Elitch's Sidewinder made the news, fun time lapse video

A mechanical issue on EG's Sidewinder made the news when the train didn't make it all the way into the far side station. Obviously this wasn't really a news story, but the TV station's camera from high above the observation tower caught the action.

I told you that place was a dump. :-)

Oddly, Sidewinder was one of my favorite rides when I visited there last week. I always liked those Arrow shuttles, and I was taken back to my many rides on Kings Island's Screamin' Demon. I rode in the front seat, always the best on the backwards trip. (if you get one, I guess) The worst part of the ride was the walk up the steps in that thin mountain air. I don't think I've ever been so glad to see a long line- the rest periods on the way up did me some good.

I'm surprised it stalled like that. The horizontal portions of the track are actually sloped slightly toward the end, and it looks like it was far enough forward so that it should've coasted in. Maybe a broken wheel mechanism or something caused it to stay stuck. It looks like they had to winch it all the way to the reverse platform.

I wouldn't call the place a dump. I worked there for 10 years, the folks that work there love the place. It's decent enough, but it is missing that soul or charm or whatever it is. They do have trees and they do have gardens, it just doesn't feel the same as the old park.

There is a brake near the edge out there. Something must have caused the brakes to clamp down. It's too bad the cat walk stops at the far side operator booth, or they could've just walked to the train and pushed it in.