Longevity - CoasterBuzz

OK, here's my first attempt at starting a thread.

With the recent resurgance of steel coasters being placed "on sale," I wonder the following:

Do wooden coasters stand a much greater chance at extended longevity. It sure would seem so. Although some wooden coasters have been relocated/demolished, it seems that since the resurgance of coasters in the 1970s that more steel coasters have bitten the dust than wooden.

Do you think wooden coasters stand a greater chance of lasting an extended period of time than a steel?

I do. What about you?

Shaggy

The only OLD steel coaster that I know of that is still in it's original form and that still gives a thrilling ride is Intamin's WHIZZER (formerly WILLARD'S WHIZZER) at SFGAm.

Yet I have riden MANY old woodies that still kick butt!.....hmmmm...it does make you think.

I think many early steel coasters were novel at the time but their truth was that they were kinda boring once that "New gimmick" wore off.

That's OK though...things have to evolve. But it sure says something about the tradition and heart that have gone into wooden rollercoasters. God bless 'em.

~Tocci

Good point shaggy. With the recent (20 years or so) accumulation of clones and near-clones, I think we are moving towards more "disposable" coasters. The less unique something is, it probably has a greater chance of not standing the test of time. Also, "gimmick" rides will probably not last as long as rides that are just plain fun and kick a**. Heck, King Cobra might be considered a gimmick as the world's first standup with a loop. Now it doesn't stack up as much most likely, to both enthusiasts and many GP alike.
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- Peabody

Shaggy, in case you missed before, it is GREAT to have you here...at the buzz. I though this was a chat of a "different sort" when I read the forum topic, LOL. Seriously, I think wooden coasters either thrive or die with time, and one ride, or even a good listen, will tell you which it is for that particular ride. Man those Schmecks I got to try in PA this fall were AWESOME. I think part of it is design, but coasters that run 40, 50, 60 years or more do so with CARE and MAINTENANCE. Otherwise, you soon hear about "ride X sucks", when in reality there's a beautiful wooden coaster waiting to be brought back to life. With steel coasters, I think a major overhaul, such as SP's rebirth, is seen as a painful expense and a large risk. Generally, I think the "disposable society" mentality comes into play a lot more with steelies...and sometimes they could really just use some TLC, too. Revolution could be SOOO good for CoasterCon XXV...I am holding desperately onto hope for the Schwarzkopf's re-emergence in his honor...
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Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Shaggy said:

With the recent resurgance of steel coasters being placed "on sale,"

Huh?
I count King Cobra, Windjammer (RIP) and Drachen Fire. Plus alot of 70s portable Galaxies. Something I'm missing?

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My fellow Americans, let's roll!
I pray that I will never see a Six Flags Conneaut Lake

1) Shaggy, this is at least the SECOND topic you've started here (remember the "Your Opinion Counts" thread?

2) I *still* wonder why people think Whizzer is 'thrilling'. It's a yawner, always has been. GREAT starter coaster. Nothing more, nothing less.

3) It depends on the steel coaster. I dont see the first tubular steel railed coaster (the Matterhorn) going anywhere anytime soon, but I could see a boomerang or twelve falling into 'Dante's Inferno'.

4) I think the big thing that keeps older woodies around is that wooden technology and wooden trends for that matter havent changed much. That is there are still the basic out and back, twister and terrain styles. If someone was to take out a woodie, it would most likely be replaced by something very similar to it. However, the steel coasters that have gone the way of the dodo have been replaced by either new technology (Wacky SB Racers for WindJammer, WJ for "Grease") or the latest trend (SP for Phantom's Revenge, Viper for hyper/flyer 2002, Tidal Wave for B:TR). Since the wooden side is a little more *static*, they are a little more 'protected'.

But that's just my first glance "common sense" approach to it.
lata,
jeremy (signature even more inappropriate now)
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"Nobody writes about the planes that land." Steve Salerno Washington Times 7-10-01

I think the reason that wood coasters last longer is because they've been in existance longer ;-)

And what about mine trains? I really enjoyed the Cedar Creek Mine Ride @ CP and the Dahlonega Mine Train @ SFOG.

Other good "old" steelers: Shockwave (SFOT) and Mindbender (SFOG), both Schwarzkopfs.

...and, MisterX, I'll add the other old mine ride at CP, the Gemini. It's a great old mine ride...and capacity to spare. Not enough coasters allow that kind of interaction, isn't that true, Gemini Handsmacker?
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Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

I'll go with that. ;-)

2Hostyl,

Good eye! It is in fact my second topic starter that I have posted here. But I consider it my first thread starter exclusively to Coasterbuzz. The previous one was in fact a re-hash of a thread I first started on URC.

I am loving the responses so far!

Shaggy

I caught that thread, now you see what I mean...topics here get more....action, esp. the interesting ones...why ARE there mine rides sitting in storage, not to mention other rides (shuttle looper at SFA, Old Indiana Fun Park, etc.? Let's get them out in the public, giving great rides...
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Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

It does seem that people get more attached or sentimental to wood coasters. Maybe it's the nostalga they represent, and the amount of care needed to keep them running. Heck, the newest CCI out there is fundimentally the same as most of the coasters that didn't survive the depression.

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

Great topic - There could be a lot of reasons for this. My guess is that wooden coasters are often planned with more care than steel ones. Steel ones are often designed to give the riders a new feeling so the production is rushed so that park X is the first park to have this type of coaster. Wooden ones have gone through almost all the new ideas so the idea is to take the old concept and make it better.

Case in point: Beast took four years to design and build. 20 years later it is still one of the best in the world. I think that these two facts are related by more than coincidence.