Hersheypark SDL down?

I read a while ago that SDL was down indefinatley. Does anyone know if it's still down? I'm going on Sunday and I hope it's open, it's one of my favorite rides at the park.

It has reopened. It is now running trains 1 and 3 instead of 1 and 2.

What is "sdl"?

Sooper Dooper Looper

Great news! I can't wait to ride it this weekend.

BTW...how crowded does it usually get this time of season? Just curious if anyone knows.

Generally, it's a little less crowded than the summer but not empty like it is during Hersheypark in the Dark in October. A TR I read from someone who was there last Sunday mentioned nothing being more than 20 minutes. *** Edited 9/14/2006 1:52:06 AM UTC by YoshiFan***

Y'know, I'm actually very relieved to hear this. All the reports I've read lately claiming it was not operating had me worried that it would be gone next year.

Dumb followup question. Can SDL handle three trains? I thought it only had blocking for two and has only had two trains on the the two times I've been to the park.

I believe that it can run 3 trains. It actually has a mid-course block brake section that they use to trim the trains' speed.

They could run 3 trains, but it isn't realistic because right now the fastest I have seen is the train leaving the station as the other train hits the brake run. That is pretty good considering the ride isn't long.

Also, the ridership is fairly low compared to some of the other coasters there, so there's not really a need to run more than 2. I haven't seen that under-the-station queue occupied by a line in years--I think the last time may have been like 1993 or 1994.

*** Edited 9/14/2006 4:16:01 PM UTC by rablat5***

It seems like the ride is almost always a walk on or a few train wait now unless they are running 1 train or during one of those peak days like at Springtime In The Park when the line down the stairs and part of the line under the station was filled.

I can imagine it must have gotten some crazy lines when it first opened and even with 3 trains, the wait was probably still very long.

^ You can believe the line was long! I think it was the second looping coaster on the east coast--1977--the first being King Kobra at PKD.

I think it was the first looping coaster on the East coast. King Cobra opened in the early 80's. *** Edited 9/14/2006 6:48:24 PM UTC by NitroFan***

^ See RCDB. KK opened in 1977. Actually, it opened the same year at SDL, but it may have beat it by a little.

Yep KK opened in 77,then again unlike SDL,KK is/was a shuttle looper & not a complete circuit layout.

I think there have been some rumors going around that SDL may be on its last year, but I hope it's not true and hadn't found any reason for it to be until I read this thread. Since it's back up though, I guess there's nothing clear to worry about now..

I hope it stays for a long time yet. It's my favorite steel coaster at the park. It looks to be in fantastic condition too...and I doubt much else could fit in it's place either. I wish the public would give it the attention it deserves.

It's not the largest or most thrilling coaster, but it's fun and a nice coaster for a rider's first loop.

You understand that no ride lasts forever, but just think how much of a hassle it would be to remove it and replace it with something else. It butts up against Comet at one end, and mingles with Great Bear and Coalcracker at the other.

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RatherGoodBear said:
It's not the largest or most thrilling coaster, but it's fun and a nice coaster for a rider's first loop.

You understand that no ride lasts forever, but just think how much of a hassle it would be to remove it and replace it with something else. It butts up against Comet at one end, and mingles with Great Bear and Coalcracker at the other.

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As for no ride lasting forever, there are plenty of very, very old wooden coasters. And frankly, I hope the CLASSIC Schwartzkopf loopers - SDL, Mindbender, Shockwave etc - last another 50 years. I can't speak for any of them but Mindbender, but almost 30 years in, MB is still silky smooth and a decent people eater.