RNR breakdown: Is it even possible???

[Jennasis]

Dh was reading a trip report on another board (not the DIS) and stumbled across some guy who claims to have been in line for RNR when it broke down. The guy says that the coaster got stuck upside down in the middle of a loop and the riders had to be rescued with a crane/cherry picker etc. This sounds quite implausible to me as A) those waiting in line cannot see any part of the ride so how would know where the ride broke...B)aren't the coasters designed now to prevent them from getting stuck like that (gravity would pull the car either forward through the loop or backawrd out of the loop.

What do yoiu think? Was he making it up, or was the ride queue playing a game of "telephone" about why the ride broke down.

 

[goofyforlife]

Considering the fact that there are only two "loop" situations on the ride.

The inital loop you are shot "catapulted" through so I don't believe you could stop on that one unless launch failed but then you would maybe stop in an uphill almost upside down position.

The other "loop" is a corkscrew so not a true loop. However, I have seen a coaster on Morey's pier in Wildwood break down where the coaster stopped mid ride in the corkscrew part and they did need to use buckets to get people out.

Could be rumor? Could be true? Anyone else's opinion?

 

[peter11435]

It was not true.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

OMG! That gave me an anxiety attack just reading that!!! YIKES!!!

 

[71010]

Goofyforlife - I have been ON the Sea Serpent in Wildwood when it got stuck. Yeah, they have to get you down. Quite fun!!

 

[DepCor0311]

Given the speed required to enter the loop, for the coaster to come to a dead stop any where in the loop would be pretty impossible (and most coasters have no braking mechanisms in the loops, if there is a failure, they just cruise to the next brake point in the track). Not to say that it could never, ever happen, but it would be pretty catastrophic...going from about 50 mph, to 0 mph in less than a second is really not good for the human body. I think we all would have heard about that in the news.

 

[jann1033]

not to add to your anxiety but not long ago on the news they had a pic of an inversion coaster stuck in the upside down mode. they did have to rescue the riders although since i wasn't there i don't remember all the details so it is possible. it was not rnr in that case cause it was outside

 

[ChrisFL]

Given the speed required to enter the loop, for the coaster to come to a dead stop any where in the loop would be pretty impossible (and most coasters have no braking mechanisms in the loops, if there is a failure, they just cruise to the next brake point in the track). Not to say that it could never, ever happen, but it would be pretty catastrophic...going from about 50 mph, to 0 mph in less than a second is really not good for the human body. I think we all would have heard about that in the news.

No, it wouldn't require that at all, if for example the launch only went to 30-40 mph before it went to the loop, it is possible that it could get stuck.

I seriously doubt that RnR coaster has been stuck, but other recent coasters HAVE been stuck in the middle of a loop or corkscrew, so it does happen.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

not to add to your anxiety but not long ago on the news they had a pic of an inversion coaster stuck in the upside down mode. they did have to rescue the riders although since i wasn't there i don't remember all the details so it is possible. it was not rnr in that case cause it was outside

That is so freakin' scary!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Luv2CtheMouse]

Cannot find anything in the news about it, I am certain that it is not factual.

 

[shafke]

Its possible but highly unlikely. If something like this happened it would mean that something broke on one of the trains and the ride would most likely have been down for days while they investigated what happened. If something happened where there was not enough speed at launch my guess is one of two things would happen. The train would valley out between the two loops or the computers would detect that there was not enough speed and attempt to stop the train before it even hit the loop. Despite the sensationalist stories in the news, the roller coaster is one of the safest rides in the park. Most accidents are caused by either riders or operators not following proper safety procedures and not by mechanical failures.

 

[wdwdavem]

While I'm not sure if this story is true I do know that it can happen. If there is a problem on a ride and an E-stop is triggered it it will stop the train at the next brake block. If there is a train problem it will stop it and lock it in position (even upside down) to prevent more damage or injury. If the rescuers feel there could be a problem they will not release the train until everyone is evacuated. It has happened before on other coasters.

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the shoulder harnesses on RnR aren't even really necessary, since gravity would keep you in your seat on the loops. The harnesses were installed in case the ride ever got stuck while upside-down. So I'd say it's possible.

 

[Jennasis]

I also keep thinking that at such a high profile place like WDW, surely we would've heard about a malfunction like this. The writer also claimed that the ride was back up in about an hour and a half (after the "rescue" and running the ride empty several times to check it).

 

[DepCor0311]

No, it wouldn't require that at all, if for example the launch only went to 30-40 mph before it went to the loop, it is possible that it could get stuck.

What exactly would it get stuck on? (Not being a smart-alec...actually asking the question )

 

[Pop Daddy]

usually something like that could only happen if I was on it

 

[peter11435]

As I said. It never happened.

 

[DepCor0311]

FYI...From coasterquest.com, a site about how coasters work...

At some point, many parks experience the same inconvenient power outages as the rest of us. If a coaster loses power, it can stop on the hill or in a brake. It WILL NOT stop on the track or in a loop if it loses power. Gravity is the sole propulsion of a roller coaster once it has left the top of the hill, so there is no way for it to stop it until it reaches a brake. Passengers are always removed from the trains during a power failure. The option is not available to remain seated and resume the ride when power is restored.

 

[pippy27]

My husband and son were on it when it broke down. This was about 1 1/2 to 2 years ago. It launched, then a second later the brakes slammed on. It went up into the first loop very slowly, but it came back down backwards. They were evacuated off the ride then. They said the best part about it was seeing the ride with the lights on and how it is crammed into the room.

 

[agnes!]

Check out this site... http://www.rideaccidents.com/ . There is no mention of this apocryphal RnR breakdown.

Jared has a comprehensive listing of almost every recent major theme park/carnival accident worldwide. I've been a regular reader for years. After reading through this site, I have sworn *never* to go on another travelling carny ride *shudder* and to never go on another inflatable rock wall (or similar play equipment).

agnes!