You used to step down from the platform, quite similar to river rapids...and all the ride staff wore white long coats, like lab tech's...then they changed to cream ones.
One operator walked with a limp, he insisted it was because he had to push the tubs round while walking on two different levels by the side of the track all day, and it took him half an hour at the end of the shift to correct his step.
First ride I watched get pulled down, rotten as hell, but it seemed to have masses of timber compared to the other coasters, had a massive solid wood platform under the tracks instead of scaffold supports.
More fun than the mouse,especially when you ended up with two complete strangers in your lap!