http://www.pointbuzz.com/news.htm?id=1142

Walt Schmidt - Co-Publisher, PointBuzz
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Well, I can't say I'm surprised. But I guess it won't be running in the rain much anymore.

I hope the ride returns to three train operation soon, because that capacity can seldom be matched by any other coaster.

It's called Millennium Force, not "Millenium" Force. Thanks.

Because it's never rained in Sandusky while they've operated Magnum before?

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Ride on, MrScott!

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That's not what I'm saying. Since there's been an accident due to the rain, wouldn't you think they'd be a bit more cautious, at least for a while?

It's called Millennium Force, not "Millenium" Force. Thanks.

I'm sure they are going to be hyper senstive, not only with Magnum, but with all. I thought they already were pretty up on their policy for operating during rain.

*** Edited 5/28/2007 1:11:03 PM UTC by GregTSmith***

Question: How do you explain the actions of millions of people who wait hours upon hours to be dropped down a hill?

Answer: You don't...

Basically it can't be explained other than the incident was a fluck.

-Craig-
2008:Magnum XL-200 | 2007:Corkscrew/Magnum XL-200/Maverick
http://www.pointphotography.net/

IMO this was a way of say "**** Happens" by CP.

Don't get me wrong though if it was the rain then so be it. I'll still be there riding it.

<Matt>
101 on Magnum and counting...

It was raining really hard that day, believe me.

Maverick - 62 - SECOND TRAIN EVER!
TTD - 59 Rollback - 1
MF - 87

CEDAR POINT RIDE HOST
2008 - Mantis/Millennium Force

The person in management who allowed Magnum to run, loaded, in unsafe conditions should be fired in my opinion. Completely unacceptable and a failure of their duty to ensure the safety of their guests.

Before you jump to conclusions, you have to look at exactly when this happened. Do you know if it was raining at the moment of this incident? Do you think that maybe it started to rain after the train started its initial circuit? You need to answer many many many more questions before making such a statement. True that safety is number one, but blaming it soley on the person in charge without looking into the situation and answering every possible situation is not very smart.

*** Edited 5/28/2007 2:46:03 PM UTC by BGRooDoG***

Maverick - 62 - SECOND TRAIN EVER!
TTD - 59 Rollback - 1
MF - 87

CEDAR POINT RIDE HOST
2008 - Mantis/Millennium Force

People complain when rides close for rain. People complain when the rides are open during rain and bump. You just can't please people.

I'd have to agree with it having to rain extremely hard for Magnum to do that. In season 2001, I was working at the front of the park when a massive rainstorm hit, and while the park actually ended up closing early, Magnum never once had that incident. So no one deserves to be fired over mother nature, if that was the case, I think most of us would have been fired at least once by now...

Owner: Gould Photography

The rain would not have had a significant effect if it had just started. Trains would have hit each other a long time ago if this were the case. They have to be saturated with water. The brakes dry out relatively quickly when slowing a train because of the heat induced. I've personally been on Magnum in the rain and it started to downpour when I was on the lift until after I got off the ride. The brakes where not significantly effected as we stopped on the transfer. It takes a good amount of water to saturate the brakes to the point of failure, if the trains continue to run, they tend to stay dry enough for operation. The ride should not be run loaded until enough empty trains are run to heat up and dry out the brakes.

Water isn't a problem that just started now, it's been going on since the ride opened. I personally wouldn't care much if something happened when they ran the ride empty. It wasn't empty, it was loaded. I'll take a empty rollback long before putting peoples lives at risk.

Who cares about people who complain about a ride not being open when it is unsafe to open the ride at that moment?

My vote for what happened was opening the ride up too quickly after being closed during the rain. This comes from seing the ride operate in many different circumstances. Nobody should be fired for something they could not have prevented. On the other hand, if had the ability to act and didn't or acted is such a way that caused the incident, then they are responsible for what happens.

All of the above is assuming that Cedar Point is not covering something up. While it would not suprise me one bit, I'd like to think they are not.

*** Edited 5/28/2007 3:33:55 PM UTC by Jump to Conclusions***

I don't think they have anything to cover up. I think weather-related safety is a major concern. It's not like it's hard to predict a thunderstorm is going to hit in the next 20 minutes nowadays with radar and lightning detection and what not. I've seen many times where they probably let things go a bit longer than they should have before shutting rides down.

I understand trying to keep numbers up and keep guests happy, but they've left rides open far too long before.

They're really lucky more people haven't been struck by lightning.

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Storm Chasing

If you really want to get all investigational about it...

Why was the train in the station late enough in leaving that the trains stacked?

Does anybody know if there was anybody on the third train, the one that actually caused the incident? Or was that train empty, in preparation for the ride going down for rain, delayed as the crew had to find and fasten 36 seat belts? Ah, in which case we can blame the incident on the seat belts, but that's another matter entirely.

Personally, I don't think the rain is the whole story. I suspect that something broke, they know what it was, they fixed it, and they are confident that this is a "stuff happens" type of failure. I would not go so far as to say they're trying to cover anything up, but they are omitting technical details that, quite frankly, are nobody's business. As I said in another forum, those who need to know, know exactly what went wrong, and the rest of us can blame it on the rain.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Blame it on the rain? That kind of reminds me of a song.

edit: spelling *** Edited 5/28/2007 3:49:32 PM UTC by Junior***

University of Toledo - Go Rockets!!!
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I think that Murphy may have had his hand in on this one. There were probably a few factors that came together to cause this.

1. It was/had been raining so the friction brakes had some moisture on them and were prone to a little slipping.

2. The weather probably called for trimless rides, so that train was hauling ass when it got to the safeties right outside the 3rd tunnel.

3. This one is speculation on my part, but it's possible that there may have been a "lack of full pressure" situation with the safeties that caused the train to slip through. This wouldn't be the first time those brakes weren't at full pressure if this is true.

4. From what I've heard about this year's crew, they can be rather slow at times. In fact I've heard that they set up quite often. Couple this with those dreaded ponchos everyone wears that add a good 5-10 seconds onto load times, it wouldn't surprise me to say that this type of incident could have been avoided had they been a more efficient crew.--Although this last one should be considered a moot point since this type of incident should not be possible if the ride is functioning properly, it is still noteworthy in this case now that this incident has happened.

Magnum crews always boasts about being one of the few rides allowed to stay open while its raining. We were one of the few rides that people could still have fun on even while it was pouring out. I fear that may end now.

Magnum 3rd-in-charge 2004

And the over-reacting to this "bump" continues.

It was a non-issue.

Let....it.....go......

"Laughter is the closest distance between two people"

I'm surprised this wasn't a press release.

<3Mav

You call something that damages two trains and puts people at risk a "non-issue?"