I was in the park today and it was weirdly quiet without the sound of the train. I made sure to ride Invadr on the right side of the train to get a good look at the blue train. They not only have the locomotive and tender car covered up with a blue tarp, they also have a brown tarp on the back of Carribu train station where it was burned. If you look above the train station closely you will see where a pine tree is brown from the heat of that fire.
I think the train will be back, though can't say just when. Let me share a few reasons why:
- The train acts as a transportation route in a park with unusually hilly park versus most others
- The train is actually a ride employees can ride to get from one end of the park to the other
- They removed DarKastle last year and it wouldn't look good for the park to remove two rides two years in a row despite rising ticket prices
- The cost to remove the train tracks would be staggering. Think about it, two large train bridges and a mile long track, signals, crossing arms, etc.
- The train ride is an iconic part of BGW- simply put, it's as much of a staple at the park as is the Festhaus
- It's one of the few remaining original rides of the park and is one that just about anyone can ride without restrictions
- Trains similar to the ones at BGW operate safely in dozens of other parks around the world. Incidents like this one are very rare
I think right now we can expect to see the park conduct a very detailed investigation into operating procedures and possibly extra training for the park operations team and maintenance team. You also have to consider that as others have already mentioned this is likely an OSHA reportable accident, so there is paperwork from that. I would also argue that there will be holdups in the repairs due to insurance delays. I hear the park has a policy covered by Liberty Mutual, so the insurance company will also likely want to inspect the trains again and or operating procedures prior to extending coverage again to the trains.
There is no doubt in my mind that the park is probably running a financial model for the train operations in general and potential cost savings of removing the train. Think about, 6 large propane tanks, three trains, the team that operates and maintains them (they get a lot more training than the average ride operator and this job is the most complex in the park as a ride operator), the upkeep of the tracks and bridge inspections and insurance and you better believe that the park will pay a higher insurance premium after an incident like this. But in the end- the train provides significant ridership and serves so many purposes throughout the season. Bottom line- the trains need to stay, (all 3 of them).
If the park leadership team reads this message I really hope that they understand that many of their loyal guests holding memberships will be livid if the train is removed. I think the park can get the blue train repaired in a few months. Even if the train operations resume for Christmas Town- they can use the other two and it will be ok. Let's be honest- Loch Ness no longer has three trains, also Alpengeist only runs with two trains now and gets quite a long line on busy peak days. The park cares about ride capacity but never to the extent under the old AB golden days anymore.
I saw a picture of the train post-fire, one that was not published on this site. Like the PR statement from Cindy Sarko about cosmetic damage said- there was some cosmetic damage, but it wasn't as bad as you would have thought given the height of the flames and the black smoke as reported. I am sure there are other items that have damage and work that's needed but I think next season we can hopefully see the Blue train running again.
I do find it ironic how the park did not mention the train being closed either on its website or at the sign at the England parking lot entrance today. I think the park does not want any more attention on the train incident for a bit. The park has had a rough summer between this incident, Pompeii, the e-stop incident at Apollo, to the incident about the dog left in a hot car. Too much negative press for the park. Bad press in this industry on a park not only impacts the park itself but the entire industry.
Anyways this incident has me fired up- no pun intended. I love the park and want the park to be successful, but make the right decision on something like this. There isn't a more passionate ride operator team in the park than the folks that operate the three trains.
Keep the train, we can all wait a bit while repairs are made! Losing the Busch Gardens railway will be a significant setback to the park's offering to all guests.
