RCCGB FORUM Message Board for Members of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain to discuss club events and all things theme park related.    FAQ   Search   Memberlist   Usergroups   Join! (free) >   Profile   Log in to check your private messages   Log in  Big fire at Alton Towers          RCCGB FORUM Forum Index -> UK Park News View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message Rob.Lloyd Kiddie Poster Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Staffordshire Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:53 pm    Post subject: Big fire at Alton Towers Just seen on the news that there is a big fire at AT. The Sky ride station in Forbidden Valley has been on fire since 7:30pm Anyone got any more news on this ? Back to top Auntie Murial Moderator Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 505 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:07 pm    Post subject: http://www.towersalmanac.com/index.php?show_story=329 Have just found this report on the incident, thanks to Alton Towers Almanac for the information. _________________ Auntie Murial - Ianto James Gulliver Plus 9 Travelling Coasters including Eurostar and Olympia Looping ! Rccgb Membership number 2089 Back to top Magic Site Admin Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 390 Location: Hampshire Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:11 pm    Post subject: Imagine being on the Skyride heading towards the station and seeing it on fire. Good job it had already closed. Anyone know how they evac the monorail when there is a power cut. _________________ Marcus RCCGB Membership Number 1915 www.coastertouring.com Roller Coaster videos and much more. Latest addition: 17/10/07 Oktoberfest 2007 NEW VIDEO JULY 2008 Waldameer video added to You Tube channel, http://www.youtube.com/MagicProductionsVids Back to top Auntie Murial Moderator Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 505 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:38 pm    Post subject: I am guessing that depending on where the monorail has stopped they either use ladders or cherry pickers to get the passengers off the trains, or if they dont have too much buget cuts they would have back up batteries installed in the vehicles to get them to the stations so the passengers can disembark safely. _________________ Auntie Murial - Ianto James Gulliver Plus 9 Travelling Coasters including Eurostar and Olympia Looping ! Rccgb Membership number 2089 Back to top Auntie Murial Moderator Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 505 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:05 am    Post subject: According to Sky news the skride will be closed for the remainder of the season! The park will open today from 10am, however the Forbidden Valley area might open later than usual to allow the area to be checked for health and safety reasons. Even though i am not a huge lover of the park in the recent years, due to me feeling it's lost alot of it's magic, i wish them the best of luck with getting the sittuation resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible. It is horrible for a business when this sort of incident happens, i hope they get to the root of the cause. _________________ Auntie Murial - Ianto James Gulliver Plus 9 Travelling Coasters including Eurostar and Olympia Looping ! Rccgb Membership number 2089 Back to top Nimmykins Site Admin Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 558 Location: Brighton Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 2:04 pm    Post subject: I was quite shocked to hear about the fire this morning. I hope it can be put back together soon. _________________ Sarah RCCGB member - 2132 Plus four travelling coasters including Olympia Looping and Eurostar. Back to top Bunnie Moderator Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1208 Location: Shrewsbury Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:28 pm    Post subject: BBC News website have reported that the fire was started by a halogen lamp. The fire destroyed part of the Sky Ride Stations roof. Awful news but at least no one got injured. _________________ Rachel RCCGB Membership Number 2210a Back to top stealth fan Hyper Poster Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 276 Location: Fareham, Hampshire Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:04 pm    Post subject: I first heard about it at 7.00am this morning on Radio 1. Could'nt believe it at first. Hope it gets sorted soon. _________________ Don't look at me, I'm just Human http://uk.youtube.com/user/andyknight1 Back to top Rob.Lloyd Kiddie Poster Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 7 Location: Staffordshire Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:58 pm    Post subject: Do you think this may be the last of the Sky Ride? It must be about 20 years old and so will Alton fix it or just scrap it ? Back to top bradpeet Junior Poster Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 84 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:08 pm    Post subject: The same thought crossed my mind. I was actually quite surprised to see it running at loopathon - although it did break down when I thought about going on it!!! (They got it going again and I did ride it that day.) Back to top stealth fan Hyper Poster Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 276 Location: Fareham, Hampshire Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:24 pm    Post subject: I reckon they will fix it, as it's only one of the stations. It depends if any of the mechanical bits got damaged, and how much. It does save the long walk across the park though, which is more imortant for the more elderly or disabled guests. _________________ Don't look at me, I'm just Human http://uk.youtube.com/user/andyknight1 Back to top smiler Mega Poster Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 370 Location: Cheltenham Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:08 pm    Post subject: I imaging that they will fix it to but will take more then a season to do as they most probs have to check the cable of it as it may have melted or anything. They may decide to put new cars on etc who