One Train Could Be Dangerous/Boring

[Ilovthevu']

This just popped into my head, so please forgive me of the lateness. I was at SFOG in May and they were running Mind Bender and BTR with one train. On Mind Bender, the employees were talking when the one train was sent. The train came in and the employee didn't even notice until the last second. The employee had to run (very short run) to the switch to be at the controls.

The reason why this could be a dangerous situation is that the employee could have fell on the top of the train while rushing to their station.

The other fact that I have to take into consideration is that it would be a boring job just to deal with one train. I have to remind you guys that the track goes in a circle. For D Vu and V2, the workers always have to be on their toes because the ride goes through the station many times, this doesn't. They even were singing something in the station just because of the wait. So wouldn't it better to put two trains on the track (if they can, I understand broken trains), and then you wouldn't have these problems?

It helps both the employees and the guests.

[SfGaMownz]

As you said the employees were talking when the one train was sent so it isn't boring for them they have less work to do and get paied the same they probally like it that way.

[coastrcorey]

Well I don't know about this one, but on a lot of rides the train wouldn't have even entered the station if they weren't at the controls. The dispatch button would have had to be pushed in for it to advance. It's like an "operator presence" button. I don't know about this one, but a couple rides I do there are these buttons so the ride knows we're there.

[Ilovthevu']

Does everyone have to be pushing the same button at the same time? I don't know where you work. Maybe, you do work at SFGAm because it's close to Wisconsin, but with one train operation, does it seem boring (not as fun) as with two? However, not many times do I see one train at SFGAm except D Vu and V2 considering that they are different and don't have "full" circular tracks.

[Virtua Tennis]

The reason why this could be a dangerous situation is that the employee could have fell on the top of the train while rushing to their station.

Hows that possible? They all have to be clear and bring the train in (the train doesn't come in by itself unless it's a shuttle).

[coasterzak]

Yeah B:TR would never just come in off the brakes. Almost every coaster you must push an enable button to allow it to come off the final brake run. I know even working a standard boomerang you must press a buton and release the brakes so it can come back into the station. On an impulse it's all automatic, but I really don't think that's how B:TR, or any other continuous circuit for that matter works. The only coaster I've ever seen that happen on is an old (1926) wood coaster that uses skids and hand brakes. Seems unreasonable. . .

[Ilovthevu']

The reason why this could be a dangerous situation is that the employee could have fell on the top of the train while rushing to their station.

Hows that possible? They all have to be clear and bring the train in (the train doesn't come in by itself unless it's a shuttle).

I guess I meant just falling onto the track in the first place. Don't some workers just put their thumbs up without pushing a button though?

[w00dland]

Anyone ever hear of an op falling into the track with nothing on it INSIDE the station?

I didn't think so.

[SFGAMkid]

Isn't having one train ops on a track safer as in collisions and brake failures?

[coasterzak]

I don't know, I heard of when B:KF had the train in the station, they opened the floor, and there was a worker standing on the floor. She fell below the floor and had to be life flighted to the hospital. That's all I've ever heard of - and that was with a train dispatching.

[The Beast]

^I've never been on a floorless so please tell me...Does the floor just lower or does it slide out or something like that. How could the employee get hurt that bad if the floor just lowered?

[coasterzak]

The floor lowers a tiny bit and then it splits away from the train down the middle so that all is exposed is the track and either side of the track. The floor only comes up for loading purposes. It is a huge pit with a deep fall underneath it.

[coastrcorey]

Oh man...one of the coolest things. Experiencing the lowering of the floor on a floorless coaster. So exciting. It's life changing, you've got to witness this if you havn't already.

[twixmix0303]

About dispatch buttons, etc.:

On just about every coaster (Ragin' Cajun is different), there is the main operator's control panel located near the front of the train (sometimes a second right by it if the operator chooses not to stay in the booth) and a secondary one near the back of the train, opposite side of the track. For a train to be dispatched out of or into the station, both green dispatch buttons must be pressed in. If one is released, then the brakes will engage and the train comes to a stop. This is often the case when a rider is chewing gum.

Generally, the main control panel also includes the orange restraint release button. The secondary control panel includes the airgate switch, since it is on the airgate side of the station.

Both panels also include a large Emergency Stop button and a Ride Stop button. All operators put their thumbs up. It is the responsibility of the operators with control panels and dispatch buttons to watch the operators without buttons, because they are the only ones that can stop the train.

[Virtua Tennis]

/\ It varies from ride to ride, the panel and aux panel are on different sides of the station on all rides (except Ragin' Cajun cause you exit the same way, Spacely's not having an aux panel). The station has to be clear before they are clear to put their thumbs up (besides Demon when running 3 trains as long as people are behind the back yellow line and exiting).