Iowa's Lost Island Theme park under construction, targeting 2022 opening

The article shows many pictures of a Vekoma SLC being erected, is this supposed to get me excited? Hahaha. But then I saw that they're getting Kanonen, and yeah, I'm excited!

It's worth noting that the SLC going into Lost Island is one of the rare models with a bonus helix at the end. There were only five of those built – this will be the first in North America. Not that adding more to a SLC improves it, mind...

...and along similar lines, Kanonen wasn't one of Intamin's finer efforts.

Isn't there a newer generation of train that makes the SLC a little better?

KumbaK offered aftermarket trains which helped a little, but not a lot.

If you want better rolling stock you really need the new generation "Suspended Thrill Coaster" which use lap bars. The track design is completely different, though, so I'd be surprised if these were available as a retrofit:

https://rcdb.com/17715.htm#p=122127

You know, it's weird that the Arrow track design, with wheels inside the rails, lasted as long as it did. It's more steel and more welds for the track, by at least a factor of three, and probably not as durable. I mean, Anton had it figured out.

Inefficient Arrow track design > Rip Ride Rockit

On the other hand, both Arrow and Morgan figured out better ways to fabricate that wheels-inside track style. Arrow roll-formed the rectangular tubing (as on Desperado and Tennessee Tornado) while Morgan just used plate steel for the track ties. Personally, I think the Arrow style looks better, and as a bonus it has some minor safety benefits as well, as it captures the train within the rails.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Because so many trains with outside wheels have derailed?

You suck at risk management.

Spectacularly. (Derailments, I mean; I am not commenting on Jeff's risk management skills) West Edmonton Mindbender and Dreier Looping being the most spectacular examples, but also King Cobra at Kings Island, that stand-up in Japan, and most recently Manhurtin' Express.Those last three all ended up more like the incidents on Kings Island's Vortex, Orient Express, and...well, I guess Demon managed to turn it into a pretty spectacular incident anyway.

Not to say that the hazard can't be mitigated with the wheels outside, just look at the Bat at Kings Island for an example. It's just that the wheels-inside design supplies inherent protection rather than requiring specific mitigation. And either way, the hazard is extremely small, which is why we can tolerate both designs pretty much equally well.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

OK, so two significant failures resulting in death. Now what were the failures attributed to? I just think you're not making a data-driven statement that inside wheels have a "minor safety benefit."

What was the Kings Island Vortex incident? I remember when Orient Express derailed and when Demon got locked into the loop. But I don't ever remember anything on Vortex.

Richard Bannister said:

1) It's worth noting that the SLC going into Lost Island is one of the rare models with a bonus helix at the end.

2) ...and along similar lines, Kanonen wasn't one of Intamin's finer efforts.

1) Is it though? Last thing I need when CreHo-ing is *more* SLC. (Not that I see myself getting to that park any time soon)

2) I don't know anything about this ride other than the POV looks fun. But yeah, it was built during the period where Intamin could do no right, so I guess I'm not surprised.

Vortex dropped either a wheel carrier or an axle (I forget which) resulting in a *really* rough ride for one trainload, and I think the affected car might have jammed up on a brake caliper. In any case it was an extremely minor event.

The issue is that these wheel carrier designs all necessarily have potential single point failures. It doesn’t matter what causes the incident so far as my point is concerned as the design is a built-in mitigation for any failure of an axle or wheel carrier. Morgan actually added additional mitigations when they built their trains (pins ahead of and behind the wheels), probably because their train sits higher than Arrow’s does, and doesn’t trap the axles between the body and the chassis.

Anyway, if Schwarzkopf’s train had its axles between the rails instead of over them, or if there had been capture pins on the chassis, the incidents would not have resulted in full derailments. Mindbender lost a single wheel carrier. Demon lost an entire axle including both wheel carriers. Which would you expect to be the more serious incident? Sure, preventing the incident in the first place is always best. But once the retaining bolt shears off, that’s no longer possible.

Remember, failure is not an option. It is, in fact, compulsory.

—Dave Althoff, Jr.

Tommytheduck said:

Richard Bannister said:

1) It's worth noting that the SLC going into Lost Island is one of the rare models with a bonus helix at the end.

1) Is it though?

Yes, it is one of the models with a bonus helix.

No, I meant "Is it worth noting?" As in "Can anything at all be done to an SLC to make it worth noting?"

Of course I'd take a credit ride, but wouldn't go bragging in enthusiast groups about my ultra-collectible rare credit.

"I've ridden an extended SLC and am therefore a better person than you."

Tommytheduck said:

...but wouldn't go bragging in enthusiast groups about my ultra-collectible rare credit.

Does ACE have a special card to notate this?

Supposedly, but it's only available if you are an A-lister. It's not good enough to simply have the ultra-collectable rare credit.

On a more serious note--
As a general rule, the first generation SLCs with the 6- or 7-car trains are pretty bad. The second generation model with the 10-car trains are fairly decent, and the one at Michigan's Adventure is by far the best one I have ever ridden...and it has the original Vekoma train style (with the restraint mods they all got).

Meanwhile the worst of the bunch is still the prototype at Kentucky Kingdom. In spite of the new train.

--Dave Althoff, Jr. (ACE member, but not on the A-list)