4-car Dragster trains?

I was checking on the bidding for TTD's auction and found some interesting news posted about the trains.

Check out the link: http://www.firelandsredcross.org/topthrilldragster/bid.html

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

Well there you have it then. They're officially using four-car trains.

At first, that seems like a problem, cutting capacity by 25%. On the other hand, that's still about 1,400 pph.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

Whoa! Did I miss something? Were there rumors about this? Why are they doing this? So does this mean an 8 train op, then?

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

No, one of the pairs will have "first riders" twice. It will be interesting to hear why they shortened the trains. Anyone care to speculate?

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

Why exactly were they reduced in the first place? Im guessing it has to do with launching/speed issues, but if its something different can someone please tell why?

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G-Forces: The only positive addiction out there!
CoasterCount: 42

I'm pretty sure it is still a 6 train op. but to compensate the extra people, they need to run some of the first trains twice.

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People scare me.

Wait a minute! How could the ride go from six trains to eight trains? Could someone explain, I'm a little confused.

EDIT: There were several posts before me that I didn't see.
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Intelligence is a God given gift: Know how to use it.
*** This post was edited by CoasterKrazy 4/28/2003 7:15:14 PM ***

There will only be six trains, and the first two will just run twice. I hope this doesn't truly hinder the capacity of the ride. One this big will have tons of people. I wonder why they had to do this. Believe me, they wouldn't if they didn't have to.

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My Girlfriend says I'm addicted, but all she wants to do is shop!

Shivering Timbers - Most underrated coaster Ever?

Very weird. Upon viewing video of the testing (downlaoded before I knew where it came from) they were only running 4 car trains (12 passengers), and it seemed pretty slow.

Obviously they are doing this because they have to...so: Why?

1. Launch mech not up to launching 16 people? Doesn't seem likely, especially since they said somewhere about purchasing an oversized system and not running it near max speed.

2. Too intense neg. Gs in the back of a 16 person train? I only considered this after rememebr the extreme difference between the front and back of Hypersonic.

3. ?

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson
*** This post was edited by Peabody 4/28/2003 7:23:32 PM ***

I don't see how this could be good news. Something must have happened.

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All who think Mean Streak needs a match taken to it say I.

Well if they really are running four car trains, then they must have known they were going to do this for a while. They would have to order two more front and backs to the trains, and I'm sure those can't be made in a jiffy then sent to the US.

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Chris Tyson
Photographer
www.pkiunlimited.com

Thats what I was thinking. Were six-car trains originally shipped to Cedar Point, and then the change was made? Or was the change made earlier on than that?

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Intelligence is a God given gift: Know how to use it.

Yes, pics on the website show the 16 passenger trains on the track. The change/decision must have been recent. Why? So are they going to have 6 spare middle cars in storage now?
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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Jeff - the change couldn't have been too recent. I'd think going from 5 cars to 4 cars would require a slight redesign in the station rows and the blocking system.

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Don't believe everything you think. - bumper sticker seen on 4/19/03

Not if they just ran as is with 2 rows roped off.

This sounds a lot like Volcano to me, Hopefully this is just temporary.

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Ah what the hell.....Magnum What?

S:ROS blew me away

Eight trains for acution. There are still only six trains, but each one will only have four cars, which is 12 seats per train.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

Just remember...

When MF first opened it only had two of it's three trains running. That's only 66% of total capacity...at least TTD will be running with 75%

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James Draeger
-in search of a new signature

Something has to be up. Possibilities;

1. The launching mechanism may need 'broken in'. For example, in the owners manual of a new car, you can usually find a section that states to 'not run the vehicle over 55 mph for the first 500 miles'. It's possible that the launching mechanism may need to be treated this way, with the equivalent of a train section being removed temporarily.

2. A mis-calculation in the weight of the train and the power of the launching mechanism. Doubtful

3. A mis-calculation in the forces applied to the rider. Also unlikely.

4. An 'unexpected' error-problem. This isn't probable either since most of the kinks should have been worked out on Xcelerator.

So, the best scenario would be a case like #1.

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Fever

I really enjoy the Simpsons. It's just a shame that I am starting to LOOK like Homer.

Good point....which raises the quiestion of just how permenant this is. I guess we will maybe find out something. If it's setup and blocked for 16 people trains, we can only guess that it is temporary or a last-minute change.

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

This is just for the auction, though. I am sure they will be running six trains on opening day. Well, I hope so....

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Im cold......