B&M Four Seaters?

Could Intamin have just put a block brake that never fires, except in an emergency, somewhere?

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Säubern Sie mit Milch?

Sure they could have, but it's unnecessary. Millennium Force's cycle time is short enough that it doesn't need a midcourse. Plus, a midcourse block brake takes up a fairly large chunk of space (though narrow, they're long) and Intamin would have had to screw around with their braking techniques a bit (either install fins on the train for emergencies or else develop a fin that can be used for both magnetic and friction brakes if the side fins are not already capable of that). With the unload station, it's pretty unnecessary to include a midcourse block and it would just interrupt the flow and pacing of the current ride (anfd add to the expense).

-Nate

No, like on Magnum hill, cresting the top.

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Säubern Sie mit Milch?

No. Magnum doesn't have a midcourse either. In order to have a midcourse block, you have to have a midcourse brake run as seen on the Morgan and B&M hypers.

-Nate

One, I don't think you would want to see a midcourse on MF, that would be one high long straight section (ugly) and would make one half the ride really short hit brakes then keep going for another short section or whatever. It just wouldn't be good on MF.

Two, I think the side fins are capable of being used as friction brakes. Unless I am mistaken (quite possible), FoF has the same side fins and in the station the friction brakes are used inorder to hold the train still during loading so it doesn't roll back or into the launch area. So if that is the case MF might also use them in the station to hold the cars from moving during loading and unloading. (A magnetic force is strong enought to probably hold it in place but if a "big" enough force is applied (ie. everyone getting in at one time or everyone getting out at once, or just one big person) could push it out of that magnetic field and send it rolling) I know for a fact that the Beast uses friction brakes in the station, why would they use them if the magnets could hold it in place? I think that just answered the question, the Beast brakes are magnetic throughout the ride until the end, the same fin is used to stop the train with friction brakes.

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Wood Rules!

Um...the reason coasters don't use magnetic brakes in the station for holding purposes is because the force the magnetic brakes apply is proportional to the speed of the train. That's one of the reasons why you get such a smooth stop.

The consequence of this is that if the train isn't moving, the magnetic brakes can't apply force, and if the train is moving very slowly (but still rolling out of the station) the magnetic brakes only apply minimal force. Afaik, all the Intamins use the magnetic brakes for trims and the main brunt of the final brake, but have a friction tire at the very end of the magnetic brake run to finally stop the train fully.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
You must be this dumb to ride Viper. -SFGAdv.

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BeastFreak said:

Two, I think the side fins are capable of being used as friction brakes. Unless I am mistaken (quite possible), FoF has the same side fins and in the station the friction brakes are used inorder to hold the train still during loading so it doesn't roll back or into the launch area.

Since you've only ridden FoF (I assume) and that's in the dark you wouldn't know that there are seperate brake fins on the bottom that are for stopping. Fins on the side are solely used for launching. This is Chiller, mind you, so it could be different.

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SFNE Central- Online Six Flags New England Resource
Devoted Intamin Lover for Life!

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I am almost positive that the main difference is on the one train there are two seats per row, and on the other train there are 4 seats per row. So, according to my calculations there are 2 more seats on the 4 seated rows, than on the two. Simple as that

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oculus, reparo. -Hermoine Granger

Well, since nobody asked *what* the difference between Arrow and B&M trains are seating-wise, I'm glad you took the time to type out that answer.

-Nate

OK this has had more posts on it then I ever thought it would get, but everybody has missed the point of my entire question. I said in the begining I was doing science fair and needed scientific answers. So the difference between millenium force and raging bull has no effect and doesn't answer a single thing. I need to know why B&M uses them if you ask B&M for a coaster no matter what you'll get a 4 seater, but they obvioudly had to solve problems with wind resistance, structural issues, like they use a square track, instead of tubular, there must be a reason, the reason the use V style supports and the braking that goes into the big trains, the train on a B&M is bigger so it must need more power to the braking systems to stop the heavier train, if anyone has any answers to these questions or any idea where I can find them, thank you.
PS. sorry for yelling but with one month left to do this, I need some answers or something
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The Jokes on You!! Ha Ha

I'm sorry we've hi-jacked your thread, but we've gotten into some fairly interesting discussions, and we don't want to stop. As for what you're looking for, I doubt you'll get any more thtn you already have from the first few responses, unless the almighty rideman comes along. As we've said, the shorter cars (one row as oppsed to two) increase flexibility, allowing for greater variations in track design. However, B&M couldn't get the regular capacity-per-train in a two seat set-up without making 14 points of articulation (this is for the equivelant of then-standard Arrow 28 seater). Such a complicated design would not be particularly attractive to parks, which always have to consider maitenance and upkeep (more moving parts=more maitenance, more replacements, and, in general, more money). So they doubled the number of seats per row, halving the length of the train. This reduced it to a mere 7 couplings (keep in mind the lead car). I suspect all other B&M "abnormalities" stem from there. As for how, exactly, they overcome the specific challenges these odd trains present, I'd see if I could find a way to E-mail rideman.

Appllo Andy, We're so close to being on the same page... Indeed, if the crews on Raptor and Batman could just load and dispatch as fast as possible, they would have the same capacity. However, Even the slowest crews on Batman (the one I've been on, anyway), always manage to get everyone settled long before the go-ahead to dispatch. With Raptor, the increased blocks (and increased train number) allow the crews to dispatch (more or less) as soon as all is ready. Such is not the case with Millie. The whole day I was there, the crews consistently acted as on Batman: The trains sat for some time, every time, before dispatching.

*** This post was edited by (SF)Great American on 12/6/2002. ***

Hrm. I guess I just went on the wrong days. When I rode MF, I didn't see the train waiting in the station for the previous train to clear. Similarly on Raptor (although they were send the train only a few seconds after the next one came into the final brake). I guess I should tell the ops to hurry up and wait. ;)

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
You must be this dumb to ride Viper. -SFGAdv.

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(SF)Great American said:
"I'm sorry we've hi-jacked your thread, but we've gotten into some fairly interesting discussions, and we don't want to stop. ***"

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Its cool, I just thought the place I could find an answer would be on a this site, but thanks for all the info. I think I may just try and email one of the park's and see if I can get some answers.

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The Jokes on You!! Ha Ha