Niles: Theme parks work to keep coaster plans from going off the rails

When things “go terribly wrong” on a theme park ride, that’s typically intentional. Designers use that story gimmick all the time to create a sense of danger and suspense for guests.

Yet now and then, something really does go very wrong on a theme park ride, requiring an extensive refurbishment or even a redesign. Ultimately, roller coasters and other theme park thrill rides are machinery, and even the best designed and maintained machines eventually reach the end of their useful life.