HADES, AVALANCHE, & MORE... got quality wood on an impromptu trip to Wisconsin Dells

I was very impressed with Mt. Olympus. Take into consideration that last year the park had no water park, no dramatic theming like it has now, no world class coaster. Since Nick took over park management I think he's done just about everything he can to make this a competetive destination, with the goal to beat Noah's Ark in attendance.

Sure, it needs a few more flat rides, but those will come. Keep in mind this is year one of an independent park. They don't have the deep pockets of a major corporation to dip into, like Islands of Adventure. And yet already it has the best go-karts in the world, an impressive coaster skyline and a waterpark. I think Nick is just getting started.

When I talk to Nick (the park owner) one thing became very clear, he is Greek and this is his Greek theme park. Not sure why folks don't consider it a real theme park. It has Athenian architecture, Greek music playing everywhere, the staff seem like they are from that area of the world. My impression was that if some of the staff only speaks Greek it adds to the realism of the parks atmosphere.

When I saw that Hades will never have an option for a second coach, I thought this could become a problem. Nick had said he wanted his coaster to be one of the best in the world, so it is a little confusing he wouldn't create options for higher rider capacity. But then a lot of coasters at smaller parks rarely need two coach capacity. Even Shivering Timbers this last Sunday could have gotten away with one coach. Once the hype about Hades dies down one coach may make a lot of sense. If the hype doesn't die down and Nick gets his World class attraction he may regret not setting up the option for a second coach.

Hades is an amazing ride, but it is the tunnel action that is most impressive. However, it does leave you wanting more. For years many of us have waited for a coaster with extended tunnel action. Now that it is here we can't see it.

I think Nick is right that it is more thrilling with the lights out. Still, I can accomplish the tunnel experience by closing my eyes. I want more, just a flash, a pop of light in the tunnel, a glimpse of that incredible underworld track action. A couple of flashes of light will keep folks in the dark while highlighting the best attributes of the coaster. I don't think there is another coaster this would work on.

And I also was very surprised by Avalanche. Such a little coaster in a very small park. I bet 90% of families and their kids have no idea that they are stepping onto one of the most intense coasters in the region. Where is S&S building their next coaster? Something larger scale would be nice.

Hades is getting a second train next year. It wasn't in the budget to include it this year.

They don't have a station for a second train. The way things are set up, they would have to redesign part of the track.

Raven added transfer track and a second train this year...it's not that uncommon.

True, Gator...and Raven's station still only fits one train.

rc-madness: this info came from Nick, the park's owner. I think he probably knows what he's talking about.

I was standing there with an ACE rep talking over the need for the second train, and honestly, I don't know how they are going to do it. There is no place for the transfer track. Up near the brake run the switch track would have to slide into the lift supports and the transfer track would have to go back over the end of the helix if that is even possible. After the station drop you need the speed from that drop to engage the lift. I guess they can figure it out, but it does not look easy at all.

I was standing there with an ACE rep talking over the need for the second train, and honestly, I don't know how they are going to do it.

It was designed into the ride, just not built this year. You really need to give the park and GG more credit...I'm sure they know what they're doing.

It was designed into the ride

I don't think it was. This is not a matter of giving TGG credit. The ride was ordered with one train. They are really going to have to go out of their way to add transfer track as there is no obvious place to put it.

The ride was ordered with one train.

Because the park only had the budget for one train. A second 6-car train as well for a 6th car for the existing train are coming.

...there is no obvious place to put it.

Yes there is: right next to the final brake run. Standing in the station looking back at the brake run the transfer would be built to the right, over the exit stairs.

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RavenTTD said:
It was designed into the ride

I don't think it was. This is not a matter of giving TGG credit. The ride was ordered with one train. They are really going to have to go out of their way to add transfer track as there is no obvious place to put it.

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The first order of business is to convince Mr. Laskaris to add the final car for the existing train. Tom from PTC commented at the banquet that they had inquired about adding the last car.

Granted, that's only four more people per ride but it does add up slowly. The station already has the gates for the additional car.

I was looking long and hard also to figure out how they might add a second train and the needed modifications to the track to accomodate it. While I'm sure they may have planned for it I don't see how they will pull it off either.

I know they have to bring kids from Europe over to get enough staff to man these places but it is unnerving to think people with this kind of attitude are running rides such as this.

I did find some real friendly kids working in various places around the park but not on Hades.

