Why 3 trains on your typical full circuit?

Doesn't matter if a coaster is 1200 to 9000 ft long there is usually 3 trains on the coaster.
Why is that? Certainly, some rollercoasters could warrant more trains. Why 3? Have you've been on a full circuit that had more than 3 (besides wild,mad or spinning types)trains with a capacity of 28 or more per train.

One word: Capacity.

Big rides draw big crowds, so the more people you can have on the ride, the more people can ride it. The number of trains is dictated by the number of blocks on the ride (though actually they are designed with both in mind). The rule is that you can never have more than one train in any given block. Take Raptor, or any other three-train B&M... there are several blocks. There's the station, the lift, the first half of the ride, the second half (after the mid-course block brakes) and in most cases, an extended brake run. That's actually five blocks, but it depends on how the ride is programmed.

If a train doesn't clear a block, the next train is stopped before it can enter that block. On Raptor, a train will stop on the lift if the train ahead hasn't passed through the mid-course, and a train will stop in the mid-course if the train ahead hasn't passed through the final brakes. A train will not dispatch if there's a train on the lift (duh).

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I'm pretty sure California Screamin' runs, or can run, more than three trains. I think that it was designed to run five or six at one time.
*** This post was edited by RagingBull on 5/16/2001. ***

Texas Tornado at SFAW is capable of running 5 trains but they only run 2!

Do you recall how much you dislike mid course brake blocks? Well, unless you have more than 1 lift or just stack trains at the station, it requires more than one mid course brake to operate more than 3 trains. Remember that 4 blocks (each ending in a place where the train can be stopped) are the minimum to operate 3 trains. With the lift, a midcourse brake block, the before the station brake, and the station brake you get 4 blocks. More trains means you have to set up more mid course brakes.

Another factor is loading time. Nearly all coasters have a ride time of 3 minutes or less. If you have too many trains, you won't be able to fill the trains fast enough to keep all of them going no matter how many blocks you have. Mice can have more trains since you can load each car (train) quickly, and the stations are often set up to allow filling more than one car at the same time.

I would think the Vortex at PKI could hold more than one. theres the station, lift, midcourse, brakes after helix, brakes before station. In reality, it could hold 4, but I think they are restricted by the amount of service bays (the big doors off to the left of the station). If they did run more, then one would be left for the elements to get to (IE snow, rain, ect.) so I think this can have a factor in it.

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http://www.islandguide.8m.com
all about PKI
the Beasts` Den

Cedar Creek Mine ride ran 5, then had a slight collision, was demoted to two trains, and got a new blocking system last year which can allow it to run three. I think the Beast has proper blocking for four trains.

California Screamin' runs 6 trains through two stations- the red, yellow, blue, green, purple, and the orange trains. You hit it on the head, RagingBull!
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Life is like a coaster---
You go up, down, turn-around, and upside-down...and then there's all that pressure on your head, too...

Rock N Roller Coaster runs 4 or 5 trains, I believe.

Loading Area, Launch Area, Ride Part 1, Ride Part 2, Final Brakes

Disaster Transport runs 6 shuttles at a time. Not only is it capacity, but also the interval time of the ride: how fast can you possibly get people loaded into the cars, checked, and safely out? If you were to put a train into every block (perfectly safe via the computer), they would be stacking up and stopping all the time if the interval was slightly off. Keeping only 3 trains on 5-6 blocks allows the crew some leeway without interrupting the ride.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html

Disney is synonamous with high capacity/high waits. California Screamin can run up to 6 at a time (2 stations, launch track, lift hill, blocks, stack brakes) but I've never seen more than 4 on a track at a time for some reason. (Yes, both sides were open.)

Space Mountain at WDL can run 12 at a time. There are an ENORMOUS amount of block brakes, and up to 4 can sit in the station area.

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Loopscrew.com
It's coming...

Roller Coaster at Lagoon, now has 7 Blocks with it's new PLC System. There are only 2 Trains but, there are 3 Blocks on the Lift, 1 Block between the apex of the lift to Reduction, 1 Block for reduction (Brakes C, D, E, F, & G), 1 Block for the Station (Brakes A & B), 1 Block Station to the Lift. Does anyone know of another coaster with more than one Block on the lift?

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We Turn Dreams Into Reality - RidgeStone Amusement *** This post was edited by RidgeStone Park on 5/17/2001. ***