KK BIG breakdown?!?!?

Was your source as reliable as Intamin or SFI?

sorry, could not resist *** Edited 6/14/2005 9:57:35 PM UTC by RavenTTD***

I know a few people that work in the entertainment department in the park. KK won't be up and running until mid september. they were doing test runs. when they launched the train it got to full speed and the emergency brake activated and tore the bottom of the train apart and ripped up the track. so now they have to get a new train and new track.

---

Ajrides said:
I was told on Sunday from a reliable source that it would be back up in 2 weeks and they are working around the clock with Intemin to get it up.

---

versus:

---

MiniZster said:
I know a few people that work in the entertainment department in the park. KK won't be up and running until mid september. they were doing test runs. when they launched the train it got to full speed and the emergency brake activated and tore the bottom of the train apart and ripped up the track. so now they have to get a new train and new track.

---

hmmmmmmmmmmm

http://themeparks.about.com/od/sixflagsarticles/a/KingdaMalfuncti.htm
The reason.

Wow. Score: Rockets 2, Parks 0.

WOW. That's BAD. Damaged track, damaged brakes, damaged train, and I would assume damage to the sled and maybe motor.

Remember back less than a month ago when the fanboys were singing the priases of the trouble free KK? I was hoping they were right but expected a troublesome ride, but not THIS troublesome!

To say nothing of the 2 1/2 other closed coasters and the comprehensive list of other rides down or experiencing downtime that day. Talk about a kick in the teeth...

-'Playa

*** Edited 6/15/2005 12:53:08 AM UTC by CoastaPlaya***

The way I am reading it, the track basically started coming apart during launch. Each time that happens there would be a different chain reaction. IMO, they are lucky the train just stopped. It sounds like if this is not a fixable and preventable problem, there will be a chance of trains derailing during launch. How in the world could this possibly happen?

"Liner" sounds like something to keep the cable from rubbing against anything. If that's what broke, then I hope that Intamin, et al. have addressed the possibility of this happening to any/all of the other rocket coasters. I'd imagine that if this were to happen with an ocupied train the injuries would be frightful.

I would have to imagine that's why TTD was suddenly shut down, no?

It seems to be something that would be part of the design, regardless of size. I'm wondering about the smaller ones as well as TTD.

So this doesn't rule out the possibility that they fixed the problems that TTD had right? ;)

Does anyone know exactly what the trough cover is? Or better yet, have pictures of it on any of the Intamin Rockets?

I'm assuming it's the nylon liner for the channel the catch car rides. I don't know how a piece of that could have come up through the track, though.

http://pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=1996

Jason: The channel where the catch car operates is the focus of that image. The nylon would be located at the bottom of the channel (I'm not sure if it has been placed on that particular track segment when the picture was taken, though).

I suppose if a piece of debris became wedged under the catch car, a 20 000 HP motor (that's almost twice the size of CP's motor) would be capable of unfolding the trough guides on either side. The cars to the rear of the tow-point would be subject to running over the new shape, and could easily sustain/cause more damage.

If it really was as simple as that, I wonder how much debris in the trough would be sufficient to cause this kind of problem again? Potentially, a piece of damaged or cracked guide-wheel at the motor end of the cable could be pulled into the trough on the catch-car rewind. Remember that kid who was picking up bits of guidewheel on TTD? Maybe they/we were lucky none of it landed inside the trough....

A 20 000 HP motor is not going to stop for a few silly pieces of bent steel.

Steve

Are any of the rockets running now or are they shut down? I would think Intamin and the parks operating the rockets would shut them down untill they figure out what caused the mishap. Thank God the ride was only testing and no one was on board.

I don't know where they got the 20,000 hp from in that article, but Kingda Ka either has 7,000 or 12,000 hp depending on how the power output is measured.

If I am understanding the system correctly, why does the catch car trough have a lining anyway ? And also, what are the plans for keeping the trough free of debris which could cause this again?

The trough as a nylon lining that acts like a bearing surface to prevent wear between the trough and the catch car. Without it both the trough and catch car would have to be replaced from time to time. It is much cheeper to replace the plastic.