Holiday World's Thunderbird track complete, three weeks ahead of schedule

Congrats, B&M doesn't mess around and usually wants the coaster ready for testing long before park opening day. It surprised me last year when they didn't raise track on Banshee for almost a month, But they still got it in, well under deadline. Remember track being done on Diamondback at end of Nov. And them testing late February.

Someone refresh my memory, I know it's launched but is it tire launch or Electromagnetic?

It's LSM, or linear synchronous motor. In other words, electromagnetic fins line the launch track, right out of the station. 0-60mph in 3.5sec. This is actually the first time that B&M has done their own launched coaster.

Actually, it's the world's first coaster run entirely on Will power...

They sort of did it themselves. My understanding is that it's a pretty tight collaboration with another company. I didn't think to ask more about it at IAAPA, because I was too busy scoring free Dippin' Dots.

Right. It might not be completely done in-house, I don't know the specifics. That would be nice to find out at some point, though.

Meanwhile, my head continues to dream of a B&M LSM-launched flyer taking the place of Mean Streak's ashes. Ah, well, I'll just have to keep dreaming, eh?

I understand the park hired a plethora of construction workers to make this project complete as soon as possible. And good for them, it's done before whatever harsh winter is about to come our way. (hope not)

Isn't it amazing how it all fits together, down to the last signed piece, without so much as a hitch.

Given the extremely tight tolerances required? YES. Simply being off by a matter of millimeters (or likely even less) would result in a less than pleasant ride. Can you imagine if each track segment was misaligned, that would be like a jolt every forty feet or so, at speeds of 60mph or higher.

Id rather see Mean Streak RMC'd myself.

I do wonder how B&M offering LSM launches on their rides will affect the industry's buying habits.

YOU get a B&M launch, and YOU get a B&M launch, and YOU.....

I'm with ya on the Mean Streak re-do. If only Six Flags would drop that pesky exclusivity contract...
:-)

How crazy would it be if B&M was working with Intamin on this LSM launch?

Not saying it could or couldn't happen, but it would certainly be an interesting collaboration.

Intamin/B&M collaboration: Would it, or would it not, break down all the time? And would it, or would it not, open on time? :p

And would Holiday World have anything to do with it if it was? Methinks not.

Schrödinger's roller coaster! It is simultaneously a perfectly functional roller coaster with high reliability and a completely unreliable waste of steel. Yeah, I can't imagine any park would be lining up to purchase that ride, much less Holiday World or Cedar Fair. SIX, on the other hand, seems to not have a major issue with INTAMIN, having recently attached a freaking drop tower to Kingda Ka.

Just a guess regarding the "secret" partnership: http://www.force.co.uk/

Does Force do LSM? I thought they were LIM only.

From the FAQ on their website:

"Do you make Linear Synchronous Motors?
Force Engineering has experience developing high efficiency Linear Synchronous Motor systems for applications including baggage handling. Please contact us for further details and to discuss your requirements."

Didn't Force provide the LSMs on the Premier installs?

Yes! Finally a coaster with no delays.

See also: Banshee (2014), GateKeeper (2013), Leviathan (2012), etc...