New Trains for Beast in 08?

Hey guys, I haven't posted many times on the forums, but a month or so ago, there was a rumor on Screamscape the the Gerstlauer trains from Villian were possibly going to be put on The Beast. Do you think this would enable them to remove all of the trims from the ride and let it run as intended without destroying itself? Rider comfort would certainly improve, versus having a rock hard foam pad to sit on and a rock hard seat divider slamming into your armpit.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is that The Voyage as intense as it is does not have stupid headrests and tall seat dividers like Beast, but is a far more intense ride overall than the Beast, this doesn't make good sense as visuals are a very important part of The Beast experience, which by the way is one of my favorite coasters, but I see so much wasted potential there that it makes me sick.

Thanks,

J.W. Elliott

I sure hope they do something with the BEAST. The brakes, headrests, more brakes, overdone seatdividers, awful lapbars, brakes and those silly looking seatbelt spools on the outside of the trains. Over the years, the thing really has been bastardized.

One of my favorite things (I'm being sarcastic) is when they spent thousands of bucks painting it BROWN. It looked so great stained red with patches of new/old unstained wood. It looked 'wild'.

G trains would have to be 9 cars long to keep the capacity the Beast now has. That's one long train!

^If the G-trains are put on the Beast, they will be 6 cars long, with 4 people per car. That's 24 people per train. I can definitely see a capacity issue...

But then again, was SOB's capacity affected when it switched trains?

^Do you really think they would reduced the capacity by 1/3 on one of the most popular rides anywhere? I'm asking that not in a nasty tone, btw.

I don't think they would. The G trains 'could' be longer. Of course, they would have to get more parts or new parts for Gerslauter.

The SOB never was, IMO, an extremely popular ride - perhaps even less popular after the accident. The capacity has gone from 72 people on the ride to 48 people on the ride. But someone said they are adding a third train.

would be nice to get rid of that rediculous 350 foot long 'block brake' and put a nice deep drop there. The ride really could use some spicing up.

At the Great Ohio Coaster Club Holiday party, Don Hilbig said there are currently no plans for any of the G-Trains. That's not to say they won't be used, there just arn't any current plans for their use.

I thought I remember reading that there was some discussion of all the G trains going on the Racer and the trains on the Racer getting used on SOB. However what Jason posted above seems pretty reliable.

It may be that it was just discussions that I have read or other peoples ideas of what may happen.

Three bench, non-articulated, 35-year-old PTC trains on SOB?

That would be the most foolish thing ever.

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pkidelirium said:
Three bench, non-articulated, 35-year-old PTC trains on SOB?

That would be the most foolish thing ever.

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How would that be different from what's on there now?

Well it was at least good for a laugh, about as funny as them putting the G trains on Beast. :) I still would have like to have ridden Beast many years ago like when it was newer. I would have loved to have ridden it when the train would make or almost make it all the way up the second lift hill.

Like I said it was just stuff I remember reading of others ideas on the interent.

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BeastFan said:
Rider comfort would certainly improve, versus having a rock hard foam pad to sit on and a rock hard seat divider slamming into your armpit.

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You have got to be kidding me. Rider comfort and Gerstlauer wooden trains do not go together. Did you see where the Boss, Villain, and SOB wound up in the Mitch's wooden coaster survey this year? How about 91, 116, and 177. By the way, if you didn't see the poll yet, there was only one coaster lower than 177--the infamous Grizzly at Great America.

For the first two coasters that were built in 2000, I'd say those were terrible showings, and it might explain why the Gravity Group doesn't get as much work as GCII. Just a theory.

Have the former people from CCI created some masterpieces in the past? Undoubtedly yes, including one of my top-tens Cornball Express at IB. I think The Raven and The Legend are good as well. Unfortunately, I only got to ride The Voyage once (and it wasn't in the back), so I don't have a real solid opinion of it one way or the other.

I've never had the armpit problem you do on The Beast. I'm not trying to be rude, but are you short, and/or overweight?

