Enthusiasts need flashy lights to enjoy ride

I hadn't thought of Python parts making it onto Nessie, but that does make sense. Except that Python would also have had the old style bars on it. The change is subtle, and I suspect that it's the result of a parts availability issue with S&S. One of the most obvious ways you can tell that something changed is the presence of 'checker handles' on the bars: the originals didn't have those.

Now I have to go look at my old photos again... 8-)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

They did a lot of Mods when Python came.. Not necessarily with Python parts for everything but because they were already working with mods at the time and integrating the two.

But i dont recall restraints being modified as drastically as you alluded.

They were most definitely changed as the OTSH that is currently on Nessie is not the harness that would have come with Arrow trains from 1978. If I remember correctly, when I rode Drachen Fire, Nessie still had the original tubular harness, which means it was changed within the last 15 or so years.

I've been looking at old photos. So far I have seen photos from 2001 showing the new style bars, and a photo from 1978 showing the old style bars. So it looks like the shoulder bar change was not related to the demise of the Python.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.