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Photo upload complete! Here are some better quality shots of today's action: The crew were just finishing zip tying this to the fence as I drove in: Here's a shot nobody has seen before... heaps of track laid out in the carpark! But what colour is it? Took a few coaster-nerd close-ups to capture some of the details. On the right hand side, you'll note piece number 50. More on this later: Random close-up Mack crates that escaped the spray-cans: What would appear to be station footings were on a flatbed this morning. By lunchtime, the truck had moved into the station area: Station area footings already in place: Track pieces getting a light sanding to the joins: Another random footing picture - i took this because it was interesting that it seems like the numbering system didn't quite match up at some point... Over the far corner, near the highway: Halfway down MW driveway - these pieces all seem to line up perfectly for an incline. Looking at the footings around it, it would appear to be the entry into a loop: Its hard to make out, the the tallest footing in the above picture looks almost identical to that in this picture of the loop on Flash (the one where the two cranes cross over near the ground (to the right of the guy in the foreground)): The first piece is lifted from the storage area to be taken into the ride envelope: And the lucky winner is....Track piece number 49: At this point, the dogman notices something about the track - the connection points have small nodules (if it was made of wood i'd call it a dowel - to make a dowel joint) at one end of the track piece. Just as they are about to set the piece down, they pull back and swing the piece 180 degrees, to put the nodules at the opposite end. It was hard to hear them over the machinery, but by the sounds of things, these nodules all need to point in the same direction: And it's in, and ready to be lifted into place: Remember track piece number 50? From the third photo in this post? TADA! That's all I had time for today. I daresay that more pieces will make it in there this afternoon. Overheard: This was repeated by several people at different places around the site. Fairly confident someone dropping by tomorrow might capture that moment! Grain of salt time. He wasn't in a dippin' dots uniform, but I was a bit surprised given everything has been kept so hush hush that this sort of info would get shared at random through a construction fence. The two loops business is especially dubious, but the way he described what he called the 'second' loop, sounded more like an overbanked curve. The then went on to call out an element as a 'third loop' which sounded more like a helix. Thats all from me - much as I would like to, I won't be down tomorrow - so anyone who hasn't been down yet, head down tomorrow and park right near the driveway entrance for a good chance to see the first pieces lifted into place...

Track piece #49 is the first track within the envelope. Looks for form part of a loop. Second piece is going in now... Second piece is #50

You've all probably noticed an awful lot of posts vanishing from this thread. We've been pretty clear that we will be moderating this topic to keep it on topic. Anything not relevant to the coaster construction (and this includes commenting on other peoples questions or posts) is going to be removed, so may as well stop wasting your time posting such things in the first place.

As you can see in my above post, the new road is now open, with the main driveway closed. And here is what it looks like overhead - the main driveway is now blocked (at the red line) with traffic directed to turn right and follow the fenceline. Yellow line is the limit of guest parking - and there is a traffic warden (ops cast member) directing guests \ deliveries \ construction traffic - yellow line for guests, orange line for deliveries, and the gateway to the construction storage area is about the same place. Green line at the bottom is where fencing has been removed so vehicles can gain access to the site. The temporary fencing lining the north side of the driveway (west of the red line) was in the process of being removed today, so the driveway area is likely to remain closed until construction is complete.

By the looks of it the supports before the station are being installed today. 188 is the last support before the switch track

We can dream!

Three more pieces were moved onto the site this afternoon (Photo TPSN)

I have not personally had experience operating Arkham Asylum myself, but from what I understand the only mechanical difference to the ride when it was refurbed was removing the initial brake run and replacing it with the magnetic brakes as currently seen. So I can neither confirm nor deny if this has been removed, but as it currently stands the ride is fully automatic from dispatch to unloading. As far as crossing the platform whilst the floor is dropped, if you did that you may as well be walking out the door instead of crossing the platform. As DjRappa has stated with Scooby Doo if an operator needs to cross the track if they are on the load platform they can hit a button which turns on a little green light above the main control panel. When this is illuminated no further cars will dispatch until it's manually turned off on the MOCC. A light also turns on under the track to make sure the staff member doesn't fall flat on their face.

Oh dear this is getting a tad ridiculous. Simple... Scooby it is a fundamental part of the ride control system, specifically and only integrated for this purpose. THREE things would need to happen in order for it to go wrong. The main operator enables track crossing mode... you will see a green light come on beside the control room and also a light comes on illuminating the step on the track where you cross. this is also only a slight (ie normal size step). Then the cast memeber knows it's safe to cross and can do so. Then once they have completed the crossing, crossing mode can be turned off. THEN the station attendant still has to dispatch a car (remember the main op doesn't dispatch cars) before something moves. So that's three people who have to violate a set and documented procedure for there to be any sort of incident. Arhkam, there is no such system. The main op simply brings the train back in (if its not automatic - i dont know if it is). So the floor which isn't locked out needs to not move for 1. The cast member needs to take large steps down and back up to cross the lowered floor, and not fall over or trip. The main op needs to know they are crossing and be aware of that (they are meant to be looking at the train) and then not follow the usual procedure of bringing the train in. So it only takes one person to cause an accident, and it isn't a formalised part of ride operating procedures or the control system, totally different.