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but I see so much wasted potential there that it makes me sick.

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Take a deep breath and relax. I don't think how a roller coaster performs or doesn't perform should make you that stressed out. I'm not telling you not to have an opinion, but your response sounds rather strong.

There are tons of other parks across the country that can provide you with other options that will fulfill your potential for what makes a good wood coaster. Sometimes you have to accept that things may never change, and that greener pastures lie elsewhere.

I'm 5-9 and have issues with those dividers, specifically if I'm sitting on the left through the helix. Ouch.

Like PKI Delerium, I'm 6'-0" and about 145 lbs so I don't have an issue with physical size getting into coasters, but my dad who is 6'-4" and 250 lbs has a lot more trouble getting into and out of a lot of coasters. He was telling me the other day, how when The Beast first opened with the buzz bars and low seat dividers and no headrests how much more enjoyable the ride was from a rider comfort and visibility standpoint. I don't understand why big chain parks seem to think wedging riders into wooden coasters is better than allowing some movement associated with buzz bars, etc. I know I seem passionate about The Beast, but I've been riding it since I was 8 years old, I'm almost 26 now, and have had a lot of good memories on that ride and at Kings Island in general and just hate to see what has happened to it as well as Racer, which incidentally has suffered similar modifications over the years.

Thanks, J.W. Elliott

The trains from villian would be more confortable? The villian was a very bone-jarring ride, and the trains made it even worse. The provide a jack-hammer like ride. The same jack-hammer feeling of the Boss. There is no way Gerstauler trains could improve the Beast.

Just gonna say, I heard from a reliable bird that they were to be tested on BEAST and probabable due to the reduced maintainence on SOB.

We'll se what happens.
Chuck

So your saying that Don Hilbig is lieing? It seems like a strange thing to lie about.
*** Edited 12/11/2007 12:26:18 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

Quit giving out birds names Jason and who is your response too? Your likely never to recieve a straight answer again

I will say this tho, It's entirely possible for one hand not knowing what the other is doing. Marketing and Operations are or at least were two entirely different departments at KI.

Chuck, looking forward to a totally immersive G train experience.

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super7* said:The trains from villian would be more confortable? The villian was a very bone-jarring ride, and the trains made it even worse. The provide a jack-hammer like ride. The same jack-hammer feeling of the Boss. There is no way Gerstauler trains could improve the Beast.

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You should add, IMO LOL

Villain ran in varying states but I never considered it bone jarring, At least not compared to Big Dipper when it's trackwork was bad.

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Charles Nungester said:
Quit giving out birds names Jason

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What?

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Charles Nungester said:
and who is your response too?

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If it wasn't apparent, I was responding to your post immediatly previous to mine.

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Charles Nungester said:
Your likely never to recieve a straight answer again.

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From Who?

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Charles Nungester said:
I will say this tho, It's entirely possible for one hand not knowing what the other is doing. Marketing and Operations are or at least were two entirely different departments at KI.

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I agree, but I asked him a direct question, and he seemed very definitive in his statement. He had the opportunity to say , "I don't know", but he didn't.
*** Edited 12/11/2007 6:21:07 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

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Jason Hammond said:

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Charles Nungester said:Quit giving out birds names Jason

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What?

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Charles Nungester said:and who is your response too?

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If it wasn't apparent, I was responding to your post immediatly previous to mine.

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Charles Nungester said:Your likely never to recieve a straight answer again.

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From Who?

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Charles Nungester said:I will say this tho, It's entirely possible for one hand not knowing what the other is doing. Marketing and Operations are or at least were two entirely different departments at KI.

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I agree, but I asked him a direct question, and he seemed very definitive in his statement. He had the opportunity to say , "I don't know", but he didn't. *** Edited 12/11/2007 6:21:07 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

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Ok, how can the same bird tell us two different things? I missread your post.
Chuck

I don't know. I just asked him at the Great Ohio Coaster Club Holiday Party this past Saturday.