Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[BeemerBoy]

I'm just upset that another park is slandering bridges.

[Schotcher]

Just wondering, out of July 1st-3rd, which one if any would be the best day (least crowds)to go to BGW? There's a small chance I could go the 30th of June, but would the crowds be a lot lighter than the 1st-3rd?

Edited April 21, 2012 by Schotcher

[Skycoastin Steve]

^I would say the 2nd. The 3rd is probably included in a lot of people's 4th of July holidays, and you don't want to go on the weekend. Everyone is going to want to go either the 3rd or 4th, meaning the 2nd (Monday), should be the least crowded.

 

At least that's how I interpret it.

[adeuce02]

What's with all the soft opening questions. I thought only the year around parks soft open rides but I might be wrong. Anyway can't wait to go home to virginia beach second week of june so I can ride verbolten.

[Intimidator305]

^^^ If I had to guess, I'd agree with Steve on Monday July 2nd.

[cfc]

^I would say the 2nd. The 3rd is probably included in a lot of people's 4th of July holidays, and you don't want to go on the weekend. Everyone is going to want to go either the 3rd or 4th, meaning the 2nd (Monday), should be the least crowded.

 

At least that's how I interpret it.

 

I agree with this. The park is putting on an extended fireworks show for Independence Day on July 3 and 4. Sunday, July 1, is the first night of Illuminights, so I'd go on Monday. But be advised that Williamsburg itself will be pretty busy that week. You can catch July 4th fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg, too (they put on a pretty good show, and the CW Fife and Drum will performing).

 

And remember, on busy days, Quick Queue is your friend.

[Schotcher]

Thanks everyone! ^ We were planning on going on the Coaster Tour in the morning, and does anyone know if the "Front of the line access for all four major coasters" means Quick Queue or something different? And also, June 30th would really be as bad as July 1st-3rd?

[Sneaky]

I don't know if anybody has seen this yet.

Apparently there has been an accident while testing Verbolten.

 

I read this on the dutch website Themepark.nl and it linked to bgwfans.com

Disclaimer: This is a rumor. A rumor with confirmable information to back it up, but a rumor nonetheless. Take it as you will.

 

From what I’ve been able to gather there was a major accident resulting in one (serious sounding) injury inside Verbolten’s event building today. Apparently a block brake inside the building malfunctioned causing the yellow train to valley sometime on the 19th. On the 20th they brought in winch truck to get the train back up to the first launch so they could re-launch it and continue testing. Anyway, right as the train was about to crest the hill (where the first launch is) the strap snapped causing the train to roll back down the first drop, through the first turn, and collide with the winch truck. This shoved the winch truck into one of Verbolten’s support columns and threw the driver out of the cab some distance across the building. The condition of the winch truck driver is currently unknown. As for the truck, I’ve been told that it took hours for them to finally get it out of the building and it looked like it had literally wrapped itself around the support similar to what you’d see in a car accident where a car hit a light pole. The condition of the support column is currently unknown but if it’s damaged, I see major problems ahead for the coaster. What about the train? Well I’ve heard that the yellow train (the one involved in the indecent) sustained heavy damage as well from colliding with the winch truck. Because the building was evacuated within seconds of the event, it’s hard to know the extent of the damage but if that truck is any indicator, things can’t be good.

 

Now for the evidence. We have multiple independent sources coming forward confirming that at least something very, very bad happened. I can confirm that from opening to at least 2 pm the yellow train was inside the event building the whole time. Also, testing was planned for around noon today but was then canceled around 1 or so.

 

If what we’ve heard is true and someone was indeed injured, our thoughts and prayers go out to that person and their family. We wish them all the best.

 

I'm not completely shure if all of this is true, but I thought I should post it here.

 

~Sneaky

[A.J.]

I'm confused as to where the winch truck was. Does the winch truck follow the track or does it drive around inside the building? I would think that they would station a winch just behind the peak of the launch hill so that they could pull the train up and over and then slowly tug it backward.

[CardCraze]

I'll wait until I hear more to make judgement, seeing as it's just rumors at this point. I'd like to believe they are just rumors, but we'll see. Anyways, here comes the GP super experts to the rescue;

 

I heard it crashed and my step moms uncle works on the ride

-BGW FaceBook page.

[Skycoastin Steve]

This is insane, tough to comprehend how the train could have been going fast enough to do that kind of damage. But physics is a crazy beast. Following up on BGWFans, it looks like they still expect the ride to open May 18, even with the support possibly having to be replaced (as well as the yellow train obviously).

[Moose]

I'm confused as to where the winch truck was. Does the winch truck follow the track or does it drive around inside the building? I would think that they would station a winch just behind the peak of the launch hill so that they could pull the train up and over and then slowly tug it backward.

