Trains sent out empty....

I was standing in line for Raging Bull at SFGAm and I watched them send out about 5 consecutive trains empty. I know they usually test run the trains when they add an additional train, but they were running 3 trains already and didn't make any such changes. I'm curious... what could they have been trying to accomplish by sending out so many trains empty?

Maybe they had a problem with the censors but if they didn't say Raging Bull was having difficultys then I don't know.

Usually sensor or brake problems (not releasing) will send through a few runs. I sat in the Hypersonic XLC station for like an hour and a half watching and waiting. Great crew, BTW.

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CBClub member #30 and #364 (renewal)

This year on Bull they seem to be running all 3 trains empty if something happens with one of them. I have seen them run all 3 trains empty a couple times this year because of guest sickness.

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Deja Vu Count = 31
SFGAm CoasterWorld

They do that with Nitro @ SFGADV. If a train stops on the lift, they'll send out about 3 trains to make sure it works again. Makes sense though. Do you want 2 tarins of people stuck on a ride?

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You see things and you say "Why?"
But I dream things that never were, and I say "Why Not?"

Except that no trains had gotten stuck when I was there. When trains stop on a lift, it is generally because the operators had chosen to stop the ride.

So is it standard protocol to send out trains empty when somebody loses their stomach on a ride?

*** This post was edited by JoNoJ27 on 10/14/2002. ***

This is purely a guess, but maybe there was something wrong with one of the trains, but they also had to cycle the guests off, so in doing so had to send out three empty trains in a row to bring the problem train back into the station so the mechanics could look at it?

Then perhaps testing it out?

Not knowing the whole situation, I can't say for sure, but that's my semi-educated guess...

JoNoJ27 said:
So is it standard protocol to send out trains empty when somebody loses their stomach on a ride?
Gotta let the cleaning solution and water dry somehow.
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I was asked to describe X in one word. The word? -- OhmygoshwhathaveIgottenmyselfintothisisthescariest
thingintheworldhelpmeIamgoingtodieAHHHH!!!

Yeah really. Or just use a towel ;-)

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87 different coasters for this year and counting... 149 total!

They did that one time when I was at Fiesta Texas with Superman. Except what happened was that it sent a train with guests then two trains without guests then a train with guests......

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Something happened and I said, "Wow"

MarimbaGuy 87 said:
Yeah really. Or just use a towel ;-)

"Don't forget to bring a towel".....:)

Good one rollergator I love Towlie.

Towlie? He didn't say Towlie. He said Towel.

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Something happened and I said, "Wow".

"When you go to a hotel, be sure to bring your own towel"

"Towelie, your the worst charecter ever." "I know."

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But seriously folks, I respect the opinions of yall who don't like the thing, but if MF were human, I'd marry it.

Fiesta Texas Fan said:

Towlie? He didn't say Towlie. He said Towel.
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Something happened and I said, "Wow".

Towlie was a character on southpark.

On most coasters it is standard operating procedure to send out a certain number of empty trains after any operational glitch to test things before loading passengers.

What kinds of "operational glitches" are there?

medusafanatic said:
Maybe they had a problem with the censors

Yeah, you know those Six Flags parks and their objectionable material.

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- John
I got a B&M T-shirt!

I know when they do maintenance checks at vf, they run each train through twice empty so they can check the brakes underneath the trains....

but they would bring them slowly into the station so they could check each bake....

*shrugs*

rollergator said:

MarimbaGuy 87 said:
Yeah really. Or just use a towel ;-)
"Don't forget to bring a towel".....

Any good interspace hitch hiker needs a towel, as well as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! Just think, Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters! See the galaxy on less than 50 Arterian dollars per day! The answer to the ultimate question of Life, The Universe, and Everything: 42. Now, what is the question???
I love that book!
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"Getting on Iron Wolf is kind of like going in a blender and pressing PUREE"