Bush Beast

The Bush Beast

Original post

Can somone clarify if this story is true or false, if true can you give more details?

On the 16th of June 2004 the Yellow Bush Beast Train was seen sitting at the top of the lift hill, I have read on another site that the reason why the yellow train was sitting at the top of the lift was because of an electrical fire in the PLC Room located underneath the station. Maintenance were carrying out their daily checks (yes, maintenance were required to run the rides as though the park was still in operation for functionality purposes), and it would seem that the ‘old girl’ wasn’t going to go down without a fight. A fire broke out and the lift motor dropped power with the train staying where it was seen for around 2 – 3 days.

In the days succeeding, the electricians tried to re-wire all of the burnt cabling in the PLC Boards and the DB’s but due to the extensive damage, they were unable to bring the system back into full operation to continue on with the maintenance checks. A jump connection was made to get the lift motor working (which did work) and the yellow train was sent over the hill and around the grand old structure for the very last time.

The last time a train ever ran on Bush Beast was Friday 18th June 2004 and although the ride was in 2 train operation, it was the yellow train to ever make that final journey.

Comment 1 – djsupersleuth

Subject: Re: The Bush Beast
I was there until the last day 24th December 2004 (the very last maintenance employee) and can clarify that whilst there were problems with the Bush Beast PLC (namely a moronic electrician who had made changes to the PLC before he left around April 2004) there was no fire of the magnitude describe by that poster, I am not sure – there may have been a burnt CB or something but an electrical burn out not a full on fire etc etc. So no truth in that story.

Comment 2 – wonderland

Subject: Re: The Bush Beast
HI Djsupersleuth,
Thanks for clearing this up, can you remember what changes where made to the PLC?
Where they electrical changes?
Changes to the PLC logic?
or both?
What where the changes ment to do?

Thanks

Comment 3 – djsupersleuth

Subject: Re: The Bush Beast
Not real sure just remember a "gun" sparky changing inputs I think in the PLC and it was never the same since. It mysteriously broke down majorly in about early April 2004 about two weeks before park closure and only days before this "gun" sparky was finishing up – he had been let go early as he was the last one on so first out in a time of turmoil so maybe he deliberately made the changes to the PLC. All I really remember was that the day before he finished it failed in a big way and things had to be bypassed to operate it for the remaining couple of weeks.

Any Bush Beast experts out there?

Original post

Any Bush Beast experts out there? Can anyone tell us what each light / button / guage did on Bush Beast Control panel? Please post your answers.

Comment 1 – Wazza

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
I will scan you a copy of the control panel diagram from the Operations Manual that I have a copy of lying around

Comment 2 – Jubbie

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
I operated this ride in 1997 and the begining of 1998. From memory you only really had to use Four buttons and the rest were warning lights linked to the computer that ran the compressed air system. One button brought the train into the station from the waiting area, one button released the lap bars, one button locked the lap bars and the last released the train out of the station. The red one in the top right corner was the all important "E-stop". The line gates were operated by the loader on the platform. I would have to see the panel up close again to see which botton was what.

Comment 3 – wonderland

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
Here is a closeup of the Bush Beasts Operators panel , This pic was taken a week or so before the Bush Beast was demolished.

Comment 4 – Wazza

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
OK hopefully I have managed to explain all of the buttons. DJ if I have got something wrong I am sure u will correct me. I cant remeber what the orage light was that was immediately below the power on switch

Comment 5 – wonderland

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
Thats Awsome Wazza, Can you do the same for The Beastie Also.. Can tell me what the diagnostic display on the bush beast and beastie was for? (they where both covered up with a blue cover) What did they display? Thanks mate

Comment 6 – Bussy

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
I have the emergency light cover somewhere along with several other e-stop buttons from different rides.

To open the ride in the morning one of the supervisors would go to the ride before it opened and turn the ride on (Control Power, on the top left of the control panel), then wait until the Air Pressure light came on (below Control Power) then press the Alarm Silence button (right of Air Pressure light). Next was to press the Lift Start button (on the left, third row down). Then you would test the Lap Bar down button (on the right second row from the bottom), as the lap bars were left up by the maintenance guys. We would then dispatch the train by pressing and holding down the Ready Brake and Dispatch Brake release buttons (bottom row middle and right of middle buttons) until the train was completely out of the station. Once the train left the station it would enter Block A (top row middle light). Once the train had made its way around the end of the back curve it would come down the hill and enter Block B (top row, second from the right). Once the train had made its way around it would enter the brakes at the far end of the station area and the EM Brake light (top row, second from the left) and the EM Brake Release (bottom row first on the left) would turn on. To bring the train into the station you would press and hold down the EM Brake Release button, then the Trim Brake Release (right of EM Brake Release), then the Ready Break Release (middle of the bottom row), and finally the Dispatch Brake Release button (bottom row, second from the right) until the train was in positioned correctly in the station. You would then press the Lap Bar Up button (third row, on the right).

If the ride was running two trains you would follow the same procedures but two trains were not able to occupy the same block at the same time, basically you couldn’t dispatch the second train until the first train had come off the back curve.