 

To me it sounds like a regular truck that drives on roads etc that was used to winch the train. It was probably located within the ride envelope along a portion of track the coaster train would not have traversed if the strap hadn't broken. It sounds like a very bad placement of the truck. Hopefully everyone recovers and they've learned something about train recovery from this unfortunate accident.

[imawesome1124]

I'm still skeptical about this whole thing. I don't doubt that it might have valleyed, but I doubt that it crashed into any truck. Unless they release photos of the damage I can only assume it's a rumor.

[cfc]

I'm having trouble buying this story, too. The amount of detail is making me suspicious. And "multiple independent sources"? Numerous little birdies, perhaps? I'm waiting for some actual confirmation.

Edited May 2, 2012 by cfc

[Gigalyte]

What I don't understand is how would BGW keep this quite from the local media, If a person was supposed to be thrown from the truck that person should be close to death it would seam. To be ejected from the vehicle would mean the impact was like a high speed car accident, you don't just get thrown from cars/trucks from a bump, this is some serious impacts were talking about. So it seam this person would be seriously hurt and 911 would have had to be called, the local news agency's would only need to hear 911 dispatched to BGW over the scanners to be on the scene hoping to get some sensational story on Rollercoasters Kill!!!

[chickenbowl]

I just want someone to explain to me how easily a block brake can "malfunction." They're designed with so much precision, and how would this malfunction cause the train to valley? If they're so easy to malfunction, why aren't trains crashing everyday? Hmm, I'm just a bit confused about this "accident."

[asimowalk]

I just want someone to explain to me how easily a block brake can "malfunction." They're designed with so much precision, and how would this malfunction cause the train to valley? If they're so easy to malfunction, why aren't trains crashing everyday? Hmm, I'm just a bit confused about this "accident."

In the first testing stages for the coaster, there is probably no automated program to run the ride. It could be that the train (mind you that it's empty so it's lighter) was stopped on the brake run very hard in a way that part of it was still hanging off so it had enough weight to pull the train backwards. That's the best that I could come up with with this story...

[A.J.]

I also don't understand how the block can malfunction. If the trigger for the brake is at the center of the train or further back, there should not be a problem, because more than half of the train would have already crested over the top of the helix.

 

If it's in the front and the train stops hard right at the beginning, it's totally going to roll back and eventually valley.

 

As for the truck, it's completely logical (albeit totally dangerous) to park it right in the center of the helix so the winch can get a straight shot up and over the pulley, and approximately line up with the first hill's track so the train can get up and over. Like I said though, it's totally dangerous to be there, as the train probably weighs more than the truck that's winching it out.

 

Possible lawsuit against the company that made the straps that held up the cable?

[netdvn]

Got back from a long day at the park...

 

- Ramp Jam is in full force. Wanna get a great view of Verbolten? You can get some cool bridge shots from the DF area. Building looks smaller from back there than it does from the Bumper Car house. Oh and the skateboarders/BMX bikers were awesome.

- Park was overrun with bands today.

- Got an interview for Verbolten crew 2012. Hopefully things work out for the best.

- Saw some higher ups around Verbolten. The ride was supposedly testing (BGWFans leaked video footage of the ride running).

[TXman308]

And here is that video (sorry for the annoying music, not mine).

 

Edited April 22, 2012 by robbalvey

[coasterfreak101]

Love how quick it launches into the show building and how fast it looks like it'll be taking that last little airtime hill, judging by the speed it turns into the brakes with! I wish it didn't roll so slow / get braked so much in the bridge, but I'm guessing there might be some noises and stuff (squealing wheels, breaking wooden beams, etc.) so that could still be cool!

[sammmmmy]

^ I wouldn't be so quick to say its going to slow down exactly that much at the bridge. If I recall correctly, tons of coasters with LSMs in the initial testing stages slow down/don't slow down a considerable amount at all blocks, and then the park adjusts the LSMs accordingly. Fingers crossed it'll go a bit faster!

[A.J.]

Hopefully they can get Yellow train back into operation. I really want to see them haul [censored] with five trains on opening day.

[coasterfreak101]

^^Oh, I know that! So yeah, I'm hoping it'll move a little faster, but I know they said they had a few things still up their sleeve (and something about an "effect" for the bridge?) so I'm just waiting to see! Can't wait to ride this thing no matter how fast or slow it goes, for real.

[Skycoastin Steve]

I think BGWFans has sufficiently made asses out of themselves on this one (as if it was possible to do so even more). Thankfully whatever happened wasn't even remotely as serious as they panicked and reported.