Posted Monday, February 9, 2004 1:44 PM | Contributed by CoasterBGW
The top hat of Storm Runner, Hersheypark's new Intamin rocket coaster, reaches 150 feet with its highest track piece.
Read more from WGAL/Lancaster.
vacoasterfreak
Monday, February 9, 2004 5:53 PM
dude...that thing looks insane..just took the virtual ride.....i am SO GLAD i go to college an hour from Hershey:)
SFGAdv lover
Monday, February 9, 2004 6:52 PM
Anyone see the pics of the tophat on screamscape, it's the weirdest looking tophat i've ever seen.
Mamoosh
Monday, February 9, 2004 7:07 PM
Really? Except for the supports it looks a lot like Xcelerator's top hat.
SFGAdv lover
Monday, February 9, 2004 7:19 PM
Mamoosh
Monday, February 9, 2004 7:29 PM
No worries. Considering the proximity of Hershey's mine train, steam train, and monorail the supports would have to be different than Xcelerators.
fearless ben
Monday, February 9, 2004 10:37 PM
It looks like a S&S thrust air with different supports. It looks like it goes up with out the twist like on xcelerater and TTD. have they finished the snake roll yet?
Mamoosh
Monday, February 9, 2004 11:11 PM
Fearless - going up there is a 90* twist, just like on Xcelerator and Dragster. There is no twist on the dive down, a feature unique to Storm Runner.
lilspike333
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 2:45 AM
Has Intamin learned nothing? Why are they having so much unspported track on Storm Runner when they had to add supports to Xcelerator's tophat? I guess it could be because Hershey's version isn't as tall, but still...
coasterMNguy...
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 3:28 AM
Yes, lilspike, so far Intamin has had to add supports/ more structure to at least 2 of their coasters so far (WT and Xcelerator). I am interested to see some pics of the barrel roll into the dive, that should be interesting. If it can pull what Manhattan Express can pull, I am happy to go.
Jeff
Tuesday, February 10, 2004 1:15 PM
The arch itself was not the issue on Xcelerator. It was the lateral movement of the entire structure that they apparently didn't like. Take a look... that's clearly not going to be the issue on this ride.
Thursday, February 12, 2004 12:36 AM
Plus, they would have to super-reinforce the structure in Knott's due to earthquake safety standards. I don't believe Hershey has to worry about that sort of thing ;)
K_losch
Friday, February 13, 2004 4:53 PM
This will be a great ride to ride!!!!!!!!