Ride Op Horror Stories

A couple days ago, on Eagle Red @ SFGAm, they had the pre-station brake run brakes set so hard that when the train hit them and came to a stop, you could feel the station shake. With that being said, I dont think it is actually the "horror" stories this topic was meant for.

I had a similar experience on Eagle Blue at SFGAm this past Monday. I thought the station was shaking on Eagle Blue's side and knew that I couldn't have been the only one who felt it. I was on Eagle Blue when, as the ride was leaving the station, it was going, then braked, got going again, then braked, and got going again. I don't know if it was under the ride-ops control, but a few people on the ride seemed to be frustrated(only for a little bit, though).

I remember when I went to the VA State Fair, I decided to ride the Fireball (One Big Loop). Well, the kid next to me was overweight and I couldn't get my buckle in. Then the ride-op started the ride, and luckily at the last second, it went it. I was scared for my life.

I went to PKD today, and there was the Satanic Stapler. She used her body weight to push down on the lapbars on Grizzly, to get them far down as she could.

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Free Falls on Drop Zone: 10!
Batwing Flights: 7!
Superman: Ride of Steel Airtime-age: 10!

No, "Las Grapadoras Del Diablo" (The Devil Staplers) are at CP. That's why "MAGNUM HURTS!!!!!!!"

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MAGNUM HURTS!!!!!!!
TTD WAS DOWN FOR COASTERMANIA!!!!!!!
I CAN'T MAKE A GOOD SIGNATURE!!!!!!!

At SFA, a ride op on Superman was riding the train as it advanced through the station... As a ride op, that really pissed me off to think someone would be that dumb.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Find Me, Win a prize!)

Good grief!

Lauching S&S towers with restraints up?
Drinking on the job?
Riding suspended coasters trains while standing and hugging the train support column?

Sheesh!

First, these sound a bit exaggerated and far fetched to me, but also a bit dis-heartening.

Second, I was a ride op for a good amount of time. 99.9% of my fellow workers all adhered to every safety regulation and were extremely professional and safety concious. If they weren't then they were corrected, or dismissed. Parks do not play when it comes to this... nor should they.

Remember that these horror stories, abeit sometimes amusing and entertaining to discuss, are being posted in a PUBLIC forum. There are MANY eyes on this and other boards right now. Not only parks, but media and government officials are striving to milk a recent situation and scrutinize the industry.

Just remember, the more we discuss "problems" then the more negative attention parks will get. If indeed you see or hear of a ride op doing something unsafe, or against better judgement... let someone at the park know asap so they can deal with it.

IMO, it is up to us to protect ourselves, others and the rides we love from a potential bad situation.

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Shaggy

Settle down, guy.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I have a couple:

When I was at the Myrtle Beach Pavillion in 2000, I had an experience on Hurricane: Category 5.

This man at the entrance asked me if I would ride with his little girl, while he waited with his son (who was too small to ride)... I of course said yes, and we were going to ride in the front row. I went in first, and sat down, but before she was in the seat, they dispatched the train!

Luckily her body was in the train, so she just sat down, and I pulled both of our lapbars down before we got to the dip before the lift. Talk about scary ride ops!

Another one I had was yesterday (Tuesday, the 10th) at SFOG...

I was waiting in line (the lo-q line) for Thunder River, and a girl dropped her shoe onto the conveyor belt in the station. The ride op just jumped down and got it (while another boat was coming up the belt), and handed it to her... I don't think he thought twice about the 1-ton boat that could've crushed him! (again, Six Flags'll hire anyone!)

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Shaggy said:
Good grief!

Lauching S&S towers with restraints up?
Drinking on the job?
Riding suspended coasters trains while standing and hugging the train support column?

Sheesh!

First, these sound a bit exaggerated and far fetched to me, but also a bit dis-heartening.

Second, I was a ride op for a good amount of time. 99.9% of my fellow workers all adhered to every safety regulation and were extremely professional and safety concious. If they weren't then they were corrected, or dismissed. Parks do not play when it comes to this... nor should they.

Remember that these horror stories, abeit sometimes amusing and entertaining to discuss, are being posted in a PUBLIC forum. There are MANY eyes on this and other boards right now. Not only parks, but media and government officials are striving to milk a recent situation and scrutinize the industry.

Just remember, the more we discuss "problems" then the more negative attention parks will get. If indeed you see or hear of a ride op doing something unsafe, or against better judgement... let someone at the park know asap so they can deal with it.

IMO, it is up to us to protect ourselves, others and the rides we love from a potential bad situation.

