Airgates at CP.

A cage is as practical as an airgate (plus cheaper), and it would eliminate those nasty issues with stones and cell phones and cameras and such. But they don't do it because people would stop riding if that happened.

But back to air gates, true they don't deter me from riding; and they won't. Do they provide security? I think not. Are parks putting them in because they want to? In most cases i think they are being forced by state law or insurance companies that are looking for reasons to condem or gouge the amusement industry for their own gain. I think in the end i really don't like them because they are another pointless cost to the park that is a direct contributor to the infamous $3 bottle of Pepsi. Oh and in most parks detract from capacity.

I really don't see how they take away from capacity, the add maybe 2 or 3 seconds to load time. I can speak from experience at my ride that we are still able to get trains out before the other gets in (aka stacking).

SFOG has had airgate for years but they haven't been required by law. It's a "cover your @$$" measure. I don't see why people are so offended by them.

Oh meangene I have to respectfully dissent on that notion. People can and indeed DID ride in cage-like rollercoaster trains. If you can ever get to a copy of Riverview: Gone but not Forgotten they show pictures of the 'Sliver Flash' and 'FireBall' coasters (or coaster as some purists will note that it was a makeover akin to the Pippen-Thunderbolt transformation). In those pics, the cars were like their own roll cages, kinda like Zipper cars. They were still popular rides!
lata,
jeremy
--who notes that the Riverview Fireball was purported to exceed 100 miles per hour (Six Flags Marketing WHAT?!?)

Reminds me of the comedian, Bill Engvall, whose tagline is, "Here's your sign"... http://www.sermonideas.com/illustrations/heresyoursign.html

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Posting, "Me too" like some brain dead AOLer. I ought to to the world a favor, and cap you like old yeller...

*** This post was edited by redman822 on 5/29/2002. ***

Well, they are especially needed on B&M inverteds/floorlesses, because of those eager guests who are oh so eager that they try to rush out even though there is no floor.

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Why do they report power outages on TV?

Last time I checked, the station for an inverted is pretty safe. There may be a 6 inch drop off, but there's a floor.

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Snoopy Rocks! On Ice opens on June 22nd

Think they'll let me drive the Zamboni machine?

*** This post was edited by CPgenius on 5/29/2002. ***

I don't see the problem with airgates, I think they are a good ideal for saftey, and i think they should be required on all coasters in all states. Also i dont think they reduce capacity to much maybe a total of 1 less train an hour if that.

So the folks at CP say that "allowing the platform to clear acutally wastes time"??? THEY'RE MY PEEPS!

(Peeps = People)

I said "most" parks it detracts from capicity because "most" parks wait until the platform is clear; from my experience. They are needed for launch system type rides or things like the Boomerang. But for other more traditional type rides the train just isn't moving fast enough to pose a threat. And as for falling in... i say when has it ever happened? Is there any op out there who has seen anyone even come close?? And even when people advance on a train to early they are looking at the track area and are focused on the track. It's not like people wander around aimlessly on a platform.

I've worked rides and not once in my years did i ever have a guest try to board a moving train. One would think that if it was a big enough problem, someone somewhere would have seen or heard of it and printed it in a paper or now on the net.

And i still don't see the whole "controling the crowd" issue. If people are really worked up gates aren't going to hold them back (i say this in reference to fights or mob conditions).

They are added cost to the park and provide little to no safety.

"So the folks at CP say that "allowing the platform to clear acutally wastes time"??? THEY'RE MY PEEPS! "
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Well it does, right? I don't see what the purpose in waiting until everyone is halfway down the exit ramp before opening the airgates! I saw it in action at SFNE last weekend and that was with one train on Superman! What is the purpose? Yes, get them out of there before you dispatch the train, but you can be loading the next train as the people are cramming through the exit! Another thing that is stupid on Superman at SFNE, especially seeing as how they like to let the platform clear, is that they have the exit gate all the way up in the front of the station, rather than in the middle. Opening the gates right as the train stops seems like such an incredibly obvious thing, but unfortunately, some parks just don't get it.

