Knott's WindSeeker getting evac platform

Photos posted on Screamscape. This looks like an interesting contraption.

http://screamscape.com/html/knott_s_berry_farm.htm

Couldn't really make much out of these pics, but I think evac platforms aren't a bad idea. Though if I was on a stuck Windseeker, they'd have to pry the restraints out of my cold dead hands before getting me to move from the seat.

Yeah. I like being really high off the ground when I am locked into my seat or on a platform that has bars that are not going to allow me to pass through them. Evacing Windseeker sounds pretty terrifying.

Does anyone have any info on how this is going to work? I have an idea, but it kind of doesn't make sense to me.

I think the cage in the evac platform is big enough that it is raised to contain the entire seat. Once the seat is completely in the cage, the restraints are released and you just step out and stand in the cage while you are lowered to the ground.

Much less of a fear factor than I thought it would be, pretty nice actually. But, I hope it is used as an absolute last resort. If it is only a somewhat short delay I'd much rather just wait in the seat to be lowered down normally.

So... The platform is lowered each time they pick up 2 victims then raised back up? Or is it 4 with a cage on each side for balance?
And how does the platform raise and lower? On yet another set of cables that will malfunction as well?
And where will they store this thing? On the ground below the tower? Less than reassuring. I read somewhere that it will collapse or dismantle to be stored nearby somewhere. So how long will that process take? And wait- will it need to be tested a few times before they can put riders on it?
I'm a little grouchy about this. (really?) What I don't get is how Space Spiral sat in its spot for a jillion years sending a rotating carriage full of riders up and down a pole bazillions of times and this p.o.s. can't get thru a season without stranding people.
I like the ride, but the day I'm stuck up there I'll be sitting with Bunky- not moving out of my seat til they get it fixed. And they can't make me.

That's a great point about Space Spiral, RCMAC. It seems like an improvement takes us a step back sometimes.

I do recall hearing about one time that riders had to be evacuated from Space Spiral, I believe in the mid 80's. Still, once over more than 40 years is a much better track record than the Windseekers have.

Space Spiral had a trap door in the cabin and a roof hatch, and I believe there were ladder rungs up the outside of the tower. All of that is worthless for evacuation, but it does provide a way to access the cabin from above in the event of an emergency. I believe there was also a hand-crank for lowering the cabin, but I imagine it would take a whole lot of cranking to get it to actually go anywhere.
By contrast, while Windseeker could very well have similar means for getting the gondola down, because the seats are suspended well away from the gondola, the riders are totally inaccessible. Windseeker does have ladders inside and out, as Space Spiral did, and there is a very nice catwalk on the gondola, but from the gondola there is still a lot of open space between the catwalk and the seats.
With that in mind, I still think the rescue basket is a pretty silly contraption that will have no practical use, but it does address a very real issue: it does make stranded riders accessible, and in a true emergency, evacuable.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Evacuable? That can't be a real word, but I love it anyway.

The problem with the Windseekers is whatever the mechanism is that locks the riders in place for three hours at a time. Why not just fix that instead?

What a great idea. I'm glad to see these Windseekers go back into operation, I thought they were excellent rides. Great visually, capacity-wise, and frightening as hell to boot.

But just think about having to be evacuated using this thing. You know it would be a-rattlin', squeakin' and makin' all kinds of weird noises up there on a windy night. Not to mention the HUGE crowd that has amassed 300 feet below; the lady a few seats up that has gone into manic "oh my god" mode and the person crying hysterically a few seats back. Yes, folks, we have a good horror/thriller on our hands.

In a weird sort of askin-for-it geekness, I hope I get to use that platform.

First, if it comes from RideMan, you can almost always rest assured it is a real word.

Second, it's definitely a real word.

Yeah, I have since looked it up.

It seems that this would be helpful if they simply cannot get the thing to move, but fairly useless otherwise.

You figure they're going to let maintenance try to fix the thing for at least 1/2 hour by the time they arrive and begin to troubleshoot. Then roll the thing out and set it up... then it's only able to evac one seat at a time. If the ride is stuck the whole way at the top, how long will it take to send that evac platform up and down to get them all clear? I'd bet in the long run just getting the ride back down in three hours won't be any longer than getting each seat evacuated.

I suspect that if this platform is ever even used, that it will only be used to evacuate people who may have some type of medical emergency.

Raven-Phile said:
First, if it comes from RideMan, you can almost always rest assured it is a real word.

Second, it's definitely a real word.

That's actually a pretty dangerous assumption. I have actually failed to find that word in a couple of online dictionaries, but found it in use anyway (and referring to something which appears to be alimentary in nature...)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Ewwwwww...

I guess if I get stuck on Windseeker I'm gonna be evacuable alright!

There is only one dictionary: Oxford English. And, "evacuable" does not appear in it.

The Chicago Manual of Style recommends Webster's New International. It also does not contain "evacuable".

However, it *does* contain "alimentary." I learned a new word today.

"Evacuatable" may be the proper term outside the industry, but I think of the shorter term of as being acceptable to those "in the field."

Alimentary is one I knew, but my job has its own dictionary....

'Gator, you have to bear in mind that people who "know their ****" frequently do not know how to spell it correctly.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Who completely forgot about the Bad Word Filter that would ruin his punch line...