Spider and the Fly Posted May 23, 2005 Share Posted May 23, 2005 I am a Ride Operations Supervisor at Lagoon Park, Farmington, Utah, where we recently opened a Vekoma MK 707 Family Suspended Coaster named “The Bat.†I am writing hoping to speak with someone who has operated or currently operates Runaway Reptar, concerning Operating Procedures. Lagoon’s current operating procedures for “The Bat†are preventing us from achieving maximum capacity, thus making our line much longer than it should be and a through put that is grossly under what is obtainable. I am hoping to find someone who is willing to share information so we can streamline operations for The Bat and reduce the waiting time for our guests. Please contact me via e-mail at linearinduction@hotmail.com regarding operations procedures for Runaway Reptar. Specifically, I am requesting information concerning loading, unloading, grouping, and restraint checking procedures. Regards, - Sid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Sid - Please read my response to your other post in the employees only section about this. The information you are requesting is not something employees would willingly give out via email. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Just to clear up some rumors, guy didn't post in here, Dan moved it in here. Weather or not you wanna tell him is your own business. Also, his IP does run to Utah area, but he did register with a AOL email address. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Sorry for the confusion Dane. I don't actually know anything about Reptar, although I know people who would. Sid - just have your rides manager call PKI and explain the situation. I'm sure whoever answers the phone can direct their call to the appropriate contact person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SixFlagsMasta Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 anyone using AOL should be banned for life..j/k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider and the Fly Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 First of all, thanks for responding. Second, I feel that some of you are under the impression I'm looking for an Operations Manual and want to know all of PKI’s Policies and Procedures. The fact is I'm just seeking information about how many operators are used on slow/busy days, where operators are stationed, process of checking the restraints on the train and by which operators, etc. I'm not interested in anything more than what I would observe as a guest. In response to Oldiesmann, I wouldn't be in here asking for help if our managers would take the time to call PKI, but they think they have the best ideas for operating "The Bat," and it's just not working. The Managers I have talked to about calling PKI have told me they just don't need/want to call PKI. I'm hoping that with someone’s help I can suggest some changes and do so by saying that this is how PKI operates their MK 707. Regards, - Sid P.S. Yes I know AOL Sux, but we all work with what we have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Sid - I apologize for the misunderstanding. I understand your frustration, and hope you get the information you're looking for. PKI generally has 3 people on each coaster - one driver and two others (one on either side of the train) who check restraints and seatbelts. There are a few exceptions of course, but most coasters have three people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterville Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Speaking only from what I have observed on Reptar as a guest: Normal crew seems to be 3-4 people. (1 Driver, 2 Loaders (people who help people get into the ride, check restraints, and help them out of the ride), and sometimes a Greeter who pre-checks heights before people get into the line. I'm not sure how The Bat at your park is setup but PKI went with flush loading with automatic station gates for each row. There is a manually operated gate for the exit. The drivers console is located at the downtrack end of the station on the "Load" side. (thats by the front seat) I beleive they use a co-dipatch system where there is a secondary Start button located at the rear of the station, but if it exists I forget which side of the track it is on.... There is a flaw I believe in that the load station for Reptar is narrow, which sometimes causes congestion. Guests enter the station from the queue area via the rear of the station. The congestion sometimes make it hard for guests to get to the rows for the front side of the train. I note also that Paramount has fixed this problem in later installations of the same ride. Restraints I beleive are standard for the ride, and include shoulder bars and a crotch strap. Procedure is approximately: 1. Train pulls into station (they have 1 train) 2. When train is parked, restraints are released 3. Riders Exit 4. Not until all riders have exited are the station gates opened. (I believe this was a recent change) 5. Station gates open 6. Riders Load 7. The two loaders check restraints, assist with loose articles, etc. starting from the front and working towards the rear. 8. Train departs the station. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Just to clear up some rumors, guy didn't post in here, Dan moved it in here. Weather or not you wanna tell him is your own business. Also, his IP does run to Utah area, but he did register with a freaken AOL email address. If your an employee do not reveal anything because you cant confirm who he is, if he needs info tell him to call Kings Island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejoker8388 Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Sid, sorry I can't help about the operation of Runaway Reptar because I'm just a fan of PKI, not a worker, but I do have a question for you. I know Lagoon has Spider which is a Maurer Söhne Xtended SC 2000. I have seen pictures of theses coasters but never gotten to ride one, they look very fun. From personal experience what do you think of them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Runaway Reptar almost always has a long line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider and the Fly Posted May 26, 2005 Author Share Posted May 26, 2005 Thanks again to everyone for your help. Oldiesmann and Coasterville, thank you both very much, you have been extremely helpful Jasper081691, thank you for that information also CombatStupendous89......why are you so Paranoid bro? thejoker8388, Spider is a very fun and unique, but small roller coaster. It is one of those rides that make you instantly giggle and laugh the extire ride. I just wish Lagoon would have bought a Maurer & Sohne Xtended SC-3000 instead, those one's look much better. I don't know how the M&S Spinners Compare to the Gerstlauer Spinners, but I'd rather be sitting back to back like the M&S Cars. Regards, - Sid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejoker8388 Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 ^Yea, I figured the XC-3000 would be better, but there isn't one in the U.S so I don't think I'll be riding any, unless one comes to the states. I guess I might have to stop by at Lagoon if I'm ever in the area and check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Bombay Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 CombatStupendous89......why are you so Paranoid bro? Because when your hired by PKI they tell you not reveal anything that you know as an employee that you wouldnt know as a guest. They check sites like these as well as coasterbuzz and others to make sure their employees arent giving away anything a guest could misinterpret. I was jsut warning employees not to do it so that they wouldnt put their jobs in danger, Im sure if you spoke to PKI they could be even more helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKI Dude Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 Is it the same layout at Reptar here? The RCDB pics of it look very similar, but I can't tell. I can tell the shoulder bars are different though, the padding is thicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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