Oh my - that station on BDK is the most horrible design I have ever seen. They had a grouper at the entrance to the station and it was still impossible. There isn't enough room for 4 people to wait in each row and the front seat queue ends up blocking rows - it's terrible. A 3 year old could have done better!

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

*** This post was edited by MDOmnis on 5/30/2002. ***

gates at CP will add - 5 or so seconds to load time and people are whining about 5 freakin seconds!?

gimmie a break!

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"A tout le monde, a tous mes amis, Je vous aime, Je dois partir. these are the last words I'll ever speak, and they'll set me free" -Megadeth, 1983-2002

The problem isn't at CP. It's other parks that don't have ops with the sense to try to minimize their disturbance.

Yup, you got it! :) The new gates aren't affecting Magnum's dispatch interval at all, which is good to see. I was just saying that some other parks should realize how to use gates - open them up as soon as the train has stopped.

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

erm, waht is the problem with gates, i dont mid them, why dont you like em?

well, little things like that separate the good parks from the great ones

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"A tout le monde, a tous mes amis, Je vous aime, Je dois partir. these are the last words I'll ever speak, and they'll set me free" -Megadeth, 1983-2002

I thought the Technical Term was "Pneumatic Gates." I'm glad I live in Utah, I can barely stand the Stupid People in the Salt Lake Valley/Wasach Front, as is. Lagoon has had Pneumatic Gates on ALL off their Coasters for well over a decade. We also use Turnstiles for Crowd Control on Entrances and Exits. I still think it's CRAZY to Dispatch a Train from or Enable a Train into the Station when there are guests standing on the Platform. I'll never understand Cedar Point's excuse for that, it's plain ignorance for safety, IMO.

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Salt Lake City, Utah. Host City of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games - Light The Fire Within!
Lagoon Park...A New Prototype Coaster for 2003?

every ride at SFMM has them, and as from i can tell people think that is a Great park.

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Coaster/Gaming Freak.
Yes, you can call me a SUPER time waster.

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Icarus said:
I still think it's CRAZY to Dispatch a Train from or Enable a Train into the Station when there are guests standing on the Platform. I'll never understand Cedar Point's excuse for that, it's plain ignorance for safety, IMO.

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I must be misunderstanding what you are saying here. Can you please clarify what you mean? Are you saying that it is a bad thing to have trains of people waiting to load a train on the platform? Are you saying every coaster should run one train and people should be counted into the station 32 or 36 at a time only when the train is stopped. I don't think that's what you are saying, but it sounds like it. CP is not the only park that has people waiting in a station. Most parks I've been to do. The exceptions are few and far between. CP has the best park operations both safety wise and capacity wise so unless you have something good to explain your position, I don't think you should say they're ignorant.

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

As a former Raptor ride operator I can personally vouch that Raptor NEEDS airgates BADLY! I was very surprised to see Maggie got them. I did notice they made the "yellow line" bigger on Raptor's platform but people are still way over it. I can't tell you the # of times we had to scream a "hold" because of a guest going to cross thru a train, to put something in the bin WHILE the floor was DROPPING and the train getting ready to be dispatched OUT. This happens QUITE often!!! :( Saying "step behind the yellow line" gets OLD after the first gazillion times. :(

Airgates would elminate worrying about the less than smart guests, and I seriousely doubt it would add on any extra load time, enough to effect the intervals anyway. JMHO

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Next VP of GOCC?
The countdown to CoasterMania begins! woo hoo! :)
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

The reason there are exit gates is so people (especially little excited kids) wont run up to the train when it's moving as a member of their party arrives. Seen it happen, extremely dangerous situation.

Now, you don't really need exit gates if you have enough people to stand at the exit to block it. But at many parks that simply isn't possible. So thumbs up for the exit gates.