Originally Posted By Manfried Gosh, excuse me for pointing out what I see as an operational flaw. If and when there is an accident at the unstaffed unload station, lawyers for the plaintiff will have a field day.
Originally Posted By TP2000 There's a Matterhorn CM right there, a few feet away at the loading area. Since 1959. What about that don't you understand Manfried? It's not like the Matterhorn ride is on auto pilot. There are multiple CM's there, often just a few feet away. This thing has been running safely since 1959, and somehow you've just uncovered what you believe to be some operational flaw that decades of previous management and government inspectors failed to notice?
Originally Posted By Manfried Sorry for expressing my view TP2000. And it should be noted that "decades of previous management and government inspectors failed to notice" does not help in a lawsuit. Disney is supposed to be all about safety. If you work at the park as it sounds like you do, then you should be more concerned about pointing out a possible safety flaw then standing pat. Sort of like "well I've driven cars for decades without a seatbelt as that's the way I drove them in the fifties." Your argument is in the same vein. Just because its been done that way does not mean it cannot be improved.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "Gosh, excuse me for pointing out what I see as an operational flaw." But what makes you qualified?
Originally Posted By Manfried I'm no more qualified than the "expert" supervisor at Disneyland who decided to switch out the docking ropes for the Columbia causing that disastrous accident. And I used to work for Disney too. Sorry if I upset the "its worked that way for years" crowd.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL >>>Someone said the chalet is where you dispatch from now? When I worked Matterhorn, you dispatched from down below, along the track. The tower was the location from which you monitored the mountain, and oversaw breakdown procedures should they become necessary.<<< That was me Moondoggie, It's been over 25 years since I worked the Rock, but I think we're talking about the same thing. Load advances the sleds and the computers take over. The dispatcher sits up in Tower monitoring the ride, setting the dispatch speed, checking for people removing their belts...etc. Technically, the Mountain dispatches itself, but Load, Belts and Dispatcher can use an inhibit button to pause operation. As for not using an Unloader, as has been stated, unless it is running at full capacity, one is not needed for safe operation. The sled at unload will not move forward unless the loader advances the sled at load. And for someone to compare no unloader at Matterhorn with the accident with the Colombia is pretty ridiculous.
Originally Posted By TP2000 ^^^ Very much agreed TMICHAEL. I don't work there Manfried. But I'm constantly fascinated by the logistics and unseen details of the place. I don't know whether to be flattered or offended that you thought I work there, as it means I've likely spent WAY too much time on the Internet! ;-) The explanation about number of bobsleds on the track dictating staffing levels makes perfect sense. At least it does to me. And Disneyland management.
Originally Posted By MoondoggieCA Got it, TMichael. It hasn't been quite as long for me (working the Matterhorn, that is). I hired into Tomorrowland Attractions in '83 and spent a couple of years there. Then I worked a few years in Main St. Attractions/Parking Lot. Didn't work Attractions in the Fantasyland area until the late 80s. Let me ask you a question though. As my memory has begun to fade, I have forgotten some of the details of the attraction. What did we call the positions along the line? I seem to remember it being "dispatch" (the belts position at the entry to the cave), "ready" (the belts position on the track between load and dispatch), "load," and "unload," right? Then you had the 4 holds, correct? I worked the attraction fairly frequently, but not as much as other attractions in the park. And when I was on the attraction and in the tower rotation, it seems like I remember not having to do all that much (that is, of course, when everything was running smoothly). Monitoring the mountain, checking belts from above, and overseeing breakdown procedures was what I remember doing the most. Occasionally you'd get the "sled that escaped dispatch" which you of course had to assist with. Would be interesting to see how much changed between when you and I worked it. As for the mountain dispatching itself, I do remember that. But only for the ready and dispatch positions, right? Those sleds would advance unless you hit an e-stop there on the rock, or if the person at load hit the inhibit which kept the station (as a unit) from advancing. The load person had to hit a dispatch button to release the sled from that position is what I remember. Otherwise the load and unload sleds wouldn't move automatically. Or maybe I'm just getting old and have forgotten.
