Extra-extra large pass-through for track in Voyage

I was looking at the latest holiblog post this morning, and I saw this picture: http://www.holidayworld.com/holiblog/uploaded_images/4-14BR-722985.jpg

I couldn't help but thinking, why is the opening 3 times taller than it needed to be? I thought maybe it was to allow cranes through, but if I remember correctly, they were putting up bents for the track that twists through the lift hill at the same time they were putting up the lift hill. It just looked sorta strange to me, and I couldn't remember any other coasters that had pass-throughs that were 50 feet taller than they needed to be. Any thoughts on why? (just curious, more than anything)

-Chris

P.S. I may be fairly new here, but I'm a looong time lurker. So, I feel it's my duty to throw in the first wild off-the-wall goofy speculation that it's for next year's coaster. Of course, that would just be wishful thinking. :) Then again, it wouldn't be any different from the CP thread.

Basicly by having opening so big they save several thousand dollars on the construction. It's less steel, bolts, washers, nuts, and labor needed for construction.

But then why not do that on all the hills?

I would say it is to aloow easier access for large equipment. When you have an opening like that, the surrounding structure has to be engineered to bear the weight that would have been taken by the absent structure.

There is another new coaster that has one of those huge gaps. I think it's el toro.

EDIT: yep, check out the picture under the text that says, "Construction really seems to be coming along!" under the April 14th update.

http://www.amusementpics.com/2006%20Expansion.htm *** Edited 4/16/2006 6:00:50 PM UTC by mudinthevayne***

I imagine the answer is called "engineering." :)

How about cranes? They like to not travel through solid objects, ya know. They're also tall. Hmm.

Cranes also like to disassemble and/or fold up so they can travel down normal roads. Just a point.

While carrying things? Just another point. ;)

Tall enough for tall equipment to pass under AND less materials used, resulting in cheaper construction costs. Maybe an all around good design or "engineering" choice. :)

Actually...it's to reduce the amount of wind load on that part of the struction.

The less structure there is above the opening, the less there is for wind resistance to the structure for the entire lift hill to carry and disburse.

(Plus Korey of the Gravity Group is really, really tall!)

Paula

Maybe its to lower wind resistence (Spelling?).

Ha :-p

Hmmm, interesting. I hadn't thought of that option (obviously), but I totally get it now. Allowing that channel for wind releaves alot of strees on the structure. Thanks for the response, Paula. And thanks again for putting up with all of our geeky questions. :)

I have asked before but do not remember if I got a response. Do we have a approx head count so far of how many are registered for the Holiwood Nights (directed to Raven Maven)?

As Paula mentioned, if it weren't for wind loads and the possibility of seismic events (earthquakes), wooden lift hills would look like they do in RCT (only as wide as the track).

That having been said, when you place a 'hole' in the structure higher, you gain several benefits. The beam that crosses the space can be smaller b/c it supports less 'stuff' above it. The surface area of the hill is reduced and catches less wind (and weighs less, so earthquakes affect it less). Less material is used, so it's cheaper. The only downside is that the designer can't count on the hill acting as a single structure as much as if the hole were smaller. It's probably acting more like two structures connected at a point than a single stronger structure.

Sorry Paula! It's been a while since I gave you a good engineering explaination. I was overdue! And now that Avatar @ PKI is running, I can claim to be an experienced coaster designer. ;)

The drawback (at least for ride experience) is the loss of a potentially great head-chopper.

Just looking at a pic of the lifthill, I noticed the other criss-cross through the structure has a rather tall opening as well.

See?

Engineering. :)