One train running on SROSat SFNE

BatwingFan: I'm well aware of everything in your post. What's your point?

-Nate

BATWING FAN SFA said:
Jim weren't the PVC brake lines on all three superman coasters changed after the SFNE crash?if I'm not mistaken I heard that they were.

The PVC lines were replaced with steel braded hoses, Controlers were added to have one per pair of brakes, Valves were added to dump the air quickly, and more pressure sensors were added to detect inconsitancies in pressure.

Millennium Force, to the best of my knowlege, had those safeties in place since 2000. That strikes me as odd because they opened in the same year.

http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1565.htm?Picture=39

Goliath has all fixed mangnetic brakes, lacking pivoting brakes. It has a number of drive tires to drag the train through the brakes. That is the only true failsafe way to do magnetic brakes.

Okay, pneumatic vs hydraulic... Wouldn't that cold weather theory make even more sense if there was a temp drop, which caused the air to contract (vs hot air expanding) in the system, causing a loss of power? This would explain why they shut down the other 2 SRoS's since it was during Fright Fest and it was a bit chilly here in WNY. Just a theory...

But then again, what do I know?

VolcanoTBC said:
The SFNE Superman Accident Investigation determined it was *NOT* a control systems error. Notice the new Intamin hypers do not use retractable brakes (see Goliath in Holland). The new system is fail-safe unless all the brake fins and/or all the brake units fall off (or are removed by someone).

Too bad I was talking about the SFA accident.

Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."

Goliath has all fixed mangnetic brakes, lacking pivoting brakes. It has a number of drive tires to drag the train through the brakes. That is the only true failsafe way to do magnetic brakes.

Or you can just put the magnetic brake on the underside of the train and have the copper fins sticking up from the tracks like they have on the Rocket coasters. That's failsafe magnetic brakes as well...

If you can't stand the heights, get out of the line.

The reason they were most likely only running one train is that the second train is still being put back together after its winter maintenance. SFDL only runs one train on opening day every year because the other train is usually sitting in plain site and is in the process of being re-assembled. And as for the maintenance people not working during the winter it is quite the opposite. This is when they are very busy. Regarding failing brakes I'll state as I always do. If a system is designed correctly it will take into account possible faults, such as moveable magnetic brakes not being in their closed position when they should be. It is possible there may have been a design flaw in Intamins control systems but I am quite sure that has been taken care of at this point. And as for not running the rides during cold weather it has nothing to do with air contracting due to the cold. It probably has to do mostly with the lubricant in the wheel bearings becomeing more viscous(thicker) due to the cold which would cause the wheels not to spin very freely. This is also the reason coasters run faster when it is hot out. The lubricant can flow very freely and offers little resistance to the wheels spinning. If anyone wants to try it just take a bearing that has oil in it. Spin it. It should spin relatively freely. Now take and put it the refrigerator and leave it there for a while. Now try to spin it. I think you'll understand.

Coaster Lover said:
Goliath has all fixed mangnetic brakes, lacking pivoting brakes. It has a number of drive tires to drag the train through the brakes. That is the only true failsafe way to do magnetic brakes.
Or you can just put the magnetic brake on the underside of the train and have the copper fins sticking up from the tracks like they have on the Rocket coasters. That's failsafe magnetic brakes as well...

That's about as failsafe as the retractable caliper....which failed. There's not much (from a fundamental design perspective) that's different between moving magnets and moving fins.

Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."

Except the difference is that the rocket coasters have mostly fixed fins.

-Nate

I think ApolloAndy is referring to the rollback brakes, while CoasterLover is referring to the final brakes. The final brakes on the Rockets are effectively the same as the newer fixed brakes on the Hypers, just the setup is reversed.

But then again, what do I know?

BATWING: Superman recieved another set of calipers this year. The second train is not back because it is still being assembled.

http://sfne.com/index.php?act=news&id=041804

SFNE Central- Online Six Flags New England Resource

I can't think of a year that SFNE ran two train Superman operation until at least the middle of June. The park always starts out slow motion.

I remember 2001 starting out pretty well.

Memorial day was empty with 2 train operation. Got 7 rides in with 15 minute waits all day.

Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."

There is really no reason why retractable magnetic brakes should be any less reliable than mechanical brakes that always have to retract. Of course with magnetic brakes, you have the option of making them fixed which should make them more reliable than mechanical brakes.

Some of Intamins design choices for their retractable magnetic brakes seem like they are less than the most reliable possible. For example the original plastic tubing. The use of gravity returns that don't seem to be as positive as most spring returns are. The air to open/air to close system rather than strong return springs. *** Edited 4/21/2004 7:50:51 PM UTC by Jim Fisher***

To find out more about the S:ROS brake system, I suggest you read this article on RideMan's site:

http://capital2.capital.edu/admin-staff/dalthoff/sros.html