SOB Status Update Question.

I was just wondering what the status of SOB is? The season has officially started but CF hasn't really mentioned anything recently that I am aware of except the removal of the loop. Does anyone who works at the park know or has another press release been issused that I am unable to find regarding the opening of this ride?

^ Season has not started. Kings Island opens April 21st. Kings Island has not said anything regarding a specific opening date for SOB, other than it will definitely not be open when the park opens.

Old topic, I know.....

Anyone have any ballpark idea when the ride may re-open? Are the new trains on-site?

Fever

No idea when it will open. G2 Trains were/are there, but rumors are saying that they may not be using them after all.

Your about the 4th person to ask this in the past week or 2. If there were something to know there would most likely be a very lenghty thread about it already.

This past Saturday a Delirium ride op said he heard there was some problem with the trains as well, and though he didn't really know any specifics, he said it definitely won't be open anytime in June and with testing (once the train issue was resolved) that it might not be until August!!

I was pretty mad upon hearing that, but he felt the chance of re-opening this season was still 100%.

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Jason Hammond said:
G2 Trains were/are there

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Is there a source for this?

I agree with you Jason, and the lack of discussion made me wonder even more. I figured with all us CBuzzers out there...someone would have seen something along the lines of testing, or trackwork, or trains being installed...etc...

I really wish they could have made the MFlyers work.

None that I care to elaborate on. Sufice it to say, that I have no reason to doubt the person who told me. He has given me good information about other things in the past.

Maybe one of the PKI website guys has more info. *** Edited 6/13/2007 3:18:15 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

SOB has the trains from the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Hurricane. As far as I know, they're still planning to use them, and have already been modified.

There's been reports of a test chassis being moved around in the station, possibly testing alignment with the track gauge, brake fins, etc.

A couple weeks ago the word was it would be opening this week, but that's clearly not going to happen. I'd say sometime in July at the absolute earliest.

The information about the G2 trains not being able to be used was just a rumor I heard. From what your saying, I would assume that to be not true. Unless these 'tests' they're performing are not turning out like they had hoped.

BTW Donald, what happened to the old SOB trains?
*** Edited 6/13/2007 4:32:34 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

I still don't understand how you change Gerst trains to fit SOB's track gauge and make that more practical than just commissioning all new trains.

My honest opinion is that it won't work unless they can somehow put the Premier running gear under the G tubs.

The Premiers had 10 inch wheels vs the G trains 6 inch wheels. The speed of this coaster would burn out bearings in a heartbeat on the small wheels much like Voyage is doing to PTC's

Chuck

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Jason Hammond said:
What information about the G2 trains not being able to be used was just a rumor I heard. From what your saying, I would assume that to be not true. Unless these 'tests' they're performing are not turning out like they had hoped.

BTW Donald, what happened to the old SOB trains?

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They're sitting in the maintenance lot over near the picnic grove, covered in tarps. As far as I can tell they're fully intact, but haven't been touched since they were removed from the track last July/August.

The other interesting question is:
will we ever see SOB running three trains? While designed for that, I do not believe it ever routinely ran 3 trains

The real question is..."Who cares?"

I can't believe there are enough people that care enough about this stinking pile to even talk about it.

During Rumblefest when Jeff Pike was asked about GCI's possible involvement with the SOB redo, he mentioned that SOB's track gauge is completely the normal standard gauge. It's just a rumor that the gauge is not conventional. Anyway, he seemed VERY happy *NOT* to be involved with it.

SOB's wider track gauge has been common knowledge for a while, I'm not saying what Jeff Pike is saying is untrue but if that isn't the case that would be a pretty interesting reversal of what's generally been considered fact.

Shouldn't this be relatively easy to prove or disprove with some photos and simple math?

Common knowledge...from? It would be interesting to see factual proof.

^Isn't that pretty much exactly what I just said? *** Edited 6/13/2007 8:51:47 PM UTC by matt.***

Well you don't have to be an SOB about it. ;)