Millennium Force safety device

I have been wondering for a while what kind of safety device the Millennium has to keep the train from rolling back down the lift hill should the cable brake. Most coasters have that catch dog that makes the clickityclack going up the hill, but MF is quiet.

-----------------
The worst day at Cedar Point is better than the best day at work.

MF has the same system, but there's another mechanism that lifts the anti-rollback dogs while the train is on the lift. When the train slows the dogs will drop and make contact with the anti-rollback track.

-----------------
Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

Interesting, Thank you.

-----------------
The worst day at Cedar Point is better than the best day at work.

Yep. I believe the anit-roolback dogs are magnetic so that if they are in motion there's a force pulling them up off the ratchets, but if the train every slows down they'll drop into place. Right hand rule at work.

-----------------
You must be this dumb to ride Viper. -SFGAdv.

God, how much I love Intamin and their constant innovations. As if the Elevator Lift wasn't enough. I always assumed the reason MF was so quiet was because it had dampers like B&M puts on theirs, but now, looking back, I can see that B&M's dampers wear out after the first month or two.

coaster131, B&M's dampers last quite a while. I rode apollo for the first time on 9-1-02, and the lift was suprisingly quiet, despite the fact that it was built in 99'.

-----------------
#1-MF #2-Apollo's Chariot #3-S:RoS

-Why a car if i could have a coaster train on wheels??

The dampers do wear out fairly quickly. Most likely you caught Apollo soon after the park replaced the pads.

-------------
James Draeger
-Captain Sarcasm

Isnt the anti rollback deivice and the safety dog on all coasters?

-----------------
Cedar Point: America's Rockin' Roller Coast!

I hope so.

-----------------
the member formerly known as MisterX

---

CedarPointNut said:
Isnt the anti rollback deivice and the safety dog on all coasters?

---

All coasters except shuttles. Wicked Twister would be a really short ride with a set of 'em on the first spike. ;)

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

I herd of a prototype lift where it is a LIM only its no speed involved!

i think that B&M has been using the magnetic anti-rolbacks on inverts from the beginning... go listen to your nearest B:TR clone and you'll see what i mean.

Yeaa, or go ride Rapter and take a listen. Sometimes I can't even hear the person sitting next to me while on Rapter.

I would bet that they are magnetic; either that or just really strong springs.

-----------------
SFNE Central- Online Six Flags New England Resource
http://sfne.licensetothrill.net
Devoted Intamin Lover for Life!

steel phantom- I believe California Screamin at DCA has that for it's second launch. Even though its not a launch.

If B&M uses magnets on it's inverted rides, then those are the loudest, most mechanical sounding magnets I've ever heard.

First, yes, I believe you're right about 'Screamin,' though the second 'launch' (slow LIM lifthill) is just that (magnets), and most likely fail-proof.

B&M's inverts use springs, as far as I know, and they are pretty powerful (esp. Raptor's).

-----------------
"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
http://www.loopscrew.com

Perilous Plunge has those Magnetic Anti Rollbacks too. The lift is super quiet. Kind of off topic, but does anyone know if the new Intamin River Plunge in Europe can control the splash? I know PP could, but they don't cause it breaks down the ride, and they've already had a boat crash into the rocks at the end of the splashdown pool.

Yeah - the splash on Hydro can be controlled.

B&M changed their antirollback system in about 98, as the newer coasters are very quiet.

-----------------
http://oneclick.coasterbuzz.com
http://www.thorpeparkguide.com

Yes, I do keep MF safe ;).

-----------------
I'm loud, I'm annoying, I'm the anti-rollback.