Arrow Dilemma

---

razore86 said:
I've done the searching(because I have nothing else to do at the time) and came up with this:

1st Generation:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig13.htm?picture=4
Notice how the front ends of the cars are squared-off.

2nd Generation:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig177.htm?picture=9
Notice how the front ends of the cars are rounded.

*** Edited 5/12/2005 2:33:47 PM UTC by razore86***

---

I don't think this is right, because Corkscrew at Knott's was built before Corkscrew at Cedar Point, so one would think Corkscrew at KBF would have the 1st generation trains, not CP's Corkscrew.

Maybe Corkscrew at Knott's was manufactured AFTER Corkscrew at Cedar Point, but was installed BEFORE it. Coasters like the Steel Phantom weren't around til the late 80's early 90's and they got trains that match Knott's. Or, maybe there is no certain order and Arrow just built what they felt like building.

I'm pretty sure the Knott's Corkscrew was manufactured way before CP's Corkscrew. Wasn't Knott's coaster the original Arrow prototype, built and put into operation before the other parks that got their Corkscrews in 1975?

---

razore86 said:
Maybe Corkscrew at Knott's was manufactured AFTER Corkscrew at Cedar Point, but was installed BEFORE it.

---

Not a chance. Knott's Corkscrew was the protoype. And Steel Phantom didn't have trains like Knotts originally had on Corkscrew, it had the later generation trains like those found on KI's Vortex.

The CP and Knotts pictures were not taken when the coasters were new, and by the time those photos were taken modifications had already been done. Neither photo shows the original tubular OTSH.

*** Edited 5/12/2005 6:29:37 PM UTC by Jeffrey Seifert***

As for the restraints on SFMM's Viper...

All the Six Flags Arrow/Vekoma Loopers retro-fitted their bars with the "lower curved hand-grips". That was due to the death on the Lightning Loops where the woman sat in the seat without "pulling up" the lap bar and fell out. The "curved grips" were then put on so you could tell easier that you were not seated properly.

What a bad situation for that park....
(Im not sure if it was the ride-opts fault or whos...)

^The story I've heard is that it was a young girl who after waiting in line, chickened out and headed for the exit. Then after the harness was checked she changed her mind, ran back to her seat and sat down in front of the closed harness. The ride ops were still checking the rest of the train and none of them saw her get back in the seat.

What I've heard regarding Arrow trains is from La Ronde management. They got a 1981 Vekoma corkscrew with "sit on the floor" trains and a 1984 Boomerang with better seats. I asked if they could not just buy 2 trains like the Boomerang and the reason they told me is that track on the Corkscrew is narrower, so they need specially made for that track trains. Anyone know if Arrow changed the track gauge on any of their loopers?

On another note, You all know that Wabash Cannonball (ex Opryland) was bought by SF and sent to Old Indiana. Well, in 2001, the 2 trains from Wabash Cannonball were sent to Belgium, to be installed on the Vekoma prototype coaster (a corkscrew like La Ronde), since they only had 1 train left for it. Maintenance from the park started preparing the 2 trains... and they litterally fell apart as they were refurbishing them! Some collector from Europe came in and bought what was left of the cars.

---

Jeffrey Seifert said:

The CP and Knotts pictures were not taken when the coasters were new, and by the time those photos were taken modifications had already been done. Neither photo shows the original tubular OTSH.

---

Jefferey do have a photos of these OTSH?

Please and Thank You

I didn't know that Arrow/Vekoma changed their track gauge at some point. Can't say that it really makes sense- can't the trains be built for a specific track gauge?

^Yeah but I would think it would be easier to build the track around the train instead of the other way around.

---

Jeffrey Seifert said:
Arrow made small improvements to the trains several times over the years.

As Wahoo Skipper mentioned the biggest change came with Drachen Fire. Those trains were noticebaly different than the previous models. Those same trains are also on Canyon Blaster. As John mentioned many of the old trains were converted, but I have yet to see the Drachen Fire/Canyon Blaster style train on any other coaster besides those two.

---

Tennessee Tornado at Dollywood also uses slightly improved trains, as it was the last sit-down looper Arrow produced. While the trains don't have the smooth, tear-drop shaped body style of the Drachen Fire trains, (They resemble the older Arrow trains) they are somewhat roomier.

However, the Drachen Fire/Canyon Blaster trains still have the low sides on them. This aspect didn't carry on to the Tennessee Tornado trains.

*** Edited 5/12/2005 8:50:56 PM UTC by Dukeis#1***

Absimilliard, I never knew that about Opryland's WC trains. Do you remember where you heard that?

I saw the 2 trains in 2001 when I visited Six Flags Belgium (a friend arranged for management to give me a detailed tour of the... backstage. So I got to see those 2 trains, went under the Vekoma Madhouse, etc.). Later, I compared them to the pictures of Wabash Cannonball on rcdb and they match perfectly. Recently, to make sure, I showed them to my friend in Belgium and he confirmed its a match.

Also, they were the only used Arrow trains available from that era in the US, which is where SFB got them from.

Didn't SF purchase WC and let it rot away at Old Indiana? That's probably why the trains got sent to SFB.

They did... I guess in 2000, they gave up on rebuilding WC and tried to do something with the trains.

SFB used one of the Wabash train's front car in one of their Halloween decorations one year. There's a pic online somewhere.