knows. The monarail has a fixed walk way between the 2 tracks where the trains run side by side they must of stoped just after the storage shead of the monarails then there wouldnt of been a problem getting them down as the walkway runs right the way to the car park. Very bad news for them tho hope it gets sorted soon. _________________ Naked roller coaster world record holder 2004 Biggest ghost hunter record holder 2006 Photos updated (26/08/0 Zorbing, Thorpe park Flicr photos update (26/08/0 Video update (11/08/0 Back to top Big Stevie B Strata Poster Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1158 Location: Greenwich, London Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:16 pm    Post subject: It`s really weird that just one day over a week ago we were having great fun on that ride. Waving at all the other cars and acting all silly. Plus how weird we were all discussing how they would evacuate us if we stopped over the Vally. Maybe we jinxed it? Hope the ride will be prepared. _________________ www.freewebs.com/big-Stevie-b/ MICHAEL JACKSON! THE LEGEND WILL CONTINUE! Photo Site www.flickr.com/photos/stevie-b/collections/ RCCGB No. 2293 Back to top Auntie Murial Moderator Joined: 25 Sep 2007 Posts: 505 Location: Reading, Berkshire Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:19 am    Post subject: smiler wrote: I imaging that they will fix it to but will take more then a season to do as they most probs have to check the cable of it as it may have melted or anything. They may decide to put new cars on etc who knows. The monarail has a fixed walk way between the 2 tracks where the trains run side by side they must of stoped just after the storage shead of the monarails then there wouldnt of been a problem getting them down as the walkway runs right the way to the car park. Very bad news for them tho hope it gets sorted soon. So what happens when the track splits down by the car park station? i dont recall seeing any walkway on that part of the ride? Me and Trax was discussing the ride just after all this happened and i rang him to let him know the news. We were saying how the ride has been neglected in appearance other the last few years, the supports are not painted anymore, the gondolas are in a dreadful appearance too, and the sound system is poor. The only thing that looked any good was the stations, and now one of those has sadly been demaged. I really do hope that they give the ride a complete makeover and not just remove it from the park.[/b] _________________ Auntie Murial - Ianto James Gulliver Plus 9 Travelling Coasters including Eurostar and Olympia Looping ! Rccgb Membership number 2089 Back to top hazzzzeeee Junior Hyper Poster Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 195 Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:31 am    Post subject: I was also surprised at this yesterday. When me and Steve went on our behind the scenes tour in September they said they had planned to take down the cables and check it all/replace, and also overhaul all of the gondalas. So maybe it is not as bad it could be, it gives them a head start to start work straight away. I would be very surprised if they did get rid of it, like everyone else has said it does save the big walk!, Or they they have other plans to get from Ug land to forbidden valley? _________________ Hayley RCCGB Number - 2355A Back to top bluea61 Moderator Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 571 Location: Portsmouth, Hants Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:29 pm    Post subject: On the behind the scenes tour they said evacuation is the last resort. They will try everything to get the ride running, if this is not possible then they will do an evac. Basically they climb up the nearest support, shimmy along the cable and climb onto the car. They then open the doors and drop into the car with climbing gear. Hook a line to the car and then lower people into the valley. Fancy that as next years ERS??? _________________ Steve RCCGB - 2355 Back to top Magic Site Admin Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 390 Location: Hampshire Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:59 pm    Post subject: When I worked at Alton Towers I signed up to the Skyride Evac team but never had to evac anyone for real. _________________ Marcus RCCGB Membership Number 1915 www.coastertouring.com Roller Coaster videos and much more. Latest addition: 17/10/07 Oktoberfest 2007 NEW VIDEO JULY 2008 Waldameer video added to You Tube channel, http://www.youtube.com/MagicProductionsVids Back to top coaster-andy Junior Hyper Poster Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 192 Location: Crick ,Northants Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:16 pm    Post subject: It is shocking to a park to have a fire, the one advantage it was contained to a small part of ride. As for the sky ride and closing it. Well I am getting use to the ride being closed and having to walk around the areas for each ride that I need to ride. This ride is past its sell by date but with out it this would be a big blow to Alton as so many this day in age are not going to walk. I have ridden the rid when the door didn't close and went around with door open a little. Saying scrap it is like Amanda saying after fire after Blackpool saying o well small fire on the Nash can be repaired o well lets scrap it. It will not happen. _________________ El Toro My 200th coaster and first USA coaster (Also member of roll back club on TTD 2) RCCGB Member NO 1960 Back to top smiler Mega Poster Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 370 Location: Cheltenham Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:12 pm    Post subject: Good job the ride was shut at the time the eveac was on the monarial which coursed a power cut in that area. _________________ Naked roller coaster world record holder 2004 Biggest ghost hunter record holder 2006 Photos updated (26/08/0 Zorbing, Thorpe park Flicr photos update (26/08/0 Video update (11/08/0 Back to top coastergraham Strata Poster Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 439 Location: Bolton Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:28 pm    Post subject: I am not sure that they will bother to repair it TBH It is an old ride with old technology that costs the park a lot of money to run. Also a lot of the gondolas are looking shabby and quite a few of them are in a graveyard by the side of the towers street station with no hope of them running again. Plus this year when I have been it has either not run or it has broke down _________________ Back to top smiler Mega Poster Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 370 Location: Cheltenham Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:44 pm    Post subject: No its not happend again but just to say that the Cable cars have now reopened. Big test were carried out and the ride opend this morning so some good new no more walking.   _________________ Naked roller coaster world record holder 2004 Biggest ghost hunter record holder 2006 Photos updated (26/08/0 Zorbing, Thorpe park Flicr photos update (26/08/0 Video update (11/08/0 Back to top Death Banned Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 871 Location: Farnborough, UK Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 12:18 am    Post subject: Hail All! Glad to hear that the Skyride's back up and running again! To be honest, I find that I can often walk faster than the Skyride goes (The Skyride does 4m/s, and I manage about 6-8m/s or so at full-stride) but it's much more comfortable than walking...Especially in typical British "Summer" weather! Auntie Murial wrote: So what happens when the track splits down by the car park station?  i dont recall seeing any walkway on that part of the ride? I have a feeling that Smiler was mainly referring to the section of Monorail that runs above Nemesis. The walkway itself was probabally installed there back in 1994 as a safety precaution, as trying to reach the trains with ladders and/or cherry pickers would be near impossible with various bits of Nemesis getting in the way all the time! AFAIK; The walkway runs between the rails from near the Monorail maintenance depot at the North-Western corner of FV (Where exit steps and a path are provided) up to just the other side of Air's decent, where it simply ends in a sheer drop. I don't think it continues up as far as the eastern loop station, to be honest. I think the Monorail trains might have a direct drive or similar motor system in them, so in the event of a "dead" train needing to be moved to a station for evacuation purposes, they've probabally got a Diesel powered shunter knocking around the depot somewhere that would be used for such tasks. To be honest though...Those trains are so amazingly light that two strong men could probabally push them along the flat without too much effort... Farewell... >> Death << Back to top David Ellis Kiddie Poster Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 38 Location: Lowestoft, England Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:07 am    Post subject: Death wrote: Hail All! Glad to hear that the Skyride's back up and running again! To be honest, I find that I can often walk faster than the Skyride goes (The Skyride does 4m/s, and I manage about 6-8m/s or so at full-stride) but it's much more comfortable than walking Colin, I think you must be getting your numbers muddled...6 to 8 metres per second is around 14 to 18 miles an hour...that's faster than Roger Bannister ran a mile! I am a fast walker myself (around 5 mph) but that is only 2.2 m/s David. _________________ World Record Holder Naked Coaster Rider Back to top frosty Junior Hyper Poster Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 169 Location: London Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reading Colin's post I thought he must be fitted with some 'Stealth' go-fast technology. _________________ Steve Member of 'non rollback' Stratacoaster club 06/08 Back to top Death Banned Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 871 Location: Farnborough, UK Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 12:09 pm    Post subject: Hail again! David Ellis wrote: Colin, I think you must be getting your numbers muddled...6 to 8 metres per second is around 14 to 18 miles an hour...that's faster than Roger Bannister ran a mile! I am a fast walker myself (around 5 mph) but that is only 2.2 m/s David. Aye...Looking at it again (I was fairly tired and sleepy when I made my original post. ) I now remember that I can normally match the Skyride for speed (After all, 4m/s = 7mph, and I normally average between 6-9mph. ) but often when trying to race the thing on the ground, I keep getting tangled up in the roots on the south edge of Gloomy Wood! Thinking about that for a second, I think the main reason I could've messed up my reckoning might've been because; The last time I paced myself against the Skyride, it might've only been running at about 2m/s, and I was probabally thinking that it was running at full speed at the time. frosty wrote: Reading Colin's post I thought he must be fitted with some 'Stealth' go-fast technology. Well...According to all the press and coaster sites, Stealth has the fastest lunch of any rollercoaster to date... Mind ye, every time I've ridden Stealth - And that's a fair few times - I've hunted around for the buffet car very thoroughly every time, and have still never been able to find it! Farewell... >> Death << Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         RCCGB FORUM Forum Index -> UK Park News All times are GMT Page 1 of 1   Jump to: Select a forum RCCGB News and Information----------------Welcome to the RCCGB members' message boardRCCGB NewsMessage Board NewsMerchandiseAIRtime MagazineNew Members RCCGB Trips----------------UK TripsUSA TripsEurope TripsClub Trip Reports Theme Park News and Rumours----------------UK Park NewsWorldwide Park NewsFun Fair and Travelling Ride NewsPark and Ride pollsTelevision and Radio AlertsTheme Park Discounts Members' Trips----------------Trip PlanningTrip Reports Off Topic----------------Anything GoesMembers AnnouncementsFun and GamesPolls for whateverJokesWeblinksGeneral Freebies and Special Offers  You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum Card File  Gallery  Forum Archive Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group