Water dummies

While at CP this week and having noticed them prior to this visit as well, I pondered on an idea for these things. Since these things weigh in at close to 200 lbs, (as told by one of the ride ops on MF) why don't they have some sort of drainage spout on the side of them? The ride op could attach a quick-disconnect hose to it and drain it (all of them at the same time actually if they had enough hoses) and then they'd be super light and easier to get out of the trains. If this would take some sort of major redesign for the water dummies, then why not have some sort of small pump that could quickly get rid of all the water. I feel kinda bad watching those ops struggling and lugging those heavy things around like that. Just seems like there could be a better way.

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This ain't no book you can close, when the big light hits your eyes. Cropduster-Riot Act-Pearl Jam

All the dummies do not weigh 200#, and you can't have hose bibs at every ride, can you? Then the ride ops would spill water everywhere, which would cause people to slip and fall.

Of course, what says they would not fill then to capacity. If they did not, then the information would not be accurate. That is the job of the maintenence division, not ride ops.

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The Empire will Strike Back....
"What do I know, I only work in an Amusement Park?"
"You are paying to get in. Period."
*** This post was edited by Agent Johnson 5/16/2003 10:41:15 AM ***

Also, think of the time involved to fill and drain 30 some odd dummies each time you make a test run. It would probably add an hour to the process.

If I was a ride op, I'd use a hand cart to move them instead of "struggling" with them.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

I know one thing is that when they use water dummies to weight down the train for test runs they don't always put dummies in every seat. I also noted that they load and unload the water dummies on the train empty then fill or drain them up from there, that way it issn't to heavy to carry on or off the ride. this way you never need a hand cart to move them. Also I saw when they did load water dummies at the Oreint Express at Worlds of Fun, they had a much effort they can to load them from the maintence guys, the ride ops, and the supervisors. With all that help it didn't take long to load and unload.

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Chris Knight
The best thing to do around Kansas City is to go to Branson, MO and ride the Ozark Wildcat.

With that last bit of grammar, its amazing you can read the signs telling you the ride is closed, and you should do something else other than watch mechanics trying to get a job done.

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The Empire will Strike Back....
"What do I know, I only work in an Amusement Park?"
"You are paying to get in. Period."

What does that have to do with anything. Anyway when you know a ride is about to open (that can get long waits throughout the day), wouldn't you want to wait there and watch what is going on.

Oops I noticed I said "drain them up". Why do I get bashed for every single grammer error.

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Chris Knight
The best thing to do around Kansas City is to go to Branson, MO and ride the Ozark Wildcat.
*** This post was edited by Sawblade5 5/17/2003 2:50:47 AM ***

There were more errors made than that Sawblade. Go back and read your post. It's incomprehensible at times. And oh yeah...you spelled grammar with an "e".
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If you have a problem with clones, the solution is real simple—Stop traveling.

I watched the MF crew get the dummies out and they weren't struggling. It took a little work but they were able to get them all out before the other traing got back.

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All who think Mean Streak needs a match taken to it say I.

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Agent Johnson said:
All the dummies do not weigh 200#, and you can't have hose bibs at every ride, can you? Then the ride ops would spill water everywhere, which would cause people to slip and fall.

Of course, what says they would not fill then to capacity. If they did not, then the information would not be accurate. That is the job of the maintenence division, not ride ops.

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Water is hardly an issue on the Millennium Force platform. I think they hose it down every morning, because I've noticed on virtually every morning ride everything being wet.

Cedar Point ride operators have far more "ownership" of rides than at most parks. When they prepare to open in the morning, the maintenance folks often have nothing to do with the opening unless they're called.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

The white ballast bottles you see used for ride testing have been in use by the automotive industry for years. We use them to simulate passenger weight during durability and handling tests.

If you look closely, you can see the indented "X" pattern in the "chest" area. This is to keep shoulder belts properly positioned.. The "neck" is a large screw cap that comes off for filling, and there is draincock on the side that a rubber hose can be attached to for draining. On the side of each bottle is a series of fill lines. Each of these lines is marked with the corresponding weight that the water level simulates. So, filling the bottles accurately is as easy as using a beaker or measuring cup.

Later,
EV
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Remember that if you're one in a million, that means that there are 5000 other people on Earth just like you.

Not all parks are Cedar Point, either.

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The Empire will Strike Back....
"What do I know, I only work in an Amusement Park?"
"You are paying to get in. Period."