A few points to touch upon: 1. Wooden Roller Coasters, by design, are over-built, so much so that they are actually SAFER than their steel counterparts. The Phantom’s Revenge, which features basic support columns, is structurally sound. Now imagine if someone were to build an additional set of supports around the existing structure. They would be completely unnecessary to the coaster’s design or operation, yet nonetheless exist as a tactical redundancy, should a core support fail. This is the concept in play on coasters like the Racer, Jack Rabbit, Thunderbolt and any wooden coaster you happen upon. 2. There are two other support columns visible in the photograph in question which sit on concrete footers. This goes back to my first bullet point that the structure of the roller coaster is redundant by design. 3. The cinder blocks in question are painted to detect movement in the structure. If the structure moves, the maintenance staff would be the first to know, as the painted surface would be askew. There is nothing in the photograph indicating that the structure has moved in any capacity. 4. There is no way to verify if the support structure in question is actually paramount to the structure of the roller coaster. Some people have pointed out online that the support column isn’t even a part of the Racer’s core support structure, but rather that of a catwalk for maintenance staff. While there is no way to confirm or deny this assumption, it isn’t outside of the realm of possibility, as roller coasters feature numerous access points for the maintenance staff to do their job. 5. Wooden roller coasters are walked daily, and wood is replaced annually. The length of the Racer, Jack Rabbit and Thunderbolt is walked every morning before park open by maintenance staff. During such walks, staff members tap in loose nails, tighten bolts, and inspect for any faults in the support structure. That way, if an issue is found, it can be repaired before any riders board the train. During the off-season, sections of wooden roller coasters are replaced. The Racer may have been built in 1927, but its wood is no more than a few years old, and no older than a decade at most.
@@shannonrusso3853 I am certainly aware of what you say and I don’t disagree and I know more about what goes on in these amusement parks, but I’m not at liberty to say.
If you are not at Liberty to say things, why are you under here making comments in the first place at all? Don't bother saying anything if you can't be useful.
@@Catgirlbeatsu Well, in my case, I’m just giving people like you who have no clue about the mechanical workings and the assembly and disassembly of these mechanical devices that in many cases, they can’t be trusted. My eldest son this morning, remarked that he remembers. I wouldn’t let him on any carnival rides growing up.
People!!!! This isn’t holding up any part of the track. It’s a walkway. Park rides are commonly stabilized using wooden or cement blocks. I’ve been in the park industry for years. Ride the ride and have fun. Love how the reporter didn’t even enter the park to investigate the picture. And actually see what part of the ride this actually was. Nope, we’re just going show people, cause panic and assume it’s unsafe. Great reporting guys
This is possibly one of the more sensible comments, because you did comment on the fact that she did not bother to go into the park to look at anything. It is also possible that they might have been denied entrance, but given how many times we have seen the press in Kennywood from these local news stations, I would not buy that for a minute.
However, the fact that it is still holding up any part of the park that people walk on is a concern, and if they do that for one thing, it is most assuredly so that they are doing it in other places possibly of more detriment, and out of the view of the public eye. That's exactly where those kinds of things happen.
I’ve never been to Kennywood, but it’s very clear this isn’t part of the coaster especially if it’s been investigated by the state in the last several years let alone four days ago. Watch this photo not even be from inside the park or be AI generated.
Oooh I smell a tasty Darwin award coming from somewhere in your family line. I only hope that this news reporter doesn't fail to properly report upon it! 😂
Back in 1985 a monorail caught fire at Disney World. I was a guest that night and saw Reedy Creek evacuating the guests out of the train. Months later I became a full time Cast Member. I was informed that a Lead and a Supervisor made a decision to send that Monorail train out despite the warning lights that signal that there was a problem. Both were fired. Having worked attractions for 9 years I would recommend that you use common sense if you would ride it. I don’t trust the Parks Management. They do have other priorities.
And you worked at Disney world, by far one of the most abusive parks in the world, especially to their cast members working minimum wage in absurd weather conditions while having their bodies essentially nitpicked and made fun of.
Love how the media blows this way out of proportion. That is one of many support beams. It's quite safe. Plus it is a wooden coaster, they are made to flex and move a bit.
Hey Busch gardens. Show us your engineering degree and then come back and let us know why we should not be worried about something that is obviously jerry-rigged in the city of bridges that keep collapsing because they're ignored. I will sit here and wait.
