I just got back from Myrtle Beach, and Gerstlaur trains seemed a bit rough on the Hurricane, especially on the turns, but as it has beeen said, they are not hands up trains, and i found out the painful way:( . Other than that, i have no problem with them.
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"Thank you for challenging the Raging Bull-We hope you enjoy the rest of you're day, here at Six Flags Great America"
*** This post was edited by RagingBullGuy on 8/6/2001. ***
I like them (I think). The only ones I've been on are the 3 at Big Chief's, but I'm not accually sure if they are Gerstlauer, are they? I think I read somewhere that they are.
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Intamin: Steel gifts from the gods.
CCI: Wooden gifts from the gods.
The trains on the Myrtle Beach Hurricane have seat dividers and lap bars that always come down during the ride, usually the second hill. They always tighten up, every time. When the ops leave the restraints up in empty seats, every time I've riden, every restarint was all the way down by the time you get to station. I would love to try one of these better products. Those Gerstlauer trains are no real friends of mine, although, I haven't found them to roll too rough, never banged around too much, I never hold on for that one.
RobCoasting said:
"Compare that to most PTC trains, which have the
cumbersome seat dividers, seat belts, headrests,
and weakly hinged lapbars!
"
What?! I love those weakly hinged lap bars. They don't go down. ;)On the other hand, the Millennium Flyer trains are really comfy, but the lap bar staples me. Anyone that disses Gerstlauer trains, I don't know what they are talking about. I noticed nothing bad about them. If they could put the PTC lap bars, with the MF trains padding, it would be perfect. TrBiggar, they are PTC trains, but I don't know about Pegasus.
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Bull rides:76
Batman rides:42
My first experience with Gerstlauer trains was less than pleasant. The Boss at SFSTL left me bruised and badly hurting, especially in the left leg and my back. I thought that they tracked poorly and that the lapbars were designed by satan himself.
But then, earlier this summer, I visited Holiday World and rode the Legend. The Legend was incredible in nearly every aspect, and I had no trouble with the G-trains at all. They tracked smoothly, and while my leg bumped the bar, it never was driven into it and bruised. This leads me to think that the problems I experienced at SFSTL were caused by the Boss itself, and not the trains. I haven't ridden the Boss this year, so I don't know if improvements have been made. I do know that on each of the four rides I took last year, the whole train shouted ouch (or expletives) on that damned right turn after the double dip.
Perhaps the new lapbars, or some of the offseason improvements to the Boss have made it better. I still kind of like the PTC's better, but the G-trains did load easier and look nicer. I'm still waiting to try out the Flyers, but they look sensational.
Jeff's feelings aside, I do not like Gerslauer trains. I am neither terribly tall (6' 1") nor terribly large (160#) but I do like to ride with my hands up (:)). I've been on five coaster tracks with G-trains (Villian, Boss, The Legend, Lola, Stella) and they all involved a fair amount of pain. And regardless of what RobC thinks, I had the G-bars ratchet down on me a few times this weekend on The Legend and Twisted Sisters (though not nearly as offensive as the MFlyers on Lightning Racer).
They are better this year than my week-long-lasting-bruise causing rides on Villain last year, but that's still not saying much. I would rather have strong springed seatbelt-less PTCs (like on the woodies @ PKD) than anything.
Heck, I have leg pain now from my trip this weekend and it aint from Raven or Thunder Run...
lata,
jeremy
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"Nobody writes about the planes that land." Steve Salerno Washington Times 7-10-01
Yeah my homepark PKd does it right with thier woodies. They may not be the best woodies but the good woodies could learn from them. I never knew alot of wooden coaster had seatbelts until I started traveling to other parks lol.
What makes these trains so uncomfortable for large/tall people? I've never ridden in them, but am curious if the problems are similar to those on SOB, as the complaints sound the same.
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Olympic gold medalist Carmen Boyle, on the strategy behind luge: "Lie flat and try not to die."
Trains vary as widely as the coasters they ride on. Millenium Flyers are undoubtedly much more expensive (they're not a train company like Gerstlauer or PTC, they're a coaster company, the trains use better materials, AND have the custom mechanism for connecting cars). However, I believe they probably put less wear-and-tear on the track due to the way they run the course more smoothly. What price do you put on guest comfort and re-ridability? PTC's would be my second-best, followed by Gerstlauers (Villain is better than most, not a lot of laterals), and finally Premiers. I prefer a little padding on the metal lapbars, it makes for less bruising (The Mother, Coney Island Cyclone, has the softest most-cushioned seats anywhere, and is eminently re-rideable). All rides are good rides, some are just better!
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you
Doesn't Gerstlauer manufacture the Millennium Flyer Trains for GCI? I thought that I had read that GCI had commissioned Gerstlauer to make them to their spec's, and therefore they have exclusive rights to the use of the trains.
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Olympic gold medalist Carmen Boyle, on the strategy behind luge: "Lie flat and try not to die."
