrita121
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- Location: Wirral
Apparently it's a problem with the app and is open.MakoMania wrote:Closed today as well.Coaster123 wrote:On park today & The Smiler is closed. Apparently it's an all-dayer.
RITA
Nothing will stop her speed.
Nothing will stop her speed.
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MakoMania
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Just look at Alton's twitter. It is definitley NOT openowenrita121 wrote:Apparently it's a problem with the app and is open.MakoMania wrote:Closed today as well.Coaster123 wrote:On park today & The Smiler is closed. Apparently it's an all-dayer.
SeaWorld has rescued over 35,000 animals in need![/i]
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owenrita121
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I can assure you it DEFINITELY is open!MakoMania wrote:Just look at Alton's twitter. It is definitley NOT open
RITA
Nothing will stop her speed.
Nothing will stop her speed.
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Dan
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It may have been a temporary glitch in the system as RideTimes is currently showing The Smiler as open with a 0 minute queue.MakoMania wrote:My bad then!
The Smiler has been removed from ridetimes.co.uk and Alton's twitter team said it's closed.
But the picture shows it open.
Confusing.......
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ROYJESS
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- Location: Norfolk
Sounds like fun for those on board :lolDan wrote:I have heard from numerous people that the switch-track after the backwards section failed and sent the train forwards into the tunnel.
This may explain the lengthy downtime if they are awaiting a fix on the mechanism.