I kinda got a stupid question about the Medusa trains and on the other B&Ms i went on this summer. Well anyways heres my question, while I was on Medusa at SFMW i noticed that on the back of the car in front of me there was a bar going from inside the left part of the body to inside the right part of the body. When the train took turns it looked like it swung to the right on left turns, and left on right turns and I was just wondering if anyone knows what it's purpose is? I also noticed the same thing on RR at SFMM, Mantis, and the Hulk.
If it's what I think you're talking about, it acts as a connection between the wheel assemblies so they turn together.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Jeff's right. That's the tie rod.
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
I just remembered two other florless coaster questions, well anyway here they are?
1. Does anyone know why do some of the newer B&M's, mainly floorles coaster drop about 10ft. then move forward a bit then make there main first drop?
2. If a park wanted to would it be possible to convert a B&M sitdown to a floorles?
I think it is to disconnect the train from the track before the big drop. Maybe even to add to the suspense as well. These are my two guesses.
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1. Probably to smoothly disengage the anti-rollbacks.
2. Yes, and no. As far as I can tell, the track gauge is the same, but you would have to completely retool the station track and control system to accomodate the different restraints, electrical connections, moving floor, etc.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com