Just an observation of mine: I think that it's just that specific camera / picture that made the track color come out like that. I rode S:RoS all year in 2001 and it never looked like that. Here's a picture that I took from the same place around the same time:
http://www.coasterdom.com/~coasternet/pg/srossfa7.jpg
-----------------
~ Blast Coaster
COASTER-net.com | BlastCoaster@coaster-net.com
I have been on both SFA's and SFDL's version and while both deliver exactly the same ride, I would have to say SFDL's version has a small one up on SFA's version.
SFDL's version is much more visually stimulating to me. The park built the ride over a few lakes, planted trees, and added misted areas at the bottom of the first drop, final helix, and corkscrew turn.
SFA's version reminds me alot of RCT. Took the ride concept and dropped it down onto a flat piece of land. They did add a few trees but not nearly as many as the other version has.
Also, the placement of the queue land on SFDL's version is much smarter IMO. As the train comes to a halt, awaiting riders inline get the chance to view the reactions of the returning riders. This small difference does a noticable difference when observing those who are awaiting in line. For those who are unfimilar of what i'm speaking about, think about how the peeps in line for MF can view the reactions of the returning riders as the train comes to a halt, when you are taking the "long walk" to the station.
Coasterman Mike - who would rather be riding SFNE's kick butt Ride of Steel
Coasterman Mike said:
SFDL's version is much more visually stimulating to me. The park built the ride over a few lakes, planted trees, and added misted areas at the bottom of the first drop, final helix, and corkscrew turn.
SFA's version reminds me alot of RCT. Took the ride concept and dropped it down onto a flat piece of land. They did add a few trees but not nearly as many as the other version has.
.............................................
the sensation of speed is enhanced at SFA as the coaster drops into a manmade gully, lower than ground level. Also, the placement of the queue land on SFDL's version is much smarter IMO. As the train comes to a halt, awaiting riders inline get the chance to view the reactions of the returning riders. This small difference does a noticable difference when observing those who are awaiting in line. For those who are unfimilar of what i'm speaking about, think about how the peeps in line for MF can view the reactions of the returning riders as the train comes to a halt, when you are taking the "long walk" to the station. Have you been to SFA? or just seen a few pics? SFA's Superman placement gives it one of the darkest nite ride experiences on the planet, SFDL's heads right for the well lit entrance of the park, and as far as people in the queue seeing returning riders, SFA's queue leads right past the brakes, and you can clearly experience the faces of the riders as you're waiting, just not during the ENTIRE queue, which gets very monotonous
Frankly SFA and SFDL both have wonderful coasters. I slightly preger SFA's, but then I'm predjudiced. 90% for the parks in this country would be much improved by adding one of these coasters.
With regards to customer service. The organization of the businees varies from park to park. In most parks, you are not actually dealing with the park itself all of the time. If I recall correctly for SFA. All of the rides are run by SFA except the skycoaster which I believe is a franchise. Only 2 of the restaurants are run by SFA. The rest of the restaurants are run by subcontractor(s). Also, the games are all run by a subconntractor. Now the park still is ultimately responsible for everything that happens on the property, but this gives you an idea of how complicated the details can be.
However, most of what I seem to see in Captain Joel's picture is ultraviolet (sunlight) damage.....
Hey man, I took that picture....it is Joel's site, but we all know who takes the really good pics on there! ;) (I really don't care that you said he took it, I just thought I'd take the time for a shamless plug of that pic!)
That pic was taken on a VERY sunny day in the spring of 2001. The camera was an SLR by cannon with a cannon 35-70mm zoom lens. I use 400 film. If my memory serves me right, I did no digital "touch ups". It should be a pretty good representation of what it looked like on that day. I do not know what it looks like now. I personally don't remember it looking bad....Deja Vu on the other hand....another pic by your's truely.
-----------------
- Peabody
*** This post was edited by Peabody on 11/24/2002. ***
-----------------
Last 2002 public ride on MF's front row
Well, that pic is REALLY washed out. The Superman pic isn't really.
-----------------
- Peabody
*** This post was edited by Peabody on 11/24/2002. ***
I have a few comments in this thread. First, as someone else mentioned, SRoS was delivered to SFA in the fall of '98 from the factory, built at the same time as the one at SFDL. SFA converted to SF for the '99 season but they could not get approval for SRoS so it was delayed until the '00 season. Also, the coaster was placed differently then orginally planned, due to neighbors complaints.
Also, for those that have not experienced night rides on SFA's SRoS then I strongly suggest making a point to get some! SFA uses no lights at all on SRoS and it is pitch black on dark nights and the rides are simply incredible! Probably the 2nd best night rides available on ANY steel coaster right behind SRoS at SFNE! My rides this year at the Coaster Zombies ERT, and in late Oct. and early Nov., at 9PM and beyond were truly amazing.
