Handsignals

I was watching a tape of one of those old Discovery Channel coaster shows. Namely, i was watching the one that showed Mantis (pre-seat belts, pre-coed-ness). In it they talked to a couple of the ops about the handsignals they must use. I understand the thumbs up, but what about the other ones that are used around the park? Can someone fill me in on the standard and special handsignals used.

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Adventuredome Ride Op
MGM Grand Adventures Ride Op
Future CP Ride Op

Well, crossing your arms/wrists means that you're going to cross over a coaster train, which is a signal to the controls not to dispatch. On Disaster, as far as I can recall, grabbing your wrist while your arms are above your head means "release the lap bars." We would use that when someone would accidentally put a bar down or not be seated correctly.

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
Let's get to 100 votes for a NEW POLL!

Different rides use the same signals, but different ways. At Raptor crossing your arms means you are crossing through the train, at Magnum that means to stop the train.

At Raptor you grab your wrist with your hand and yell "HOLD" to stop a train being dispatched, at Disaster, from what CrystalKat was saying, means to release the lap bars.

It can get confussing at times when you are trained for so many different rides.

John
Magnum Crew 99
Raptor Crew 00

Ive seen this at the point before, can you explain this. On Mantis sometimes attendants will hold up numbers like 2 or 4 or 3. What do these numbers signal to the controls op?

Also,I dont know if you all really care or not but here are some of the signals ive learned from the two parks I work at:

Adventuredome:
Index finger- clear
Closed Fist- hold
Swiling Index Finger in Air- open airgates
Thumb up- open restraints
Thumb down- close restraints
Arms above head crossed at wrist E-Stop
Hand like a gun- Cross Train
Slashing motion across throat- Stop ride

(only really use first two for coaster)

MGM:
Thumbs up- clear
Arms above Head crossed at wrist- Hold/Estop
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Adventuredome Ride Op
MGM Grand Adventures Ride Op
Future CP Ride Op

The numbers they hold up are to either release the seat or the harness. If they are holding their wrist with a number that is for the seat. If it is just 1 hand with a number it is the harness.

If we hold our wrist up with a number that means we want a harness released. Your informations is backwards.

Speaking of E-stop did you know that water slides have a E-stop button!!

I am not an emplyee so thats why I am asking this. Do you put thumbs up or thumb side was when the train is ready?

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Number 1 And Only Cedar Point.

On the Gemini, our signals were as follows:

Thumbs up: Supervisor in area, clear
Thumbs down or sideways: clear
Middle finger: Extra special guest on platform -- not mandated
Crossed arms: can mean anything from clear to cross to extra special guest on platform.
Crucifix arms: cross (good pun, eh?)
Holding wrist w/ one hand in the air: stop the train
Index finger pointing down on guest: Fat bastard, get the camera Amy or Rosie
Finger in mouth making puking gesture: Crackhead in charge
Finger in nose: Kipp in charge, be lazy and merry
Arms crucifixed when Jill is driving trains: I'm crossing but the trains can be sent anyways, my life is worthless (eh Kelly?)
Pumping fist: rain or set-up, thank god and clear the platform.
Crossing arms in air when Shane is driving and Renee is in the track releasing a lapbar: Die woman!

If any Gemini comrades can think of more I would be grateful. My list is not comprehensive nor is it official. I am talking specifically to the Gemini Princess on this one. Congrats on your TL offer Momma, I hope that we can see each other again soon.

Magnum2G3: When the train is ready, the signal is supposed to be a thumbs-up, but when the shifts are long it might tend to stray... *Grin*

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
3/4 of the way to a NEW POLL! Vote today!

Oh, Geminazi, your post will keep me laughing for days. Although I think that I will print it out and show it to my future Gemini co-workers to demonstate how NOT to use hand signals! And I think I will incorporate the arms outstretched as the new crossing signal. I'll see what I can do about getting it in the manual. :) Although you did forget one gesture- the OK sign after Crackhead parks a train meaning (of course) "Perrrfect!"
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Gemini ATL 2000
9 positions in 4 1/2 hours and still keepin' both sides happy!

Hey, thanks Kelly. I am merry now. Get it? Seriously, I dreamt about you last night. I miss you, even though I am involved. PEEERRRRRFFFEEECCTT. No more Jack--this is my first and last time. May Mean Streak get blown over by a tornado!

Wait! I remember another one! Remember the ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for smokers in line Kelly? Also, I think that I should include the brilliant gestures you used when describing everyone's favorite chihuahua, Jeanine.

Yip Yip Yip Yip Yip Yip Yip
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Gemini ATL 2000/TL 2001
9 positions in 4 1/2 hours and still keepin' both sides happy!

Speaking of her, do you have any idea what happened to Shane? Perhaps he is in the orient refining his tae kwon do moves again?