4-car Dragster trains?

ShiveringTim said:

My guess is that they're either conditioning the launch by reducing the load it has to pull

Ah, there's the warm and fuzzy feeling of being correct.

In response to a previous post, the better question is will the sixth (yellow/gold)train be there this weekend? There's no chance to hit full capacity unless you've got all the trains on and filling all their seats. Did People Who Know (TM) say anything about the empty back seats?

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Scott W. Short
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*** This post was edited by ShiveringTim 5/2/2003 12:44:53 PM ***

I didn't ask. Maybe they were paranoid about potential rollbacks with another 300+ pounds in the back. I don't know how much all that theme weighs in the back, but with a full train the rear will certainly weigh more. With the speed at which it was cresting that thing, I certainly wouldn't have worried about it.

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

That's kind of what I was thinking. There should not have been any fear of a back loaded 4-car train rolling back running at that speed. Nontheless, the thing runs just fine IMHO with the short trains and empty backseat.

Another thought was not overwhelming the backseat riders with the manually operated smoke effect - yet another example of the difference between "operational" and "complete" :)
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
*** This post was edited by ShiveringTim 5/2/2003 3:02:01 PM ***

What was really interesting was that after the "media" stuff was done, and they were letting employees on, some employees DID get in that last row. Of course, they weren't using the smoke effect then...

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
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*** This post was edited by GregLeg 5/2/2003 3:30:09 PM ***

Alright...here is the official reason as to why Top Thrill Dragster has reduced its trains. A source inside Cedar Point (not a ride op, but a higher up), said the trains were reduced due to the fact that there were mechanical problems. He wouldn't go into specifics, but that's the reason that it was reduced.

So will they be returned to normal in order to reach maximum capacity?

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

Let's face it, TTD is still a 'prototype' ride. Eventhough Xcelerator was the original proto, when you add another 100+ feet, you are again creating a different 'proto'.

I say kudos to CP for taking the next step (AGAIN) and let's give them a chance to work out the bugs.

I know it's tough, but we need to be patient people. :)

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Fever

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

SVL...they didn't just add 100 feet they added 100+ PERCENT (Xcelerator is 205' tall)

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--George H
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*** This post was edited by redman822 5/2/2003 4:56:43 PM ***

I really want the lights on the tower to be working. The trains don't bother me all that much.

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

YOU MEAN I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE coasterphil!??!

I did notice the lights were missing, but I thought I had gone insane....

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Love,
The Mole

Thank you Redman for helping to re-emphasize my point. I really thought it was about 200 feet higher, but I thought my point would be proven with 100 feet, let alone 200.

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Fever

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

The Detroit Free Press says that 5 car operation should be working by Memorial Day.

Protoaxisdesigner said:
Alright...here is the official reason as to why Top Thrill Dragster has reduced its trains. A source inside Cedar Point (not a ride op, but a higher up), said the trains were reduced due to the fact that there were mechanical problems. He wouldn't go into specifics, but that's the reason that it was reduced.

That's crap. I gave you the "official" reason from an actual official. They're not comfortable with pushing the ride yet. Depending on what they find, they could do anything from nothing to replace it with a bigger motor.

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

Knowledge = Power!

I agree with several comments made here in that five cars/train might look better than four. Whatever the reason, I'm sure things will be up and running as per original plans very soon. I just hope all the final tweaks are worked out by the time I visit next Saturday.

I was also pleasantly surprised with the midway improvements made along Iron Dragon - that area was looking very ugly at the end of the season last year. From a couple of the photos on Walt Schmidt's Virtual Midway website it looks like they've really cleaned it up.