What probably happened is, one the the original 1920's concrete footers cracked or the inserted bolts rusted away. At the last inspection the PA state inspectors saw it and it's going to be re-poured at the end of the parks season. You can see the footers on both sides and in between are still connected. It's hard to do concrete work during a busy park day. If you look at traveling rides and roller coasters, they spend their whole lives on temporary blocking. Same thing when your getting a new foundation for your home, it's on blocks too.
Nobody’s safety is at risk, this isn’t load bearing, little to no force is applied to it. It’s not even holding up a part of the actual ride, it’s holding up a catwalk. If you people were really concerned about these types of things take a look at the paper and glue houses that get knocked over in a weak tornado.
Okay, that's just this particular area. What about all the things that we don't see that's not getting reported on? You going to go defend that too? The fact that Kennywood is currently undergoing a lawsuit because they intentionally misrepresented what would be available for their customers to ride this season is already casting a very negative Shadow on kennywood, plus the fact that they avoid taxes by claiming that they are historical landmark despite mutating nearly none of the original parts of the park as they were.
@@Catgirlbeatsu Kennywood couldn’t get steel curtain running, that’s really not their fault. The manufacturer of the ride is to blame. Also, The likelihood is that anything “we don’t see” isn’t at all noteworthy if these are passing inspection. Pa has some very very strict requirements when it comes to amusement park ride safety.
Looks like the ground underneath eroded away. Thus making it not sit on the ground at all. So putting concrete blocks under it to make it safer and more level.
Tell us that you don't understand how things rot as they age. I mean, we could take a look at you, but I get a distinct impression that you're perhaps below the legal age of terms of service from how you're typing.
I don't see an issue if it is one standard, if there is many like that then there is a problem. But does look odd,and can easily form out and mix and pour concrete. But there is more to the story,someone is trying to burn this park over something.
To be perfectly fair, it is a well-known fact that Kennywood Dodge his taxes by trying to claim that they are historical landmark, yet they maintain practically nothing from the original Park and therefore should not be allowed to abuse that tax loophole. If the company is abusing that kind of tax loophole, why would you be trying to give them a break? That means that they more than have the money to fix this, but they're trying to pad the pockets of the owners and board members. That's it. The fact that this company is already undergoing a lawsuit because of misrepresentation to the public about what would be available during the riding season this year is only more telling of how little this company actually cares about the customer base.
I wouldn't go simply for what it cost, that's probably a better news story. In regards to the blocks, they surely didn't lift it up to put them under the post, probably not load bearing
Probably not load-bearing but all of the interviews were conducted with people who seem to be the type to think Crocs are cool so they're unlikely to understand any part of engineering.
if a string of the coaster cars go shooting off the collapsing track because it wasn't publicized and nobody forced them to repair it, would that be newsworthy?
those are the load bearing bricks. if those are gone, the whole thing falls apart. thats how that works. science. its like that bridge that that little boat hit, one pillar fell and then the whole thing fell apart. these things are built like a flimsy house of cards. thats why admission is soo cheap
Nobody in Pittsburg has ever passed a Physics class I guess. Just because you dont like the way something looks doesnt make it unsafe. People eat raw oysters everyday.
it's not a bungie cord, it's a piece of concrete... even more importantly, it's ONLY HOLDING UP PART OF THE WALKWAY! most of you are living in homes that rest on these! grow up
Should be alright. In the trailer park I've seen bricks hold up several heavy set family members. The bricks are still there. And the heavyset people still reside there
That was a minute and 23. I’ll never get back. Why don’t you do a little more investigation because I don’t think the investigation was very thorough! I would still ride it, That’s not even a support footer
KDKA was the first major local news source. The name is not just the name of my local CBS station. As a former student of broadcast journalism, I understand the prestige that comes with those call letters. That said, this news story isn't living up to your legacy. This is shoddy reporting with no investigation. There is nothing unsafe about The Racer. You just wanted clicks in this era of social media overtaking television. You guys can still be better than this.
Penn had to put someone on task to cover it. Do you know how much machinery is in Ag? In some states it is the Elevator Inspection people. Either way, at least there is oversight on the area of ride safety, unlike some states who do nothing.
its FIIIINNNNEEEEEE🤭....it looks like its been that way for 30 years and hasnt given up yet, i wonder how many coaster rides like that...good enough is good enough,its a Jesus coaster😂
I see you must have come in recently and visited either the southwestern region or the middle part of the state. My friend, I'm sorry for your loss of brain cells.
