B&M without Block Brakes

I was checking out RCDB and noticed the new Superman floorless coaster going up in Movie World in Madrid has no block brakes! I know this is usually a standard on a B&M and this coaster doesn't have it! Check out this link here:
http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1366.htm?Picture=15
It shows the hill after the cobra roll, the hill before it is a zero-g-roll. Right after the hill, is a pair of interlocking corkscrews!
This brings up the question, are their any other B&Ms without block brakes, and is the new Superman going to run three trains? I think that no block brakes is a great thing, you'll probably get some airtime and the extra block can just be put in the final brake run.

-------------
CDNSN
janfrederick's avatar
I think you are confusing block brakes with trim brakes (then again, sometimes they are the same thing). All block brakes do is allow for mutiple trains to run (and makes your wait shorter). Trim brakes on the other hand keep the speed in check...which isn't as fun.

-------------
Yeeee Haaawwww!
The B&M's I can think of are the following:

1. Batman: The Ride clones
2. Iron Wolf
3. Vortex (both of them)
4. Top Gun - PGA
5. Nemesis
6. Oblivion
7. G5
8. Wildfire??

-------------
BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com
WildFire doesn't have a block brake, although the coaster only has a 2 train operation.
Don't forget Top Gun at PC!

-------------
-------------------------
Did you realize that Theme Park Nacho cheese isn't really cheese?
The Superman Floorless in Madrid has the length for a 3 train operation. However, without Block Brakes, looks like it is only going to be 2. There are a number of B&M coasters without block brakes:

Batman The Ride
Talon
Great Bear
Top Gun (Carowinds and PGA)
Vortex (Carowinds and PGA)
Dueling Dragons
Wildfire
Georgia Scorcher
Nemesis
Oblivion
G5
janfrederick's avatar
In order to utilize a block brake, the designer must create a high point at which the train, if stopped there, would be able to complete the remainder of the course. Since this would put a slow point in the middle of the ride, and since many of these rides are fairly short and fast anyway, I can see how the blocking brakes were left out.

Besides, how much would capacity really increase by allowing for 3 train operation? Especially when loading and unloading times for suspended or stand-ups are relatively long?

-------------
Yeeee Haaawwww!

janfrederick said:
"Besides, how much would capacity really increase by allowing for 3 train operation?"

By a third.

-------------
I'd Rather Be Riding Rollercoasters
www.mycoasters.homestead.com/mycoasters.html
In case you haven't noticed, janfrederick, but all three-train B&M's are people eaters! Nitro, for example, could have a line out the gate and you wouldn't wait more than a half-hour. I know this from 56 rides of experience. Also, Medusa, another people eater. As long as you have a fast ride crew, you constantly have trains entering, loading, and leaving every minute or so. All of the times I have been in a long line for Nitro (most of them weren't all that long, though) I noticed that a train would leave the top of the lift, reach the crest of the second hill, and the next train would already be on the lift! That is fast! Three-train B&M's have HUGE capacity and are a wonderful thing!

-------------
KoЯn Rules! I just came out to feed!
janfrederick's avatar
It just seems to take so long to get on and off. Every time I ride the Top Gun at PGA, they stack the trains even though there are only two! Grr!

And actually FCR, it would be 50%, not 33%.

I just wasn't sure it was possible given the track length and difficulty in loading/unloading. I suppose Top Gun could run three if they always had one on the lift, course, and station. But the ride is really short.I don't think 3 trains would make that much of a difference in this case.

Now my idea is this: Have 4 trains running on a continuous loop. After each train has completed 2 or 3 trips, it is transfered to a side station track where the operators can take their own sweet time loading and unloading. If they are slow, folks get to stay on longer! ;)

-------------
Yeeee Haaawwww!

You must be logged in to post

POP Forums - ©2024, POP World Media, LLC
Loading...