Goliath first test run.

Looks great!!!

I guess I didn't realize it was so short. Seems like it should have one more go around.

A little like Outlaw Run in that respect. If we want it done on time, we're going to have to accept it the way it is. It also seems somewhat slow or something. Maybe the lift speed will increase. That upside down hill looks intense. I wonder- does that count as a neg G or a positive G? :-)

I can't believe the lift was just topped off, what, 2 weeks (week 1/2?) ago and they're already testing with trains. Somebody up there must've read the posts on this forum and decided to get cracking!

Wouldn't want any other travel plans ruined, after all.

Wouldn't it be better off going slow through the inversions though? Although I have never ridden it, the second roll on Outlaw Run has been noted for its hangtime, so maybe the inversions on this are similar to OR in some respect. For this reason, I feel like the inversions should have preferably been the last two elements, but who am I to argue with RMC? :P Looks hands-down insane and reminds me of OR, jut without the trees.

Not to mention, the first airtime hill looks absolutely sick. The train pracically flies into it at around 60-65 mph. :)

I didn't think Outlaw Run's course was particularly short. Oddly I thought Iron Rattler's was quite a bit shorter.

Edit: a quick check of RCDB shows that I am full of it.

Maybe it's just that particular vantage point, but I see *very* little wood in this coaster. It's like they just slapped a few wooden supports around the perimeter so they could call it a "wooden" coaster.

But I'm probably wrong.

Still #1 on my must ride list.

The train was running empty. If they had real people or loaded dummies in it (fake people), I'm sure the weight would have added speed.

Tommytheduck said:

Maybe it's just that particular vantage point, but I see *very* little wood in this coaster. It's like they just slapped a few wooden supports around the perimeter so they could call it a "wooden" coaster.

To me, it's more along the lines of "they slapped some laminated engineered lumber under the steel running plate so they can call it a wooden coaster."

In any case, regardless of what it's called....I want it.

At this point, I doubt it even makes a difference since the elements they put on this coaster, you can't find even on another steel coaster. I would be dissapointed if they just copied some common elements from steel coasters such as a vertical loop and plugged it into the track, but thankfully, it is the quite opposite in this case.

I've always been a big fan of wooden coasters, especially the older, classic rides that are left. But as I age I find the experience, especially on some of the newer, larger rides to be less than desirable. Maybe it's the lack of time and attention over the years that make it so. We can all agree that proper maintenance and re-tracking is crucial to an enjoyable ride. Steel coasters don't always guarantee a pain free ride, either, and while the track alters little over time, design and restraints can be the issue there.

I think as time goes we're going to see a continuing, increased blurring of the line between wood and steel, and those who are bound and determined to classify a ride as one or the other are going to have a tough time. Rides like El Toro and Outlaw Run are so well received, but often I hear enthusiasts say things like "it's basically a steel ride made out of wood". I'm not sure what that means, or if it matters, but with Rocky Mountain popping up with new ways to engineer roller coaster track we may need to resign ourselves to just enjoying the rides for what they are and stop trying to pigeon hole them into a certain, definite type. We may also have to disregard whatever the park tries to call it as well.

But regardless, I agree with Mr. Gator on this one. This looks like one hell of an innovative ride (just when you thought they were out of ideas) and I don't care what anyone calls it. I haven't been to SFGrAm for years, longer than I care to admit. This ride makes me want to go there again soon, ride it, and also catch up on other rides that are missing from my list.

The reason its looks slow is for many reasons, I'm not 100% sure if RMC runs their test with soft wheels first before the hard wheels.

Also if there was added weight like water dummies it would be faster, either way it would shave anywhere from 2-5 seconds

The Wood, even on the metal structues, the orange tracks are on top of wood, both ends of the coaster are all wood, specially in the dive loop area on the right end of the coaster..