I have not ridden the one at SFDL, however I've had serveral people tell me that the night rides on SFA's give it the edge. YMMV.
Ted
-----------------
Chris, you probably had a square wheel on your car at SFA, a problem that occurs occasionally on all Intiman hypers. (They had to change wheels of MF daily and sometimes more often the first year) When the wheels are good SFA and SFDL's coasters ride the same.
Ansley, you should have ridden SROS at SFA in the dark before Batwing was built. It was much blacker out there without Batwing's lights.
Even with Batwing being located next5 to S:ROS the night rides are still amazing,my last few rides on it this past season were just as much in the dark after the first drop as before Batwing's installation & to add to it the fog from the haunted train had begun rolling into the area surrounding both hills after the main drop.
Ansley there's no way that parts for S:ROS were delivered in 98,the only track I saw was for JJ & after seeing it & talking about it to someone in line on Mind eraser I recieved a pretty strong reprimand from the reide op there & besides we would've seen it as well,perhaps you can provide a link from the PG county planning board archives showing that SFA originally intended on adding it for 99.
Good luck in trying to find it though because I tried & couldn't find anything beyond 2000.
To be totally honest, I don't normally pay attention to paint jobs on coasters at parks. However, I do rembember noting that the paint scheme seemed to look a little faded. Like some of the people here, I wrote it off to environmental conditions, and was satisfied with that answer. In my opinion, a ride's paint job isn't worth complaining over. As long as the ride is smooth and enjoyable, I'll ride it. RoS at SFA used to be in my top 10 steel coasters, until it got bumped out by the one at SFNE. Mind Eraser on the other hand could use some work I think.
Oh, and WICKEDTWISTER, I found your comment about the nearest competition cutting service to be more than a little inaccurate. To my knowledge, PKD did not ever close any rides/attractions/shops just because they felt like it. The only thing I could think of that may give you that impression was Hypersonic's downtime, but they had that up for at least part of the day, every day from mid-June on.
-----------------
For at some point, there is no looking back.
-Sun-tzu Liao
Jim Fisher said:
Chris, you probably had a square wheel on your car at SFA, a problem that occurs occasionally on all Intiman hypers. (They had to change wheels of MF daily and sometimes more often the first year) When the wheels are good SFA and SFDL's coasters ride the same.
Ansley, you should have ridden SROS at SFA in the dark before Batwing was built. It was much blacker out there without Batwing's lights.
Of couse I did! I live 15 minutes from SFA and I've been going since the Wild World days, ridden SRoS many, many times since it opened and all the others as well. I was just pointing out how great it was running this fall! It ran great the last 2 years also. I didn't really notice any difference in the darkness with Batwing becauase it is a ways from SRoS in the *right* dirction. (away from it!). The lift lights bother me more than Batwing. The first drop down into almost complete darkness, with that amazing first turn, followed by the intense ejector hills in the dark is wonderful! Actually, even Roar has been running GREAT at night lately and it too is very dark.
Ted
-----------------
Glory of Kilrah said:
WICKEDTWISTER, I found your comment about the nearest competition cutting service to be more than a little inaccurate. To my knowledge, PKD did not ever close any rides/attractions/shops just because they felt like it.
Here are a few examples, rather than retrack rough spots on their woodies, they installed seats with a greater shock absorbing capability.
Woodies slowed on lift, to cause less track wear, and lubricated less, to cause slower ride and less track wear.
Bathrooms have no attendants, when there used to be full time attendants.
International Street opening 1/2 hour before rest of park, rather than 1 hour before park.
Some food shops (funnel cake on int'l street) and others opening well after park opening time.
Flowers replaced with decorative shrubs cutting down on gardening.
Entry fountain bottom painted dark color to mask lack of cleaning.
Removing a flat ride from service 1/3 of the way thru the season for new attraction.
PKD is still a great park, it's just a shame that they are heading down a road they shouldn't with these minor cut backs.
Jim Fisher says: If I recall correctly for SFA. All of the rides are run by SFA except the skycoaster which I believe is a franchise.
1. The SFA skycoaster is not run by an outside group. It is operated by SFA Ops and the revenues are taken in through SFA retail. The franchise gets a cut of the money, but other than that they have no role in running the ride.
Only 2 of the restaurants are run by SFA. The rest of the restaurants are run by subcontractor(s).
2. I don't know where you are getting this figure. In '01, SFA had many more subcontracted restaurants. However, in '02, the majority of those came back under the control of the park. Now, the only subcontracted restaurants are in the waterpark, the colonial cupboard, memphis BBQ, and about half of the carts (hot dog, shave ice, push carts, fries by JJ) in the park. The majority of the restaurants are under park control.
*** This post was edited by SFASUP202 on 11/26/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by SFASUP202 on 11/26/2002. ***
You must be logged in to post