Millenium Force/Coastermania

How is MF running right now??? Is it running with full trains and good loading time??? Also, how packed is CP gonna be on CoastermAnia(June 2nd)??? Of course that is the day I am destined to go(can't change it). I hope it isn't too bad. This place is my best source for info. So could you help with the questions???

"How will the crowds be?"

That has to be the most common question I've heard after three seasons running Guide to The Point. You know what? I still can't predict the future, and no on can.

The Force has been running with two trains, though they were going to go for three today (didn't happen). With two trains they've been doing about 1,000 people per hour.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

how come they cant operate at 1600 like estimated by the original specs

I don't know about you people but I'll be there:).

Well, I am going on Coastermania, and I want to know how different the crowds will be compared to a normal day. Why can't they run with three trains?? They can with shorter coasters. Are they just not ready yet?? I thought CP was good at this stuff. Well, at least MF is open, but we won't go there.

Why can't they run three trains for full capacity? It's been talked to death, but here's the short answer.

The ride has four blocks, and no two trains can occupy the same block at the same time in order to prevent collisions. The blocks are circuit and brakes, unload station, load station and the lift.

If you put all three trains in a line, brakes, unload and load, and dispatch one up the lift, the train in the brakes must move out in to the next block (the unload) before the train climbing the lift crests the hill. Because the lift is so fast, they haven't been able to move the trains up fast enough to clear the brake before the dispatched train crests the lift.

The thing is that the computer would only allow you to move the unload train up when the dispatched train is out, and you couldn't move the train in the brakes up to unload until the train ahead was completely out of unload.

The solution they're working on is moving the train in brakes and unload up simultaneously to quickly clear the brakes and allow the dispatched train to travel the circuit.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Knowing Cedar Fair's emphasis on ride capacity, there should be a solution shortly.

Slowing the lift hill is always an option, though that is aparently part of the thrill(the fast lift hill).
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Six Flags America IS a Six Flags park! *** This post was edited by WildOne on 5/22/2000. ***

I just hopes it doesn't roll back on the MORNING of coastermania.;)
Also can't MF hold one train in the brakes before the brake run?


*** This post was edited by Andrew on 5/20/2000. ***

they should pull it out of the station very fast becasue thats the thrill even for the people in the station. then they should slow it down once out the station!

Slowing the lift might not be an option, actually, because the anti-rollbacks will only disengage at a certain speed. Two wheels under the fourth car run on top of the lift sled's I-beam track, generating a current that lifts the anti-rollbacks. If the train is moving too slow, these will not disengage and cause excessive wear (not to mention a purely evil noise).

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

oh

Thanks for the correction.

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Six Flags America IS a Six Flags park!

MF is running smooth as ever. I just rode it last week, and it was an orgasmic. Word from my friends at the point is that the line is averaging 3 hours on weekdays, and closer to 7 hours on weekends. Sorry for the bad news, but when you break every record on the books you have to imagine this would happen.

I think it is pathetic. How did they never see this two train problem coming?? Shouldn't they have thought this problem over in the design stage? Come on, I think they knew that there was going to be mothgerloads of crowds, and this should have been running three trains opening day. 7 HOURS!!???? Come on Cedar Point, come up with a solution, fast.

Here is a idea slow the brakes before the brake run. Then the couple last trim brakes before the brake run could be used to stop a train if needed.

There has never been a seven hour wait for MF... people are exaggerating. The problems keeping them from three trains have been talked about to death in other threads and other forums. It all surrounds the computer's understanding (or lack thereof) of blocking, and the lack of consideration for the people factor (stupid guests, ride ops without an operation manual, etc.).

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I really thought it was seven hours. I wish people didn't exaggerate like that and flip people out.

My source is a ride operator for the MF itself. He's a close personal friend of mine and has been for a long time. He has never lied to me, and wouldn't start now. he says seven hours, then the line at one point in time has been seven hours long.

Sure, when morons lineup down the trail to the pet farm it will be that long. Most people are smart enough to get out of that mess when they see the queue full plus the line down the midway. No individual has ever waited that long.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com