Curved loading station question

The post about construction starting on Starliner got me wondering. What's the last coaster to open new with a curved loading station?

Top Thrill Dragster? Well, that's a curved unload station, but same effect I guess.

With TTD, the curved station has never been a big issue, from what I can see. From what i know, a curved station SHOULD NOT be a big deal.

Knoebel's Twister in 1999? That has a curved loading station.

I think rablat5 has got the right answer. The big problem with using a curved station is that you can't use fin-braking.

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BogeyMon said:
The post about construction starting on Starliner got me wondering. What's the last coaster to open new with a curved loading station?

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Going on Wood coasters, I believe it was Knoebels Twister.

Chuck, who says they use skid brakes on it and also believe it to be the newest woodie to use them.

It's got to be Knoebel's Twister, unless you consider The Meteor being re-built at Little A-Merrick-A. Unless they come up with a new system, it will have skid brakes. :)

Also, there are LOTS of modern kiddie coasters that have a curved station, but no skid brakes, such as Miner Mike coasers and the Veggie Tails coaster at Dollywood.

Does Runaway Mountain at SFOT have a curved station? If I remember correctly, it does but also has short trains. It's such a joy getting old. :)

Comet at Waldameer has a curved station, but it predates Twister by a few years.

^Heh, just a few. ;)

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Intamin Fan said:
I think rablat5 has got the right answer. The big problem with using a curved station is that you can't use fin-braking.

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Not everybody would consider that a "problem!"

I may be wrong, but wasn't Euclid Beaches Flying Turns station round? I can't remember.

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BogeyMon said:
Does Runaway Mountain at SFOT have a curved station? If I remember correctly, it does but also has short trains. It's such a joy getting old. :)

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Yeah, Runaway Mountain has a curved station and it has short trains.

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millrace said:

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Intamin Fan said:I think rablat5 has got the right answer. The big problem with using a curved station is that you can't use fin-braking.

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Not everybody would consider that a "problem!"

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^ ;)

The old-timey woodies with hand-operated brakes seem to fit this mold....I'm thinking of Starliner, Waldameer's Comet, Kiddieland's Little Dipper, and Wyandot's Sea Dragon all had the kind of station that "wrapped around" the operators platform. I don't think that's all of this type, but they were all pretty similar in that regard, IIRC...sometimes I don't. ;)

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Intamin Fan said:
The big problem with using a curved station is that you can't use fin-braking.

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In the case of Top Thrill Dragster, all the necessary braking is done prior to entering the curved section of the unload platform. You are then propelled along by guide tires.

While I personally like skid brakes for their gentile stops, there are a few issues with them. First off, in general, the brake runs are longer and more gradual versus fin brakes. Second, they are much more succeptable to moisture problems during rains which can result in trains not stopping. Because of these two problems, they are generally not considered for newer installations. But, as it has been duly noted, if the brake run is curved or the station is curved, you can not use fin brakes. Thus, skid breaks are used on Twister, Comet, Hershey Park Comet and the others that we have mentioned.

Leap the Dips at Lakemont Park is another with skid brakes. Depending on the strength of the Ride Op, sometimes they stop you too quick and then they are forced to Push/Pull you the rest of the way into the station.
*** Edited 3/21/2007 11:31:53 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

And sometimes you don't stop at all.

A couple friends of mine got about five consecutive rides when it started raining once. The op could not get it stopped by himself and finally my friend just said turn the lift motor off.

DUH.

I got yer curved loading station right here! ;)