This is more related to wooden coasters rather than steel. My question is this, how much is usually saved from a wooden coaster (like the rocket/phoenix) when it is moved? Is it really that much of a cost savings to move it rather than rebuild it from scratch. I ask because, the wood routinely gets replaced anyway (anyone know the usual schedule for replacement). It just seems to me that all this talk of "saving" rotting coasters (e.g. Idora Wildcat & CI Thunderbolt:RIP) would be better spent trying to get someplace to re-build them from the ground up (maybe saving the trains if possible). Someone please hook me up with the economics behind moving coasters.
T.I.A.
jeremy
I asked this question to someone from a coaster company and he said that a coaster has all the wood taked down and moved and more than 50% is replaced. The Idora Wildcat is probably too far gone, and the Jackrabbit is almost at "that age".
Seems like there would be a list of variables involved that would affect the cost to relocate a coaster such has climate of SBNO coaster, maintenance habits of the park, etc. and if a park is having trouble staying open then it would seem that coaster upkeep would suffer.
Has far as rebuilding some of these old coasters I believe the plans are gone or only partial for alot of old coasters.
The biggest expense would probably be taking it down in such a way as to facilitate moving and rebuliding the coaster in the correct maner. As for the late CI Thunderbolt, it had a steel structure, so moving it would not have been quite as daunting as the structure would not crumble apart on you during the moving process, unless it was really badly rusted.
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Peace, Love, and Rollercoasters.........we need more of all three.
How are they going to tare down blue Streak and rebuild it again. Aint that wood old?
#1 coaster fan,
are you referring to the rumor that CP was going to move the Blue Streak? or are you talking about the CLP Blue Streak?
Just wondering.
I still have a newspaper clipping from when Knoebels relocated the Rocket. They bought it for $500,000. The article stated that was about a third of what a new woodie would have cost in 84/84 to build. $1,500,000 versus $500,000 thats a big savings.
In that article it also stated that Knoebels made many test bores into the wood to check it's condition. At the time Knoebels salvaged as much as they possibly could including the track and supports, brakes just about everything.
Rebuilding would basicly be building a brand new coaster only using the original blue prints. I think a park looks at like since were spending the money we might as well have an original design. If they would decide to rebuild they know what they are getting such as the Cyclone remakes although I think they are all a bit "tweaked" from the original.
I think relocating is good for small parks. That way they can get a major ride they otherwise couldn't get new. Knoebels expanded mainly from buying used rides until the mid 90's.
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2000 stats: 135 coasters in 26 parks
Not Too Shabby For A Summer
It all depends on what condition the rollercoaster is in and what the status of its shapes is. if the condition is bad they usually save the cars or as much as possible , take the design and rebuild it.
Rebuilding though is a lot cheaper than buying new and it also preserves history.
I have that article on Knoebels, too. I am pretty sure that most people in the Pittsburgh area didn't even know that park existed when it was published in 1984. The Phoenix was attractive because it was in good condition, as the weather is different in that area compared to other areas. The Knoebels are in the lumber business, so the had a 'inside track' on how much it would be to replace anything.
The rule of thumb, from what mechanics I know say, is that you can lose up to 25-30% of the wood, when the track is removed. They all believed that it could not be saved. Always lay new track.
Plus, it is an established ride, so to speak. There are exisiting operating permits, blueprints, maintenence logs, etc. You know what you are getting into. That is the norm for even steel coasters. You have a history of things you need to know, like how long ago the lift chain was replaced, how often do you need to change brake pads, rebuild trains, etc.
Parks often fall into the cycle of buying a new steel or woodie and not being able to afford parts, carpenters, etc. Its like if you have an older park, and you buy a Huss flat ride. Now, you have to send someone to Huss school, get credit with their parts distributor, or be at the mercy of an independent Technician who will hit you for like $500/hr, plus expenses.
Of course, as everyone has discussed, its the added marketing ploy that bigger parks could use to hype a ressurrected ride. The Racing Whippet from Pittsburgh's West View is added to Idlewild. The Dips is reborn at Kennywood, The Wildcat from Idora at Conneaut Lake, Knott's rebuilds the Long Beach Cyclone, well, you could be here all day. Maybe I will start my own company and rebuild the classics? Any investors out there?
Agent Johnson said:
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(snip)
Maybe I will start my own company and rebuild the classics? Any investors out there?"
YES! you can have every penny I've made on my NASDAQ funds, let me check here, that comes to...
DUH! Stupid NASDAQ!
