Kings Dominion construction ramps up for new roller coaster

LostKause said:
(Whiny voice) "Why am I always so misunderstood?"

Oh goodie, we're playing Jeopardy. You know, where the correct answer precedes the question.... :)

I'm sorry LK; I just couldn't resist that one. You can't set yourself up like that, and not expect someone to take the easy one. It was just a joke. :)

Regarding terminal velocity, don't forget the profile of the train is going to be important too. A PTC is going to have a lower terminal velocity than an Intamin hydraulic launch train (and then there's things like idiots holding their jackets up like a wind scoop... :) )

Dragster bottoms out at nearly the exact same speed it was launched at.

I'd be curious how close it really is. Before the train even starts it's ascent, there are a few different factors in play. Aside from the wind resistance and friction the train experiences, the return track appears to be higher than the launch track. It still might be pretty close. But, it wouldn't surprise me if there were a 10mph +/- differential.

Dudes with radar guns have clocked it. If there's a difference, it's not significant. Having stood in the infield, I can say the tracks are the same height, or damn close.

Do all the brake and station blocks have drive wheels or do they use gravity to move the trains around?

On Dragster? It's all drive wheels. When they put trains on in the morning, they're manually all moved backward from the transfer into the stations.

I guess it's just the angle the pictures were taken at.

Crazy... I just noticed this KD thread is a Moosh Free Zone.. (MFZ)

Speculate freely everyone!!! Weeeeeee!!!

:)

The return run on Dragster is slightly higher, but only because the track needs to be sloped down toward the station after the train runs through the magnetic brakes.

^^I posted on page 1, Ken.

That doesnt count.. You know page one is just for relevant posting anyways.. Rest is where it counts :)

I posted all the real info I know about the coaster on page 1 ;)

Some reason, in its early years I remember them touting Dragster are reaching just over 100 on the way back down, partly because of the fall being a little shorter on that side and whatnot. I've never taken a radar gun to it, and I don't care so much because either way, it's fast as hell. :)

Well, I guess we'll have to find out the fastest speed a coaster can drop after a few hundred feet (or more) is added to the record. I swear that I remember reading one of the experts on here say that MF is just about the fastest a coaster can drop, because of wind resistance and friction.

That topic inspired me for some lyrics to a song my band was writing a while afterwards. The chorus to Falling Down is:

My luck here's all but spent
Alone in my decent
Terminal velocity found
My God I'm falling down

(I do a search for the old topic, but it takes me hours, and I never find what I am looking for.)

LostKause said:
...and I never find what I am looking for.)

And he stiiillll hasn't foouund what he's lookin' for....

Sorry, but we're talking lyrics, right? :)

Well if you guys are going to write lyrics, then I'm going to write another haiku:

Launch me over top

Terminal velocity

Is found when I drop

LK, I hate to break it to you, but "spent" and "decent" don't rhyme. :)

Yea they do, at least in my reality. "Found" and "down" don't though. I just use the creative license excuse.

(Click the link in my signature to hear the song "Falling Down", if you like rock and want to hear me be a vocalist...assuming you haven't. Feel free to download the five free songs too, if you can stand to listen to it more than once ;) )

Any time that I say something about not finding what I am looking for, that U2 song starts playing on the radio in my head, Carrie. I heard it as I was typing it.

kpjb said:
LK, I hate to break it to you, but "spent" and "decent" don't rhyme. :)

Not only that, but it's not a complete thought. Alone in my decent what? House? La-Z-Boy? Commuter vehicle? :)