Blackout At LPS

[jackbrissenden 0]

Well about 6:30pm today LPS had a full park blackout. It was interesting to know that half the ride ops didnt know what to do in a black out. The only ride that had a generator attached to it was the ferris wheel. It took about 10 mins to get the generator going as it hasn't been used in the 5 years since the parks reopening. Most of the rides had manual releases for the restraints except for the Ranger. This has its own generator but the ride ops either didn't know how to start it or it wasn't working... Anyway that's my rap up.....

[Nebuchanezzar 0]

lol i wasn't there don't blame me they should have just e-stopped and got everyone off the ride i reckon, and that's what they did, right?

[jackbrissenden 0]

Is a e-stop possible without power ? I dont think it is. Most of the people were able to get off rides except for ranger and ferris wheel (until generator kicked in)

[Gold Coaster 0]

What kind of height and position was the Ranger in? Were people upside-down?

[AlexB 5,466]

I'm not familiar with the mechanics of the ranger, but logic would suggest to me (along with a thinking of always wanting things to fail 'safe') that no matter what position ranger was in when the power was cut, it would always return to ground...?

[Gold Coaster 0]

That's what I'd imagine to happen but then, the ride op puts you in "suspended animation" during the ride... so I'm wondering if that was the position when the blackout happened... *shrug* I admit to not knowing that much about carnie ride mechanics.

[jackbrissenden 0]

yes, ranger was in the loading dock, but because there was no power, the lap bars wouldnt release. Whereas with the Power Surge that is currently there, all seats have backup power which can be used to do a manual release

[AlexB 5,466]

Tony, I think the best answer is that many have tried, and failed, to prove Sir Isaac Newton wrong, but what goes up, must come down. Simply by having people in the gondola is enough to prevent a perfect balance. (Although Bussy could share some stories about bounty that are pretty cool)

[T-Rex 0]

Whoa! A blackout in LPS?!? Bet many of the riders got freaked out. Good thing the rides still keep them inside, especially the Ranger and Flying Saucer since they're caged. At least I wasn't there when it happened.

[Nebuchanezzar 0]

Is a e-stop possible without power ? I dont think it is. Most of the people were able to get off rides except for ranger and ferris wheel (until generator kicked in)

it'd be useless at the time but i imagine its policy to prevent some kind of whacky re-start or something

Tony, I think the best answer is that many have tried, and failed, to prove Sir Isaac Newton wrong, but what goes up, must come down. Simply by having people in the gondola is enough to prevent a perfect balance. (Although Bussy could share some stories about bounty that are pretty cool)

please share

[Lotl_90 0]

it'd be useless at the time but i imagine its policy to prevent some kind of whacky re-start or something

I think it's a pretty standard procedure across the board, especially if the ride was mid cycle. I sure as hell wouldn't be attempting to unload guests in that situation unless the e-stop was in. Nobody likes a freak accident.