Crazy Stupid Rumors

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ControlsEE

ControlsEE

I probably should be working...
Oct 2, 2018
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I figured I would start this here, as they are rumors, however if it seems to fit better somewhere else, Mods, move this thread somewhere else.

Anyways, I thought it could be fun to discuss and share some of the cazy rumors that we have heard from park employees or anyone else who thinks a little too highly of themselves. Having been a team member at BGW for 6 seasons during High School and College, I heard a lot of crazy stuff that was just bonkers. One of those was that if Mach Tower ever broke while in the air, the fire department would have to setup a zip line from the tower to the Festhaus to get people off the ride. Obviously this is false, as when the ride stops mid air, they can manually release the seats to fall back down. If that fails, they would get a crane and lift basket to get people off. I have seen them do this, though not with guests, but with maintenance workers who got stuck during morning checks back in 2012.
 
halfabee said:
I heard more than once that the trackside nets atop Loch Ness Monster's first lift and turn were there to catch people who fell out of the ride.
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I'm sure that someone at some point has though the same about Griffon, though they would probably say "tHe gRyfiN"
 
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Drachen Fire was turned into razor blades because the land under it was sinking and therefore caused whiplash.
 
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ControlsEE said:
I figured I would start this here, as they are rumors, however if it seems to fit better somewhere else, Mods, move this thread somewhere else.

Anyways, I thought it could be fun to discuss and share some of the cazy rumors that we have heard from park employees or anyone else who thinks a little too highly of themselves. Having been a team member at BGW for 6 seasons during High School and College, I heard a lot of crazy stuff that was just bonkers. One of those was that if Mach Tower ever broke while in the air, the fire department would have to setup a zip line from the tower to the Festhaus to get people off the ride. Obviously this is false, as when the ride stops mid air, they can manually release the seats to fall back down. If that fails, they would get a crane and lift basket to get people off. I have seen them do this, though not with guests, but with maintenance workers who got stuck during morning checks back in 2012.
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While a zip line to the Festhaus wouldnt make sense the guests would be removed by the Fire Department using rope rescues. Area TRT teams train in the park early in the season every year on various coasters, skyride and such. We have even used the Hubba Hubba Highway for swift water training in the past. Unless BGW has some crazy contract set up with a local crane company to get there really fast I doubt that would be plan A.
 
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WDWRLD said:
...Unless BGW has some crazy contract set up with a local crane company to get there really fast I doubt that would be plan A.
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I remember that day fairly well. We were walking into Oktoberfest for work at about 9 (they were still opening the area early since VB was still new) and heard a loud noise come from MT where two maintenance guys were on the trolley. Noticed that the trolley was visibly tilted compared to the tower about 2/3's up the tower. Around 9:45, we were all ushered out of the area because "a crane was on the way from Hampton" to rescue the two workers and they did not want anyone , TM's included, to be near while a crane was parked in the area. Waited in the area break room until our sup's said we could go back, which was around 11:30. Walk back to our ride and see a crane and lift bucket next to the tower and blocking the bridge. Crane left and opened the area around noon. So in 3 hours, they completed they whole thing, from first call to reopening, which is why I would assume that would be the plan if it were to happen with guests. I think MT stayed shut down for a few weeks with the trolley stuck part way up the tower.
 
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ControlsEE said:
I remember that day fairly well. We were walking into Oktoberfest for work at about 9 (they were still opening the area early since VB was still new) and heard a loud noise come from MT where two maintenance guys were on the trolley. Noticed that the trolley was visibly tilted compared to the tower about 2/3's up the tower. Around 9:45, we were all ushered out of the area because "a crane was on the way from Hampton" to rescue the two workers and they did not want anyone , TM's included, to be near while a crane was parked in the area. Waited in the area break room until our sup's said we could go back, which was around 11:30. Walk back to our ride and see a crane and lift bucket next to the tower and blocking the bridge. Crane left and opened the area around noon. So in 3 hours, they completed they whole thing, from first call to reopening, which is why I would assume that would be the plan if it were to happen with guests. I think MT stayed shut down for a few weeks with the trolley stuck part way up the tower.
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Still, at basically any height the guests would need to be in a safety harness and while Lockwood Bros may be able to get a crane there they would not be the entity in charge of a high angle rescue.
 
I assume BGW also has the mind to put maintenance workers in a safety harness as well in this event, not reserving that for guests only.

With that being said, seems to me like the method to retrieve stranded individuals that was used very well could be the thing they would use again.
 
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lce said:
I assume BGW also has the mind to put maintenance workers in a safety harness as well in this event, not reserving that for guests only.
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OSHA requires it. Having done Griffon ride escort training, everyone gets harnesses. Both guests and TM's.
 
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lce said:
I assume BGW also has the mind to put maintenance workers in a safety harness as well in this event, not reserving that for guests only.

With that being said, seems to me like the method to retrieve stranded individuals that was used very well could be the thing they would use again.
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In best practices used the workers should have already been in harnesses working at that height. There is a diffrence between employees that are trained and the general public, transfering from a disabled work platform to a work basket also is somewhat diffrent than releasing a harness and having someone briefly unsecured trying to transfer to a basket. There also must be plans for handicap assistance as well as for those with no shoes as well as considerations for medical evaluations in the case of very hot days or during very cold days of CT.
 
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halfabee said:
I heard more than once that the trackside nets atop Loch Ness Monster's first lift and turn were there to catch people who fell out of the ride.
Click to expand...
Well I mean it was built in the 70s. Seatbelts in cars were still optional back then so it's possible that was the original reason for the nets and that catching loose articlex is just a happy byproduct.
 
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Common one I heard was that the finger presences were fingerprint scanners.

For those who don't know, finger presences are used on most platform positions on roller coasters at SEAS parks. They use a photo eye sensor to detect when a finger is placed in the cradle, meaning the operator is away from the train and can be dispatched.
 
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I guess this wouldnt qualify as a rumor but funny no less......earlier this season I was on the train and the family behind us the man as we were leaving festa when we got to where the wire walls were from Christmas town he said they were left over from way back when the park had the safari and this was where they kept the giraffes.
 
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LeScoot Sawmill is on "top of an indian burial ground" and if you close at that position, be prepared to witness the supernatural. I closed sawmill a number of times and it was pretty fun. Wasn't that spooky. Log flume proved to me that no matter the position, the job can be fun if you make if fun. Doing the jaws theme as guests enter the sawmill always got some good laughs. Don't worry, I always made sure the kiddos didn't get too scared.
 
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