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Shaggy

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I don't think the media is reading our (boring to most GP) forums to find a "scoop" on a story to ruin the Amusement Park Industry. I'm sure worse things have been discussed on this board. I find these rather interesting, and I do not worry about it affecting that much of anything. (but maybe the higher-ups at theme parks are reading this, and will think twice about hiring some of these people)
*** This post was edited by SFOG Country 6/11/2003 11:36:52 PM ***

Well, I could think of about 5 good "scoops" in here...so I could see a reporter or something reading around here.

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LeWiS

Way, way back at the County Fair, when my sister and I were little kids... She was riding the "Rock 'n' Roll. and the op didn't strap her in/attach her restraint. Imagine being in a giant clothes dryer, with no clothes as padding. People shouted to stop the ride, so she wasn't hurt, but needless to say, she was pretty shook up (no pun intended). Ouch ! :(

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Current favorite coasters:
Wooden: 1) Beast 2) Raven 3) Son of Beast 4) The Boss 5) Timber Wolf
Steel: 1) Raging Bull 2) Millennium Force 3) V2 4) Wild Thing 5) Deja Vu / Mr. Freeze (tie)
Visit: http://www.dynamicgroove.com

I had the Corkscrew @ the MB Pavalion leave the station one time as I was sitting down. I got a jolt(was in the front), scared me to death, and sat quick, hoping my horsecollar would come down and lock. I did not enjoy that ride.

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The CPO is watching YOU!!
:)
R.I.P. King Cobra @ PKI 1984-2003. You Will be missed...:(

The SFMM Superman Challenge:

Ride STE in the front row with the lapbar all of the way up and manage to get into the back seat with the lapbar shut by the time the train comes back to the station. NUTS.

I have not done it, but I have heard it's been done on safety rides.
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Xperience The Xtreme

That also use to be the initiation for anyone new on the crew at Colossus back in the day. Start in the front of the train, and get to the back before the train hits the station. Good times...

My Brother worked at CP for two years living in the dorms I'm sure he has lot's of good stories I'll ask him and get back to you.

Oh man, I have too many stories that I can't share but a few that are safe enough.

On the WDW Jungle Cruise, late at night when you might get a chance to drive an empty boat, it was a right of passage to jump out of the boat in the tunnel but leave it in gear so that it returned to the dock with noone in it. We would also do the reverse to unsuspecting captains. If we knew they had an empty boat we would run around to the tunnel and lurk in the dark until they came by. Suddenly, 2 or 3 of us would jump into the boat...screaming all the way...and scare the crap out of the rookie.

Before the technology allowed go karts to be shut off by remote I worked on a ride where you would have a jack-a once in a while who decided they wouldn't want to stop when their time was up. The solution was either to get another car and try to ram them against the rail, throw tires in front of their cars, or jump on the back and shut off the engine by hand. I once did this to a punk that was out of control. When I jumped on the back of the car he started swerving to try to throw me off. We went around the whole track like that until I was finally able to get the engine off. He jumped out of the car, jumped a fence and started running through the park. I ran after him and caught him on the other side of the park and held him until security arrived. As we were running through the park I couldn't help but think of the Brady Bunch kids running through Kings Island. I was pissed at the time but laugh about it until this day.

One last go kart story. We used to see how many cars we could jump as they raced toward us. Don't try this at home. I have some war wounds that will prove this was a stupid idea.

If you enjoy good stories buy the books "Mouse Tails: A Behind the Ears Look at Disneyland". There are two out and I understand the author is working on a Disneyworld version. Pretty fun reading.

We used to take the Barney Oldfield cars off the track and drive around the park after dark. That was fun!

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"It's not a Too-mah!" - Arnold after riding Batman the Ride

My cousions, brother and I all decicded to ride the Ring Of Fire the opening day at the County Fair. We got going ok until they stopped us at the top of the circle for almost 2.5 minutes. During this time, the ride op, jumped down from the controls, exited the ride, went and bought a soda from the consession stand, came back and lit a cigar, and finally took a drink and started the ride again. How stupid! After that, I felt sick and eventually was so weak, I had to lay down back at my cousions house. From that day, I have never ridden a Ring of Fire.

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Who: Man
What: Can now fly
When: 2003
Where: SFGAm
Why: For A Fast-Paced, Heart Pupming Energy Rush
How: On S:UF !!!!

This happened to my sister-in-law. I'm sure your all familiar with the foot release on some Arrow loopers. Well at SFWoA (Geauga Lake at the time) Everyone running the double loop would stand at the edge of the station and just press the button ast the train came in. Well once my cousin missed the step and had her foot crushed by the train. This is why to this day Six Flag strictly inforces the"wait till the train stops" rule.
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every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Acctually, I'm not familiar. Can you show me a picture and/ or give me an explaination?

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MAGNUM HURTS!!!!!!!
TTD WAS DOWN FOR COASTERMANIA!!!!!!!
I CAN'T MAKE A GOOD SIGNATURE!!!!!!!