In talking with Mr. Laskaris, he does seem to care about the park and asked quite a few questions about what I thought of the park so I'm sure he wouldn't mind hearing comments.

Despite all that, I have an overwhelming urge to drive back to The Dells to get in some more rides!

Brad - Nick speaks quite openly about the 6th car and the second train. His plans are to have them for next season, although admittedly that could change.

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Brad G said:

I know they have to bring kids from Europe over to get enough staff to man these places but it is unnerving to think people with this kind of attitude are running rides such as this.

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You'd have to be pretty smart or pretty talented to cause a major problem on a ride like Hades. It has a computer. It's essentially idiot-proof.

http://www.rcdb.com/ig2667.htm?picture=73
Is it really that difficult to see where the transfer would go? It wouldn't even have to be over the exit stairs, as they've pretty much reached the bottom by the time they're parallel with the brake run.

-Nate

Nate gets it!

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Mamoosh said:
Nate gets it!

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I guess I should have clarified what I meant a bit. While the coaster can basically run itself, especially with one train, I'd be more concerned about how little attention they were paying to seat belts/lap bars.

A couple of the rides I had they sort of glanced our way but never physically checked them.

Yes there is: right next to the final brake run. Standing in the station looking back at the brake run the transfer would be built to the right, over the exit stairs.

There are a couple problems with this. First, if you have it right beside the brake run, where do you put the switch track? If at the front of the brake run, then the train would have to pass the brake run first and that is down a significant dip they have to push it up to get on the transfer track. They could put in the the back but then it would have to go up over the end of the helix.

The next problem is how do they work the switch track. It would have to slide toward the lift, meaning the normal brake run track would have to temporarily slide right into the lift supports. We were right there in person looking at it discussing it and there was no where for it to go. Maybe the could move some track up and then the other track over, but that does not solve the first problem.

I know they have to bring kids from Europe over to get enough staff to man these places but it is unnerving to think people with this kind of attitude are running rides such as this.

The girls on Hades are awesome. They do get a bit aggressive getting people to fill the trains and move to the front of the station (they stopped splitting up couples from what I saw), but that is often because seats 1.2-2.2 sometimes have no line while there is a 45 minute wait. I have had a few conversations with both girls and other guys I know have too, and we agree that they are great. As for how complicated it is to run Hades....the control panel is VERY simple. You could learn it in 30 seconds or less. *** Edited 6/27/2005 11:06:47 PM UTC by RavenTTD***

You don't need a "switch track" in order to have a transfer track. In fact, most transfer tracks don't have switch tracks. A transfer table (ala Raging Bull, most other B&M coasters, and Raven too, I believe) takes up much less space and would work far better in this situation.

As for going into the lift supports, that's really not a problem. After all, the station does it also. Even so, I doubt the transfer table will switch that way.

-Nate *** Edited 6/27/2005 11:25:37 PM UTC by coasterdude318***

Right, Nate. I really don't see why this is such a difficult concept for some people to grasp. Having stood on the exit stairs its clear to see where the storage track could/should/will/might go.

I know you can move over the whole track, but that means you would have to get rid of even more lift supports. When the transfer track slides towards the lift to add or remove a train, the track there during normal operation needs to move right into existing supports right under the lift hill. I know they already build some things into the lift supports, but they would have to take out existing supports right under the lift to make that work. It would be a lot of them if they did it without switch track.

Here is a pic that should help you two out. In order to do what you are talking about, switch track or not, you are going to go right into lift supports and right where the lift chain is. It WAS NOT designed to put transfer track there. Sorry you are confused, Moosh. *** Edited 6/27/2005 11:36:29 PM UTC by RavenTTD***

Actually RavenTTD, I think you are mistaken about that. You can, and it more than likely will go there. Remember these are the same people who built track under and through the Hoosier Hurricane a few years ago. The photo you linked actually shows exactly where and how it could be done. It's not really that difficult. Same thing could be done for Cornball Express too if Indiana Beach had to. Besides, I was there a couple weeks ago myself and scoped it out when I heard the news. *** Edited 6/27/2005 11:57:18 PM UTC by Thrillerman***

I did not say it was impossible. They have to build into the existing support structure meaning they would have to build more supports over the whole thing like they do on the other side for the return hill over Zeus. I know it is possible, but there is not obvious place for it and it is pretty clear they were not thinking of a second train when they designed it. They could have just built the brake run a few feet over if they were.