Gerstlauer trains?

I hear some people that don't like the Gerstlauer trains as opposed to PTC and GCI trains. I'm just wondering, what is wrong with Gerstlauer trains? Aren't they the ones on the SFWoA Villian?

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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!

http://www.woodencoaster.com

Yes, Villain has Gerstlauer trains. I haven't tried the updated versions, but last year's lapbars were a little too tight on my thighs. Apparently, Gestlauer knew about and remedied that problem, and there's about four more inches of room between the two bars now.

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

i like being able to unhook the lapbar, but thats about it. Villains trains are pretty cool looking though.

I wonder why there aren't more companies using T-bars instead of the norm

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HurricaneGeauga- Just in case

Cheetah at Wild Adventures has Gerstlauer trains and they rode fine.

Boss at SFStL has Gerstlauer trains and everyone seems to complain about them, but I like them.

Gerstlauer trains are horrid! The only smooth seat is the front...all other seats will kill you! I rode Villain in the very front, middle, and back. The middle and back were horrible rides. The front made the coaster one of my top 5! A CCI woodie is really smooth...and if they put PTC train on it, any seat would be great! However, I still think that the Millenium Flyer trains from GCI are the best! I love how comfortable they are and the lap bars on them are sheer genius! Gerstlauer trains's lapbars are like Morgan hyper lap bars.

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KoЯn Rules! I just came out to feed!

I feel anyone who doesn't like the Gerstlauers is looking for something to complain about. I've been on Villain and Legend and find them to be nice enough, and a lot easier to get into than most of the newer PTC's. If I can ride either of those two rides in the back, especially Legend, and still enjoy the ride, they can't be all that bad.

When I first sat in one with the wider bar at IAAPA last November, I was convinced that there would be no more complaining, as you have plenty of room and they're reasonably comfortable. I was apparently wrong though, as I still hear enthusiasts complain.

I would agree that GCI's Millennium Flyers look to be the best modern trains available. It's a shame they're so expensive.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"

I don't really mind them too much. I think the reason some people dislike them is because the side sections of the lapbar isn't padded, and the lateral forces can really bang you up because of this.

I still like the PTC trains - classic, and comfortable.

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Current favorite coasters:
Wooden: 1) Beast 2) Raven 3) Son of Beast 4) The Boss 5) The Legend
Steel: 1) Raging Bull 2) Millennium Force 3) V2 4) Wild Thing 5) Mr. Freeze

There are little pads on Hurricane Categopry 5 in Myrtle Beach.

I haven't ridden the vekoma trains yet but I've heard they're so comfy it feels like sitting in a sofa.... Anyone here ridden RobinHood, Thundercoaster or Loup Garou????

I didn't find the Gerstlauler trains to be THAT bad. The lap bars were just fine, but the trains had that vibration"y" feel to it, reminded me of that darn Son of a Beast. I didnt think it hurt the ride, but I'd rather take a PTC train.

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CDNSN

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Jeff said:

I would agree that GCI's Millennium Flyers look to be the best modern trains available. It's a shame they're so expensive.

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How much do trains cost?

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Rollercoasters are the secret of life!

http://www.woodencoaster.com

I personally have no problems with Gerstlauer lapbars but the only ride I've ridden that has them is the Villain. I do notice that you get slammed against them several times throughout the ride. It doesn't hurt me, but I would rather have a nice padded side of the train or seat divider to slam into. No biggie though...I really don't mind the lapbars and I think the G trains look much nicer than PTC's from an aesthetic standpoint.

As for people complaining about the lapbars, I think that they bother some more than others is because everyone has a different threshold for pain...the same reason why I think "headbanging" bothers some but not others (like me).



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CCI + CP = #1 Wooden Roller Coaster!

Gerstlauer makes the best trains available today.
NO seat dividers, no headrests, no seabelts, or
lapbars with weak springs that staple you to deal
with.

On Gerstlauers, you have lapbars that stay in
place, no view-restricting headrests, and NO
cumbersome seat dividers or seatbelts! :)

Compare that to most PTC trains, which have the
cumbersome seat dividers, seat belts, headrests,
and weakly hinged lapbars!

As for padding, well the Morgan Hyper trains,
Arrow trains, and older PTC trains (Mean Streak,
Blue Streak, Hercules...) all have as little, or even
less padding then Gerstlauers!

GCI trains? Well, they *look* nice, but they have
the seat dividers, and lapbars that I'm *convinced*
have no return spring!

Oh, and most enthusiasts that I talk to that don't like Gerstlauer trains share one or more of the following traits; (1.) They are tall (2.) They are large or (3.) They hold their hands up. Coasters
equipped with Gerstlauer trains are hands down
rides. I learned that from day one!

Give me a nice open front Gerstlauer any day...!

The reason they are hands-down rides is because you have to ride defensively on Gerstlauer trains. I've not ridden the earlier versions, but the 'new' space between the lapbars allows your legs to get some velocity before slamming into them on laterals. It took a couple of rides on Legend to work out a good leg bracing position to be able to ride hands-up. The "padding" in Gerstlauer trains might as well be rigid steel, wood or fiberglass for all the cushion it provides. For those who equate physical abuse with intensity Gerstlauer trains are for them.
PTC trains aren't perfect either. I've not ridden GCI's new trains. My favorite running gear is Kennywood's Jack Rabbit and CI Cyclone. *** This post was edited by boblogone on 8/6/2001. ***

I don't know how much the Millennium Flyers actually cost, but looking at the way they're constructed, with teak and nice upholstered seats, I don't imagine they would be cheap.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"

I like the Gerst trains, actually. However, I'm short and relatively thin.

The Millennium Flyers are really comfy, however I found that that big heavy lapbar tended to come down during the ride. Not a big deal, but they're not the elusive "perfect" train either ;)



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--Greg

http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/

Well I'm tall and large and I like them. :)

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GregLeg said:
"The Millennium Flyers are really comfy, however I found that that big heavy lapbar tended to come down during the ride. Not a big deal, but they're not the elusive "perfect" train either ;)
"

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I agree with you on the lapbar coming down on the Flyers, I always have that happen to me on Roar at SFMW. I haven't yet had the "privledge" of riding in a Gerstlauer train, but I'm actually looking foward to comparing the three major types of trains (PTC, Flyers and Gerstlauers) to see which one I like the best. Honestly, I've heard nothing but bad things about the Gerstlauers, this thread is the first time I've actually heard someone say something nice about them. I love the PTC trains, but Flyers are still my favorite. So comfy! The only problem with those are the lap bars that lock down on you and take away any hint of airtime you might get on a GCI coaster. :)