I've been seeing tweets and saw a few post on facebook about a bolt falling off of the Smiler. I can't seem to find an official story yet.

Edit:: Should say off not of. Darn keyboard!

Gosh. Whats happening to the Amusment Park World?!?!

Sometimes when it rains, it pours.

This is normal. If you have been on a Flight of Fear tour you will see bolts from the ride all over the floor. Same as Diamondback.

^That doesn't necessarily mean it's acceptable though. I would hope that if a bolt in fact falls off of a ride, the maintenance team replaces it upon discovery. Especially considering the significant gap that is showing in that picture of the Smiler track. That probably wouldn't feel good while riding.

http://old.towerstimes.co.uk/news/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1374415179&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1,10,11&

I found this article on the Alton Tower enthusiast website. I have no idea just how trustworthy said site is but the article is interesting anyways.

^That doesn't necessarily mean it's acceptable though. I would hope that if a bolt in fact falls off of a ride, the maintenance team replaces it upon discovery. Especially considering the significant gap that is showing in that picture of the Smiler track. That probably wouldn't feel good while riding.

Then you should stop riding coasters then.

In 09, Diamondback had a wheel come off during one cycle. these are machines, S**t happens.

^That doesn't necessarily mean it's acceptable though. I would hope that if a bolt in fact falls off of a ride, the maintenance team replaces it upon discovery. Especially considering the significant gap that is showing in that picture of the Smiler track. That probably wouldn't feel good while riding.

Then you should stop riding coasters then.

In 09, Diamondback had a wheel come off during one cycle. these are machines, S**t happens.

Im sorry, how is parts fallign off of a ride acceptable? I wont stop riding coasters, but if I found out that park workers ignored bolts falling off then yes, yes I would stop spending money in that park.

Rides break down (bolts can come loose), but its the park's responsibility to put things back together...

^That doesn't necessarily mean it's acceptable though. I would hope that if a bolt in fact falls off of a ride, the maintenance team replaces it upon discovery. Especially considering the significant gap that is showing in that picture of the Smiler track. That probably wouldn't feel good while riding.

Then you should stop riding coasters then.

In 09, Diamondback had a wheel come off during one cycle. these are machines, S**t happens.

Im sorry, how is parts fallign off of a ride acceptable? I wont stop riding coasters, but if I found out that park workers ignored bolts falling off then yes, yes I would stop spending money in that park.

Rides break down (bolts can come loose), but its the park's responsibility to put things back together...

Nemo wasn't saying that it was acceptable. He was stating that it's more common than most here think. He didn't say that the parks didn't put things back together. He just stated that it happens.

You've got to realize that these things are machines, they don't run 100% perfectly all the time. You've also got to realize that the maintenance checks every piece of track and bolts before the ride can open for the day.

What's different in this case is that the Smiler had a bolt fall out of the jointed track, creating a gap between two different pieces of track while guests were in the queue for the ride right below it.

Again, no where did Nemo say it was acceptable.

Chugh Im guessing you know Nemo better than I. I will accept that. I just misread his statement.

I get rides break down and things will fall off eventually.

Trust me you just see a bit of stuff...there are times the rides go hella crazy like a mind of their own. That's why theres redundant safety systems, and thats why ride ops have to watch the ride, listen, ect. We have e-stops everywhere for a reason

Chugh Im guessing you know Nemo better than I. I will accept that. I just misread his statement.

I get rides break down and things will fall off eventually.

Yup, I do.

Just wanted to show you he wasn't a butt saying hey, "everyone it happens all the time bolts fall out and they don't get replaced, it's totally cool." Haha.

The Smiler is the worst case that I've seen. Like Nemo said, you should check out Flight of Fear inside the bowl.

Fasteners are also replaced when they wear out. I doubt that every bolt you see on the ground has "fell out".

Chugh Im guessing you know Nemo better than I. I will accept that. I just misread his statement.

I get rides break down and things will fall off eventually.

Yup, I do.

Just wanted to show you he wasn't a butt saying hey, "everyone it happens all the time bolts fall out and they don't get replaced, it's totally cool." Haha.

The Smiler is the worst case that I've seen. Like Nemo said, you should check out Flight of Fear inside the bowl.

His general positive attitude really shines through his comments.

-Dvo, submitting his resignation from coaster riding.

UPDATE:

Th Smiler has closed yet again (but has since reopened) after cracks were found in one of the supports.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/08/05/alton-towers-smiler-ride-closed-again-as-new-cracks-found/

Geeze...that poor ride this year. I'm not a huge eurofighter fan, however the random bits of theming, music, and ride concept are one of my favorites this year in terms of new coasters for 2013. It's one of the few rides I wish I could ride but eh..

Which support was it link can't open on .mil network

"cracks appeared around the base of a giant metal support."

That's all it says...

two truths in life I learned from my grandpappy.

If its stuck, and is suppose to move, WD40.

If it moves, and is suppose to be stuck, Duct tape.

I hope they have lots of Duct Tape

If you can't duct it, **** it!