Braking Profiles

I was just thinking...it is off season after all (lol), that there are some rides with really brutal end-of-the-ride braking profiles. California Screamin' is one that comes to mind. You fly into those brakes off of the last helix and come to a dead stop. For me, it seems that the rides that use magnets to slow the trains have smoother endings...

what do you think? which do u like?

One of the most fierce endings has to be Great American Scream Machine at SFOG, and I'll be there opening day to try it out again!

Wildcat at CP. The only ride I know of where they specifically warn you multiple times about the braking.

Viper at SFGAm can really slam into the final brakes on some days. I always brace myself for it.

Superman at SFDL before the trim brake was installed stopped really hard. Now it is rather normal.

Mantis at CP has some pretty bad brakes, and the ones on SOB are pretty brutal if the other train hasn't left the station.

Before it got magnetic brakes recently, Manhattan Express also used to have a pretty brutal ending, both on the exterior brakes, as well as that whole "lift hill in reverse" thing into the unload station.

Good god Gasm's brakes at SFOG are EVIL!! My gf and I came over the last hill (she had no idea it was coming, and I thought it would be funny to not tell her lol) and when we hit the brakes she had her hands up, well they slammed into the persons head infront of her (over the headrest) pissing him off, and she got the wind knocked out of her on the lapbar. I about died laughing, and then she proceeded to slap me to death until we got out of the train. It was pretty funny.

Back in the day, the SooperDooperLooper at HP used to feel like you hit a wall, especially before they installed the MCBR about 10 years ago.

Haven't been there in years so I don't know if it still does it.

Not exactly the breaks fault but the most painful end of ride experience for me is on Raptor (which I love) but the intesnse headbanging I get right before the breaks is horrible. B:TR @ SFGAm is a close second.

The brakes on Raptor aren't too bad but sure that final transition will bang you up pretty bad. That is right before the brakes.

Just keep your head forward and your head won't bang into the harness. It's a lot worse in the front of the train too, no?

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I love it all today.

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haiderodes said:
California Screamin' is one that comes to mind. You fly into those brakes off of the last helix and come to a dead stop. For me, it seems that the rides that use magnets to slow the trains have smoother endings...

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California Screamin' does use magnetic brakes at the end of the ride. They trim the speed enough that the side friction brakes can stop the train with less of a jolt. I didn't notice the brakes at the end of the ride being harsh, but then again, I don't think I have ever been stopped in those final brakes.

As for SFOG's Scream Machine, I agree with Grant. Last year when we did the 30-hour marathon, that ending was one part of the ride that we never got used to. Even when we were sleeping on the ride we would automatically wake up enough to brace ourselves for the brakes. Those brakes are pretty strong, even with one train operation.

-Sean

Tops on my list are PKD's Ricochet & Shockwave.

Ricochet hit's the brakes rather hard for a mouse...so hard in fact that when I rode it last season I slammed really hard into the lap bar(I was riding in the back row),I'll try it again if I go this season & sit in the front row instead.

SW's brakes are just too darn loud & you have to sit..err stand there forever waiting for the other train to dispatch,not to mention that sudden stop is just painful to your head but then again what part of that ride isn't painful?

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Sean Flaharty said:

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haiderodes said:
California Screamin' is one that comes to mind. You fly into those brakes off of the last helix and come to a dead stop. For me, it seems that the rides that use magnets to slow the trains have smoother endings...

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California Screamin' does use magnetic brakes at the end of the ride. They trim the speed enough that the side friction brakes can stop the train with less of a jolt. I didn't notice the brakes at the end of the ride being harsh, but then again, I don't think I have ever been stopped in those final brakes.

As for SFOG's Scream Machine, I agree with Grant. Last year when we did the 30-hour marathon, that ending was one part of the ride that we never got used to. Even when we were sleeping on the ride we would automatically wake up enough to brace ourselves for the brakes. Those brakes are pretty strong, even with one train operation.

-Sean

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Actually...California Screamin' only uses magnets/LIMs for the launch...all braking on that ride is done by the side mounted friction brakes

On some (most?) coasters it varies though. I'd think that if Raptor was running three trains, and there were two trains being stacked, when the third train hits the final break run, it'll stop slmost right away, whereas if they aren't stacking, it will be more gradual because there is more room to stop.

Ya that true...stacking hurts...hehe

but i was thinking more along the lines of normal operation. There are lots of rides out there that bring you to a complete stop before entering the station, even if the blocks ahead are clear or theres only one train in operation

Rampage at Visionland will jolt you with a quick stop.

How about the trim on Goliath before you drop into the helix. Thats pretty bad for a trim.

I don't care for the brakes on the impulses. Stopping suddenly while going backwards isn't my idea of a good time. Why not let you just coast up the back spike and brake coming into the station?