Intamin Giant Drops

Can someone explain why all the Intamin GDs have 1 side NOT operating?

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Probably because they're broken.

That help?

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If you could just see the beauty... these things I could never describe. Pleasures and wayward distraction; is this my wonderful prize? --Joy Division

I know with the one at Great America, it has been the programming causing errors. I imagine it is the same everywhere. As far as I know they never got it totally fixed.

Well, I assume you meant SFGAm. The one at PGA runs half of the drops because the line for it doesn't get that long. So I don't know about the three sided towers.

With regards to Giant Drop, I believe that side broke before the ride even opened and got stuck at the top; the park hasnt fixed it because it would be too much of a hassle.

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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.

No the Giant Drop at SFGAM opened with all of the sides operating and I went in 1998 and they were running it at full capacity. I beleive in 1999 one of the sides went down.

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Mike
Favorite Wood: Viper at SFGAM,Shivering Timbers
Favorite Steel: Magnum and Raging Bull

I wouldn't say all. At SFEG last year we had all three sides operating most of the time, except for when wind would not allow one or more sides to run. I believe ours was built 1998, so I do not know if that is newer then the other ones or not. If it is, that may explain why ours may operate a little better.

On a side note, there may be a reason why when Tower of Doom is operating fine, the control panel says 'enjoy the moment' at the bottom. :)

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"Damn The Man! Save The Empire!"
-Mark, Empire Records

I wish Dalton (T)error had only one side not operating. If you're lucky it will operate at half capacity..

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Dutch Coastin' :: European coasters, thrills and theming!

SFGAM's version has six sides and I have been there when they are running all six sides. I think they only run all six if it is extremely busy.
*** This post was edited by /coasterman/ 3/28/2003 7:50:56 AM ***

Sorry I did mean SFGAM. Yes all the sides have worked from time to time. I have been on ever car on it. It isn't becuase of capicty issue or anything. When I worked there it was always a programming glitch.

The Pittfall mostly operates all sides so I can't say why they wouldn't work. Ever since it has opened in I think 1997, it has operated with all sides open when I there.
*** This post was edited by Derrick Whitsett 3/28/2003 12:03:36 PM ***

Drop Zone at PCW seems to be one of the only Intamin's that runs all five sides. In my experience, I have seen a maximum of one side down, and this is an extremely rare occasions. It opened in 1997, I assume this is a more recent installation than the others and that some sort of correction/improvement had been made?

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The Other Siebert

Dalton Terror opened in 1998 and hasn't operated at full capacity for the last 2 years at least.

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Dutch Coastin' :: European coasters, thrills and theming!

... and there goes my theory.

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The Other Siebert

Apocalypse runs all 5 to!

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www.ukrides.info

Tower of doom at SFA opened in 96 & was working fine for 3 years until SF took over the park,but according to what I've heard it is a programming error which causes one side to shut down.
*** This post was edited by BATWING FAN SFA 3/28/2003 11:44:29 PM ***

QUESTION: does anyone know if the giant drops are counterweighted in any way?

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Drop Zone at Carowinds almost always runs all 4 sides - the exception being when one is down for a maintenance issue - but that's only on a few of my visits. I've never seen them shut down any of the cars due to short lines. This is good, because on slow days I can get 10+ straight rides :)

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Ken

You're locked and ready to fly!

Giant Drops have elevator-like counterweights that run on tracks on the inside of the tube. They're connected by three cables that run around a spool, and then connect to the catch cars.

Usually if you see a section just sitting there for long periods of time, it's a motor or braking problem. They're at the top and aren't real fun to work on. To actually fix the stuff you have to go up there and shut all of the sections down, so they usually will put up with limited capacity over no capacity at all.

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If you could just see the beauty... these things I could never describe. Pleasures and wayward distraction; is this my wonderful prize? --Joy Division

Acrophobia runs all 10 sides all the time. Its awesome ain't it.

A-Rod