Drop Zone safety features

I seem to recall reading that it is possible for magnetic brakes to fail. IF that is the case, what are some backup safety features for Drop Zone, in case the magnetic brakes fail? RideMan, know anything?

The magnet brakes are fail proof. I dunno if those rams do anthing that would help or not. *** Edited 5/3/2004 1:18:36 AM UTC by Dane186***

They are fail proof....they arn't electro magnetic they are just magnetic. The white part of the rails is the magnets and there is copper located on the car . Those hydroilic rams would get crushed if there were no magnets.

I don't think the magnetic brakes on DZ pivot away from the train/car, unlike the brakes on S:RoS. DZ's brakes are fail-safe. S:RoS didn't crash because the magnets failed, it crashed because the brakes didn't move back in position to stop the train. RideMan's site may help you understand the Superman accident better.

EDIT - I would like to add the link to this topic: http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=37551 *** Edited 5/2/2004 11:57:56 PM UTC by person***

Failproof, is, of course a relative term. Nothing is totally failproof. However, having no moving parts and being totally passive, it's about as safe as you're going to get.

Could it be possible for the magents to become de-magnetized or even reversed polarized if struck by lightning?

Reverse polarization wouldn't have any effect (I think) because the magnitude of the induced current in the fins would be the same (assuming the magnet is of the same magnitude, just in the opposite "direction").

The earth's magnetic field could shift... but, uh, I don't think being unable to ride Drop Zone would be a valid concern at that point.

The hydraulic cylinders at the bottom of the Intamin Giant drops bring the cars to a stop after they've been slowed down by the magnetic brakes. If the main brakes failed, they'd do absolutely no good--even if they did hold up, a car that has just dropped several hundred feet isn't going to survive a complete stop in 5 feet.

*** Edited 5/3/2004 1:13:25 AM UTC by PhantomTails***

I know the Tower of Doom at Elitch Gardens has been struck by lightning and it still works.

I'm sure Drop Zone gets hit by lightning all of the time. So what?

The only way I can think of that ride is going to fail is if the fins on the tower come off (all of them) or the magnets on the vehicle (all of them) come off. I think it's more likely that a meteor will wipe out humanity tomorrow.

I used to do maintenance on drop zone. Yes it has been stuck by lightning many times. And there would be a whole lot to go wrong for the mags not to work. You have a better chance getting nibbled to death by a pack of gerbels than to die on dz!!!!

Beast 25 five years of terror= my 25th Birthday as well!!!!!!!!!

The brakes cant fail...read up on magnetic flux if you wanna know why...