Eagle re-tracking at SFGAm

So is the entire thing getting retracked or only parts of it? I would imagine this would do a heck of alot for the ride, perhaps they can lay off those trims at the top of the helix? (crossing my fingers :))

Just the Helix on the blue train I believe...Somebody help me out.

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If you haven't rode Raging Bull in the back row you haven't lived. The feeling on that first drop cannot be explained in words!

From what one can see from the road (Washington Street) they have retracked just the upper half of the helix and that it was retracked on both red and blue sides. My guess is the other half of the helix will be done during the next off season.

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My website - Zero G Thrills

I doubt that they are going to lay off on the trims. You never know though...

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Don't Fight It, Ride It, RAGING BULL!!!!!!- Six Flags Great America

*** This post was edited by Blink3020 4/16/2003 8:38:50 AM ***

All I know is when I was there in September blue side got stuck in the final helix numerous times in one day. Maintenance had to push them out and when I rode they were just standing in the wood structure watching to make sure we didn't get stuck also. My guess would be that is part of the retracking.

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Chris Tyson
Photographer
www.pkiunlimited.com

Is it just a rumor, or is blue running backwards again this year? New tracking and backwards would make for a good ride.

Suzie Storey (SFGAM PR Rep) told the audience at NoCoasterCon in January that, indeed, Eagle's Blue side will be running backwards again for at least part of the season...

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--George H
---Superman the ride...coming to a SF park near you soon...
Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)
*** This post was edited by redman822 4/16/2003 3:31:24 PM ***

How many times does this ride have to be retracked? I mean honestly I swear a major retracking effort happens every year it seems, not that that is a bad thing (its good that some SF parks care about their woddies) but why does it need it? Bad design?

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Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.
*** This post was edited by Touchdown 4/16/2003 5:02:57 PM ***

They retrack different parts of the track at different times. I can't remember that last time the helix was retracked.

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Final Deja Vu Count for the 2002 Season: 52
http://www.SFGAmWorld.com

My track record is pretty slim, but it seems to me that when the train runs the helix, it beats the track up pretty good....Even with the trims, when that train picks up speed at the lower part.....I dunno, could be my imagination. I would like to see the entire course retracked but I am sure that is a pretty big project. I do hope as well that the train is running backwards again this season, that it always a fun change of pace.

I have ridden American hundreds of times and when we rode the red side last season, the front of the train came up about 3 inches when it hit the trim brake going into the helix. Is it supposed to do that? My wife asked me if that was common and I said not that I know of. Anyone else notice this? Also just like Patrick K said, on the helix , the trains do beat up the tracks pretty good. Also is it common for the trains to be squealing around curves? I noticed this last year also.

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Loyal fan of Nolimits.
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*** This post was edited by stoogemanmoe 4/16/2003 6:00:25 PM ***

Yes, I have experienced the same thing. Not sure why though...

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MMM Giant Pretzel @ Great America *drool*

"How many times does this ride have to be retracked?"

Design factors aside, annual retracking is not a sign of poor maintenance, it's a sign of *good* maintenance. Why do you think HW's woodies run so well? And did you know SCBB's Giant Dipper has 400-feet of track replaced each year?

It's when a park does nothing that we should be concerned.

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"God bless Atheists!" - Homer Simpson

And even if Eagle seems to get re-tracked more than other rides, there's a fairly good readon for it: Both tracks together are more than 8,000 ft. long!!

I hope they let off on the trims a little this year... but there are two schools of thought here: One is now that the helix can take it without falling apart, send the trains through!! the other one says, however, now that the helix is in good shape, let's keep it that way as long as we can. Guess which one has more appeal to maintainance and financial types.

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I hear America screaming...

I agree they are goign to keep the trims becuase they dont want to retrack again for a long time.

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Whats red yellow and blue at SFGAm...???

I think its pretty common to hear any woodie scweeling. It happens on Viper sometimes too.

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http://groups.msn.com/kylecoasterworld

choose thy fate: freeze or burn

Fly with the Man of Steel in 2003
SFGAm

Holydumb - "scweeling" - as you call it - is due to a lack of graphite lubrication on the tracks.

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"God bless Atheists!" - Homer Simpson

Yeah I know I just wanted to say that It happens alot on all wooden rollercoasters.

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http://groups.msn.com/kylecoasterworld

choose thy fate: freeze or burn

Fly with the Man of Steel in 2003
SFGAm
*** This post was edited by Holydumb26 4/16/2003 7:48:25 PM ***

Moosh like I said the fact that they retrack a ride every year that needs it is a good thing, but I was wondering why it needs to be retracked every year.

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Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.

haha...u guys are funny...lol