GCI Confirms Millennium Flyer Trains for Hershey's Wildcat

http://www.greatcoastersinterns.com/blog.php

Check out the Feb 4th entry...

"The word is out, by the way, that the two other trains we are building are, in fact, for Hershey's Wildcat."

"We're supposed to get the chassis for the other train of Wildcat this week, so we hope to report more progress in the coming days. Stay tuned."

If you can't stand the heights, get out of the line.

Take that, Sonny. :)

And PTC's Tom Rebbie confirmed that, while he was approached to engineer and build new trains for SOB, he declined the opportunity citing the lack of proper time to work on the project. So the new SOB trains remain a mystery...

Or do they? ;)

Not so fast there, Rob...

It appears VERY likely at this pont that Sonny is getting "G-2s", the re-engineered trains that Gerstlauer built that are currently running on Falken (well, ya know, during the operating season, LOL)... ;)

I heard a Gerstlauer rumor but wasn't sure what to make of it.

SOB, HP Wildcat, Sheikra, are there any others?

Just curious if there has been any other year when 3 coasters have had their trains replaced by different models?

Probably, but likely not as many high-profile rides. Sheikra is a weird situation because the coaster is only two years old!

Hopefully, if the new trains significantly improve the ride, BGA and SFA will follow in suit with there GCI coasters that are currently running PTC trains.

If you can't stand the heights, get out of the line.

Well, new trains couldn't make it any worse. :)

Might actually give it another try if I get to Hershey anytime soon...

coasterimage - lordgonchar

^^BGA runs twleve months a year, and has truly *substandard* wood-coaster maintenance. SFA honestly does a better job, IMO, of "routine maintenance".

Therefore, I get first dibs....er, Gwazi does... ;)

I'm not sure if the trains are going to help. Then again, as Gonch said, they're certainly not going to make things any worse.

Rob Ascough said:
Probably, but likely not as many high-profile rides. Sheikra is a weird situation because the coaster is only two years old!

But The Legend was two years old, too! :-P

I wish I got to ride Legend with the Gerstlauers. I heard that the ride was pretty good with them as well. I don't think I've been on a single ride that ran one train and then when I rode it again, ran another. If I can get myself out to Conneaut Lake Park, I could change that.

~Rob Willi

Opinions on the Legend's switch seem to be split. Some people love the new PTCs while others long for the Gerstlauers. I've only ridden the coaster with PTCs so I can't offer an opinion, although I can guess that I wouldn't have liked the Gerstlauers going by what I've experienced on other coasters running those trains.

Strong laterals suck in the Gerstlauers. On something like The Villain I don't think it matters, but they were not good on The Legend at all.

Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog

I loved Wildcat at HP with the PTC's, but maybe that's just me...

Happy Fun Land - Adventures from the World's Craziest Theme Park

You're not alone. The new trains may smooth the ride out a bit, but I hope the intensity isn't sacrificed. The HP Wildcat is definitely one of my favorite coasters.

I experienced The Legend shortly after its first SRM appearance. It wasn't that bad, but I really enjoy The Boss. Still I prefer PTC's to anything else. *** Edited 2/5/2007 9:16:18 PM UTC by Acoustic Viscosity***

AV Matt
Long live the Big Bad Wolf

^^^ Jeff, I agree for the most part...although, even on Villain, I think the G-trains damage the *trackwork*, but the destruction is more gradual and subtle.

The *riders* suffer NOW (ouch!) from G-trains when the lats hit, like TTwins or Cheetah or Boss. On a ride like Villain, the damage is harder to detect until you view the ride over time....there's GOOD reason Legend's trains were replaced SO early in its life...and I think we know WHO asked that the park replace them... ;)

The PTCs are certainly *infinitely* more forgiving to the rider hitting the lapbar or the seat...IMO.

Finally, (also IMO) Wildcat will NOT be harmed by the MFlyers...although the maintenance guys may suffer a bit when they get less overtime pay... :)
*** Edited 2/5/2007 9:17:08 PM UTC by rollergator***

^

Sad thing about Boss... I love the layout... hate the trains.

Cheetah... well I must be odd... I didn't think it was all that bad with its Gerstlauer's.

The Gerstlauers on Hurricane at Myrtle Beach Pavillion are the main reasons why I am not shedding any tears over that coaster's demise.

"Yes... well... VICTORY IS MINE!"

rollergator said:
^^BGA runs twleve months a year, and has truly *substandard* wood-coaster maintenance. SFA honestly does a better job, IMO, of "routine maintenance".
Therefore, I get first dibs....er, Gwazi does...

Have you ridden Roar east lately Gator? That thing has been running pretty rough lately & could use a set of trains that can track properly through it's course....as well as a decent re-tracking.

Of course it would be up to SFA,as well as corporate to have a desire to foot the bill for new trains...then again if ridership drops significantly & trains have to be pulled more frequently for maintenance then they just might be inclined to make the switch.