Hulk Rollback - Any Info?

[robvia]

Posted on another message board found here.
http://www.coasterforum.com/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15126

Quoting message.

"Yesterday (12/26/01) At IOA The Hulk Was Broken Down For About 3 Hours In The Morning. When They Started To Let People On At About 11:45 They Were About To Get On And Ride Ops They Told Them They Had More Problems And Made Them Get Out Of The Building. After This We Left To Do Some Rides. Afterwards We Went Back To The Hulk To See What Was Going On. It Was About 2:30 And There Was A 60 Min Wait So We Waited In Line For About 15 Min.
To Get Fastpasses And They Were Good For 5:50 - 6:50 We Then Had 3 And A Half Hours To Wait For Them To Be Good.
Then At 5:45 We Started To Head Back For Hulk. When We Got There We Went Up To The Fastpass Line. Once Up The Stairs And In The Building We Went In Row 7. When The Next Train Launched, I Guess It Didn't Get Enough Speed Because I Heard Screams And The Train Came Rolling Back Down The Tunnel. Luckily Because Of The Censers On The Track The Train In The Brake Section Before Coming Into The Station Didn't Come Into The Station. And All This Made Me Wonder Why There Wasn't Some Sort Of Anti-Roll Back Device On The Train."

Then in another message he states.

"They Said They Were Having Computer Problems, So I Guess On The Way Up The Computer Maybe Shut Down And It Didn't Get Up To Speed."

--------

We hope the Hulk is back up and fixed for this busy holiday weekend. Any info or behind the scenes stuff is greatly appreciated.

 

[rocketman23]

The Hulk has stopped at the top of the tunnel before, but never slid down. If I were to throw a guess, I would say the tires lost their grip and it simply rolled back.

 

[Jon360]

Why is this incident being referred to as "Hulk Accident" by everybody on that message board if no one was hurt and nothing was damaged?

It just sounds like they are having "technical difficulties" with the launch.

-Jon

 

[Earl]

I'm with Jon360 on this. This was not an accident. There was no luck invovled. The system did exactly what it was supposed to do. It was not a traction problem. There was a sensor error at the last go/no-go check point on the launch and it safely aborted the launch. It's supposed to roll out to the zero-g roll and then return back to the tunnel. All 220 drive motors have brakes to catch the train. AT NO TIME WAS ANYONE AT ANY RISK WHATSOEVER!

 

[ProfesserBaxter]

Thank You earl. With Earl, IOA tech, and anyone other ride techs that are on this forum. All the rides at universal studios and islands of adventure are safe because there's always ride techs lurking around to ensure safety to the rides and to the guests. These parks in orlando yes including disney, sea world, and busch gardens even its in tampa has the best techs working with these rides in the world. Thank you for the work you guys do because in Ride and show you guys are our savors and we appreciate it and most likely most of the guests

 

[robvia]

Thanks for the response Earl.

I quoted you on that board and asked them if they can change the title of that thread to Hulk Rollback. I felt the same way about it. Everyone reading that thread will realize it was not an accident.

So is the sensor fixed?

Is Hulk up today?

Any more info? It's really great of you to post because you set the record straight. Better to have the real answers than rumors going around.

 

[robvia]

Earl.

You'll be glad to know they changed the title of the thread to Hulk Rollback and the mod had this to say.

"Yeah, the word "accident" is a bit alarmist -- but of course, unless you've worked the coaster or are really involved with the engineering, you wouldn't know that something like this is really how the safety systems operate. I always rolled my eyes when either the Iron Dragon or Disaster Transport would get set up in the brakes (exactly like it's supposed to) and everyone said it's broken -- no, it's just a safety feature, and that doesn't mean that anything is wrong with the ride. Reset the sensors, check the computer, run a few test trains, and you're set to go."

Another user responded saying that the hulk is up today (12/27/01) and running fine.

 

[Robinrs]

Thanks Earl for the response... I felt my stomach turn over at the thought of letting my son ride knowing this happened! Wheww!

 

[Earl]

Thanks for the change. That's actually a fault that's tested routinely. Appropriately known as the roll-back test.

BTW, I'm not a tech. We do have great techs though..

 

[Jon360]

Thanks for the info Earl.

Now on a more serious note, have you ever met any of the guys who play the voice of the "Fountain"?

-Jon

 

[Earl]

Yes, in the little room that they sit in. Actually, it's a dark little room and they're all by themselves. Makes you wonder...

 

[MIB999999]

Well if another roll-back occurs with passengers on board the cameras that take the picture need to be inside. i bet that picture would paint a thousand words.

 

[fboy9287]

God knows that even a veterin (me) would freek out. I would be like:
"Ya ya Lets lite this candle, oh no thats not good, MOMMY!"

 

[rangebob]

I know that I would have one heck of a look on my face if it happens to me. Especially if it happend when we are in the Zero-G roll. I'm glad to hear that the motors will reverse to get us out of the inversion. I will still be scared from something like that, but would still be willing to go through another launch.

 

[ProfesserBaxter]

But to somepeople they might think it was part of the ride.
Like when the vortex in Poseidon fell apart because someone hit the e-stop it about 80 guests drenched and everyone thought it was a cool effect until we told it wasn't part of the show


BTW: Earl I'm sorry for saying that you were a tech I thought you were because some of your posts

 

[fboy9287]

He might as well be called a tech, he knows much more than a lot of people that work at the themeparks!

 

[Earl]

Professor Baxter,

There absolutely nothing to say sorry about. We have some great techs working for us and I am very proud to be associated with them. Let's just say, close, just no cigar. Think upward ...

 

[MIB999999]

Say it ain't so. Oh well wheather he is a tech, chief of techs, cheif cook and bottle washer, who cares. We have all come to have full faith and confidence in the posts of EARL and IOATech, and COASTER Fev. By the way where is Coaster Fev?????

 

[MsDisney]

We have all come to have full faith and confidence in the posts of EARL and IOATech, and COASTER Fev. By the way where is Coaster Fev?????

Hey now...let's not forget MsDisney's in depth happy hour coverage here on the boards!

I really should change my name...I'm so much more an IOA girl now...I've even given up my ambition to work for the Mouse again and hope to join the Universal cast someday...when they need people again!
Don't tell my friends from back home...they'll never believe it!

But seriously...it's really good to have people in the know around here to quash any (untrue) rumors and keep us better informed!

We appreciate it!
Karen

 

[ProfesserBaxter]

Okay Earl I kinda got your hint