You're welcome @Glubbo. I'm usually stuck at work watching on from the Parkz forums, but decided to take the month of April off, just because i could (no plans whatsoever) - so when I heard footings went in yesterday, I thought i'd take a trip down. word of warning though - remember it is school holidays. I had good intentions of finally trying out Arkham's VR today, but the 45 minute wait time was a bit much (it was back into the themed asylum 'rooms' prior to the ramp). I did manage a quick trip on Doomsday thanks to the single rider line... but that was about all i did - apart from shooting a few action shots of Superman. As for the 'loops' revelation, I very much believe that these guys don't understand the finer aspects of coaster elements - and anything that does a full circle (helix, loop, roll etc) would likely be classed as a loop to them - hell Dreamworld uses that logic on the Wedgie.

Wow, this is going crazy pedantic.. its not about being able to shift blame, it's about accountability and diligence organisations have safe work practices and policies designed to keep staff and customers safe. In most organisations, after training, staff are signed off as being understanding and compliant to these policies. If an accident were to occur, whilst the organisation will be ultimately liable due to the accident occurring on their property, the staff member if found to be in breach of trained and acknowledged skills and practices, could be liable for fines from a regulating body, and disciplinary action/dismissal from the employer.

Remember the station probably wasn't manufactured by Mack though

@Reanimated35 I thought it would be pretty obvious that this is the reason for GL closure (along with maintenance), since the rides envelope is right next to this new coaster, and there are a number of footings within the GL fencing. High cranes, installing coaster parts very close to another ride wouldn't be safe to operate.

what they did to GL

Have to be honest. I've never known so much hype and carry on for a tiny little lolly shop. Put me firmly in the 'I don't get it' camp. Like if this was at a Westfield would anyone care?

Well here you go: They have also moved a couple more supports under the shelter in preparation for installation

Yeah AlexB did you even read my post where I pointed out the numerous differences between Scooby and the way you propose for Arkham?

I had that thought - the only thing i could think of was an extended downhill segment that had to cross over other track and therefore couldn't have supports. i'll not speculate on that further - lest we go round in circles... but thats just what i found \ what i saw.

In a classroom, that's usually the substitute teacher.

Assuming the pieces i saw being brought in were the lead-in to the loop, I would suggest the tabs face in the direction of travel.

Which piece @Ryande16? You mean piece number 50? I would assume it would be right next to the first piece #49. I didn't stick around to watch them drop it - the first piece took a good 20 minutes and i'd already stayed much longer than I had planned.

If a member of the GP ever says "loop" it could really mean any form of inversion,

A Zero-G roll could be a 'loop' to a construction worker unfamiliar with coaster elements...Flash has one. @AlexBTHANK YOU for the pics and explanation. I'm on leave from work atm, and am giving serious thought to driving down from Brisbane for an hour or three tomorrow. With the worker telling you track will be assembled tomorrow, I think there will be a few of us happy snappers to make up for you not being able to be there.

I'm only casually reading this conversation, but I'd say there would be multiple layers of protection (Swiss cheese model perhaps) to minimise or eliminate the risk. There's probably a lot of tasks that always have some risk, but having multiple layers of protection will hopefully reduce that risk to something easily manageable.

HERE'S HOPING!!!

2 loops? I hope not. 62 metres high? Fuck yeah!

UNITED AIRLINES themed coaster COMFIRMED. In seriousness, unless they're going to tear up the former driveway and build a decent queue, I can't see it being much different from GL.

Posted by TPSN

Hmm I don't think this shop is even close to on par with the Lego store in terms of significance.

A couple of Weeks or days... is that the timeframe they gave you?? No wonder we haven't had an announcement...

It's not too hard to work out which supports will go up next with these tie-down rods now missing their nuts. Next time somebody is at MW having a look to should be able to tell which way the train will run by the K labels written on the footings. K001 is the first support foundation in the middle of the station & 193 is the last label at the end of the track. The base plates are getting big.

that's a very different situation.

I drove past Movie World this morning, it looks as if a couple of supports have gone up.

@SkeetaEven though you can be a salt merchant at times most times I must say you do post good stuff. Cheers for that! Interesting, next phase of construction, expect big cranes and higher supports/track?

Anyone driving past today?