Excalibur at ValleyFair!

http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery119.htm?Picture=3

In the picture above it looks as if the track style on Exaclibur changes from the bottom on the incline to near the top. Was the ride originally designed like this or did Arrow (or another company?) come in and change the track after opening?

I was not there when it opened, but it does not look like they changed track. The part that looks different is just sitting on the ground.

There used to be wonderful photos that showed the coaster during a flood. The whole bottom was under water. I heard that this region is prone to floods. Maybe they had to reinforce the ground and had to change track sections.
Thats pure speculation. Maybe someone knows where to find those pictures.

The 'new' track was part of a reprofile done in the '99-'00 offseason. If you look carefully at the first half of the banked turn, you'll notice many of the supports are now tubular steel. The midcourse curve was also redone with tubular steel supports.

Arrow did the work--in fact, one of the former Arrow Dynamics pages touted their reprofiling services and used Excalibur as an example.

I think the changes were more for rideability than anything else. VF and Arrow both knew they were building on a flood plain from Day 1. That's why the station is its particular elevated position, among other things.

-'Playa *** Edited 5/18/2004 10:35:56 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

Pity the reprofile didn't let them take the brakes off the drop!

Is there now a backbone on the track on that curve, or is that an illusion brought on by the walk-boards?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

There is a backbone on the portion of track in question. If you look closely, you can see it in this picture.

Thats weird. I've riden that coaster tons of times and I've never noticed that before.

Rideman: Arrow trains don't track well enough for the train to handle the second, ground-hugging curve at full blast. It would shimmy and shudder even with the drop trim until the reprofile.

-'Playa *** Edited 5/18/2004 11:38:05 PM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

My question is, do they ever turn off the drop trim?

Beyond the occasional accident, no.

But when you hit the midcourse curve and your ribs start smacking each other, you'd finally figure it out: Not all trims are evil.

-'Playa

If you ride the back of Excalibur you'll see why they have the trims.

I LOVE that ride! It's what every Arrow mine train should be, all out intense and a few hops here and there.

~Rob Willi *** Edited 5/18/2004 11:53:50 PM UTC by HeyIsntThatRob?***

Hey, as long as trims don't heavily detract from the ride experience, I got no problem with 'em. I hardly even notice the trims on BBW.

I rode Excalibur a couple of years ago, and I fully understand why the trims are there. That ride's layout is pretty much insane. It's also not a terribly rideable layout even with the trims. They're there for a reason. But honestly, now, I don't think trims ever belong at the top of the first drop.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Were there more trims added to the first drop in the past five years or so? I remember the first drop used to produce some insane airtime in the back seat several years ago, but it was pretty lacking last summer. I'd rather the trims be placed at the bottom of the first drop, but I realize it's a Cedar Fair park. :)

-Nate