Serious accident on Xcelerator caputerd on Video

There isn't a law requiring the shoulder restraints on Revolution, but I know the ride inspection law grandfathered in all fixed amusement rides as of the date the law took effect. So, if Six Flags were to remove the shoulder restraints, as they should, then the ride would be subject to a design review at the park's expense. That's costly for a 33-year-old ride.

I'm pretty sure that's what you heard. If there was an identical coaster operating with rolling stock that would work on Revolution, then technically Six Flags could equip Revolution with that rolling stock and I believe they would avoid the design review. Would the train on Montezooma's Revenge work?

The problem with operating an amusement park in California is being the first to install a ride or a custom ride. If you're the first or you build a custom ride, then you incur all of the costs of the design review. If your competitor decides to put in the same ride after you they're not required to complete the review.

The law goes far beyond what is necessary for public oversight. It's an example of our vanishing freedom.

^Interesting you say that "that way", Eric. Possibly the end result is that CF/KBF escape the review process because SFMM *had* a ride of that type (First-gen drop) operating? That certainly might help explain why Knott's got Demon Drop at least (something that was/is sort of a head-scratcher)....

Eric, all of those Schwarzkopf coasters that I mentioned earlier are equipped with trains that are, as far as I know, mechanically identical to the Revolution trains except for the shoulder bars.

But that probably isn't good enough. Changing the seating on a ride would easily qualify as a "major modification" and if California law invokes the ASTM F 24 committee standards, then such a "major modification" would be subject to a design review, including the patron containment and restraint analysis. The standard says very little about what such an analysis would entail, but it says it has to be done...and that is probably part of the problem: the extent of the review required would be the purview of the Authority Having Jurisdiction and that takes us back to the cash-strapped State of California and the bankrupt company known as Six Flags.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

^Another thing that I'm pretty sure has to do with the OTSR on Revolution is the sudden positive G's entering and exiting the loop (causing injuries - see many old pics of riders bent over in the loop). The only real way to remedy that would be reprofile/new track. The long flat ramp maybe could become more of a conventional drop. The Anton/Intamin loop changed after the Revolution. On Sooperdooperlooper and later, the loops have larger radii entering and exiting... AND don't have the ramp drop.

Or they could retrofit lapbars that encourage an upright posture (see also: Premier lapbar mods).

^Funny you mention that! I came up with a lapbar design for an Engineering final in school (to put on Revolution!) - it was similar to what Premier came up with years later.

I think that would help on Revolution. It's just so sad the way it is now. Not only the harnesses, but those couple hard brakes. It's such a beautiful perfect ride without all that crap...

Too bad they didn't use a shoulder restraint like the Manhattan Express, now known as "roller coaster" uses? It adjusts to your height, still gives extra support to the upper body, but is low enough to the shoulders that you don't bang your head on it. Here is a picture of the restraints.

SFMMAddict: "Roller Coaster" (aka Manhattan Express) is as awful now as it was when it first opened. I'd rather be sucker punched in the head by a drunk on The Strip than take the beating those shoulder restraints give you. Revolution is a superior ride even with its current restraints. Manhattan Express is widely regarded as one of the "worst" steel coasters.

Dave, you're probably right that a change in trains would likely be considered a major modification. I think SF management has made it clear that they're not going to invest a dime into Revolution. Personally, I think a flame thrower, on-board audio and superhero name would really improve the ride.

Rollergator, I believe the laws in California were likely a factor in the decision to move that ride. Obviously, the financial situation at Cedar Fair played a role as well.

The OTSRS were installed on Revolution after the accident on the Galaxyland looper. There was a big stink at the time about the fact that other looping coasters had them,and that it was possible that the fatalities might have been prevented if it had them. The LA papers played that up a lot, and the management at MM at the time made the decision to replace the lap bars with OTSRS.

I have always found "Manhattan Express" to be pretty smooth. Not one of the smoothest coasters I have been on, but I have never taken a beating on it or had any problems with roughness when I have rode it. IMO, it is certainly not as bad as the headaches people get from the OTSR's on the Revolution.

CoasterDemon, I agree with you about the hard brakes too. The one when you pass thru the loop is the worst one, IMO. I have learned to pull my feet back so that they don't get banged on the bottom part of the lap restraint. The OTSR's and hard braking have caused me to only ride Revolution once at a time on most visits, even though I would like to ride it more than that.

Dutchman said:
have been prevented if it had them. The LA papers played that up a lot, and the management at MM at the time made the decision to replace the lap bars with OTSRS.

Dutchman, the Revolution has the luxury of having BOTH lapbar and OTSR. What a rediculous situation.

^^Manhattan Express is such a horrible ride. I think I rode it 2 times, both years apart. It's on my do not ride list. It's a shame, it looks pretty cool and gets so much attention b/c of how it looks.

I don't recall the redundency, as it's been a few years since I've been able to ride it. Of late it's been closed when I've been there. I did have the pleasure of riding it the first year it was open tho.

I suspect the redundancy indicates the non-necessity of the shoulder bars. By adding the shoulder bars and not removing the lap bars, they essentially left the manufacturer's original restraint system untouched, and merely added to it, which, according to custom at that time, would not require the manufacturer's +approval. That is, the original restraint system still functions as intended by the manufacturer, and an added system put there by the park is simply redundant.

I still think the modified system should be further modified through the judicious use of an angle grinder and/or cutting torch...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Dave, I certainly wish they would make the modifications you have suggested.

Dutchman said:

The OTSRS were installed on Revolution after the accident on the Galaxyland looper.

Not true. The restraint modification on Revolution appeared 7 or 8 years after that accident.

Revolution does in fact have two separate restraints - lap bar and over-the-shoulder.

Maybe we should start another thread...

The Revolution was such a beautiful fun great ride before all the 'modifications'.

Look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Js280oKF-T8

I was gonna put up a link for the movie 'Rollercoaster' (1977), but damn, Eric Estrada, you know...

Look at how fast Revo is running after the loop, into the helix. And look, NO HEADRESTS!!! How cool!

And here is Revo in "Rollercoaster." Check out that train at about 1:29, now that's what I'm talkin' bout!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvn6DcHyRNo

That's the wrong video, Demon. That video is about a Mormon sermon being played on a boombox.

^Thank you! Oops, sorry bout that everyone.

I fixed it :)

Nope. It's the same thing when I click the link.

Maybe Jesus (or whoever Mormons worship) want's my soul.