Bussy

Comment 7 – djsupersleuth

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
Good job there Wazza,
I think the orange button under the "control on/off" switch was a "control on" indicator light but maybe it was a "air pressure OK" indicator light.
And the blue Ronis keyswitsh on the top right of panel was "control reset".

Comment 8 – bjs

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
The cars on both coasters had sensors bar located under them, one set were positioned on the LHS of the train while the other train had the bars on the RHS. this was to tell the system which Train was running. Both trains had a common bar also. If a train missed a sensor around the track this would cause a safety stop to ensure the two trains could not get close to one another (you can guess why). If this occurred the ride was stopped for safety reasons, the trains were then sent our one at a time while some one checked the PLC inputs for the problem sensor. The display was installed to help diagnose this type of problem quickly so the ride could be re-opened. the display was 3 characters, 103 which meant train 1 sensor three. Hope this helps.

Comment 9 – wonderland

Subject: Re: Any Bush Beast experts out there?
Fantastic, thankyou very much Bjs

Bush Beast’s older brother

Original post

Here is a link to some on ride video of the "Wild Beast" taken by some annoying canadian kids on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR-bVz_wOfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aVizlmn1RA
So people all is not lost, you can still go and have a ride on the Bush Beast. Just have to fork out the cost of an airfare to Toronto.
It looks about as rough as it used to be at Wonderland Syd as well.

Comment 1 – stace

Subject: Re: Bush Beast’s older brother
OMG it’s identical!

Comment 2 – Bussy

Subject: Re: Bush Beast’s older brother
And you can ride Beastie there as well it’s called Ghoster Coaster. You can also ride the real big brother of both The Mighty Canadian Mine Buster.

Bussy

Comment 3 – Wazza

Subject: Re: Bush Beast’s older brother
And you can ride Beastie there as well it’s called Ghoster Coaster. You can also ride the real big brother of both The Mighty Canadian Mine Buster.
Bussy
So who is going to organise a trip to Toronto so we can go and relive all things Wonderland. I mean just have a look at the decor, all you need to do is go there and squnit a bit and you would think you are back at Wonderland.

Comment 4 – alexb

Subject: Re: Bush Beast’s older brother
That top photo – Batty Chicken? (in later years anyway). Bottom photo is so obviously Hanna-Barbera Land, however, your suggestion wazza is not too out of this world.
I could see my way to planning for a trip there in early 2010?

Comment 5 – Wazza

Subject: Re: Bush Beast’s older brother
That top photo – Batty Chicken? (in later years anyway). Bottom photo is so obviously Hanna-Barbera Land, however, your suggestion wazza is not too out of this world. I could see my way to planning for a trip there in early 2010?
alexb
2010..I cant wait that long. Whats wrong with 2008

Comment 6 – alexb

Subject: Re: Bush Beast’s older brother
well, simplest explaination is finances.
it will take me that long to save for a trip of that nature…..

Comment 7 – Bussy

Subject: Re: Bush Beast’s older brother
I’m going to Canada later this year and was hoping to get over to Toronto again, but it looks like I won’t be able to, mainly because of time and money constraints.

Bussy

How The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked

Original post

I have always wanted to know how The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked were they controlled by a computer or were they manually operated
Any info is great

thanks,

jcrook

Comment 1 – wonderland

Subject: Re: How The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked
Hi, Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie, Space Probe and all other rides in the park where controlled by a PLC.
Each ride had one or more PLC.
PLC stands for ‘programmable logic controller’
A PLC is a digital computer used for automation of electromechanical processes.
Unlike general-purpose computers, the PLC is designed for multiple inputs and output arrangements, extended temperature ranges, immunity to electrical noise, and resistance to vibration and impact.
Programs to control ride operation are typically stored in battery-backed or non-volatile memory.

Comment 2 – jcrook

Subject: Re: How The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked
Thanks for the info wls,
Were there rides that were hard to operate or hard to maintain and were eventually removed from the park?

Thanks,
jcrook

Comment 3 – wonderland

Subject: Re: How The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked
Thanks for the info wls, Were there rides that were hard to operate or hard to maintain and were eventually removed from the park? Thanks, jcrook
No Idea Jcrook, you would need to ask djsupersleuth about that. I never worked at the park i just made this website. djsupersleuth worked in Maintenance and would be able to asnwer your questions.

Comment 4 – jcrook

Subject: Re: How The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked
thanks for you help anyway

Comment 5 – Bussy

Subject: Re: How The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked
Thanks for the info wls, Were there rides that were hard to operate or hard to maintain and were eventually removed from the park? Thanks, jcrook
All of the rides were easy to operate, some harder and more complicated than others but all easy. I would say that in terms of maintenance Bush Beast would of been the biggest pain in the arse due to the size and all of the wood on the bloody thing. Bussy

Comment 6 – jcrook

Subject: Re: How The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe worked
thanks for the information bussy

the reason why i asked because The Demon, Bush Beast, Beastie and Space Probe were my favourite rides

jcrook