Sooper Dooper Looper

In my many visits to Hershey Park I have always ridden the Sooper Dooper Looper at least once per visit just because. I have always noticed two trains running, but recently noticed them numbered 1 and 3. Did they use to have 3 trains, and if so where is train #2?

---

I've never seen it run 3, but I've only been there 2 times. Being an Anton/Intamin ride, it's probably built for 4 (notice the long brake run(s)). What a great ride!

Gary - if you have not done so already I suggest you bookmark the Roller Coaster Database. Although this specific question won't be answered many others will, plus it's a really great resource.

Ill be going to Hershey in two days so Ill check this out myself but I seem to recall no midcourse break in SDL, and without that then the ride cannot safely run 3 trains (as we have all learned on RCT ;).) Maybe the trains are labeled 1&3 because train two was worn beyond repair and had to be replaced by a new train at somepoint a while ago (that ride will celebrate its 30th aniversary next year?)

---

SDL has at least one section of block brakes if not more. You can see one in the upper left corner of this photo.

ahhh... but if you notice some of the old Anton/Intamin rides have brakes along that course that can stop a train. Revolution can stop a train in a few places, I think. It was built for 4 or 5 trains. I'm sure those 'brakes' are obselete now, but they're there. The rides in America are run with much less capacity...

Like Thriller was built with 5 or 6 trains... but didn't Astroworld/Marine run it with never more than 2, right? Pretty sure about this..

Doesnt Whizzer at SFGAm also have a bunch of brakes on it too? I know it was capable of running up to 5 trains when it opened.

---

Yep. Those are called block brakes. In order to run multiple trains the track must be divided into sections, or blocks. IIRC there must be one section more than the number of trains capable of being run. Only one train is allowed in each block at any given time.

I am pretty sure I saw SDL run three trains many years ago. That was back when Hershey had just three coasters and SDL was arguably the most intense (and most popular) of the three. Believe it or not, SDL used to get huge lines. That has changed now that Hershey has 10 coasters, many of which are considerably more intense and popular.

For the past few years SDL has run two trains, although I'm sure there is a third in storage and wouldn't be surprised if the park rotates them as maintenance dictates.

---

Mamoosh said:
Only one train is allowed in each block at any given time.

---

Offer not valid at DL/DCA... ;)

I think that's an Intamin rule, where there are no rules!

Also of note, the block brake doesn't need to be a midcourse brake like it typically is. The blocks can all be at the end/start of the ride, for example, Magnum, Dragster and Millennium Force.

---

I know in past years they had 3 trains but always had one on the storage track and always ran 2 trains.

Maybee this year they've kept one in storage or the other one isn't ready yet. I assume they use to keep the 3rd on the storage track incase they had a problem with one of the others so they could be switched out.

On the Anton's with the large number of trains, do they have block brakes at the end of the ride equal to the number of trains? Or do they just stop people in the middle of the ride if the loading procedure goes slowly.

(For instance, Nitro has the midcourse AND two final block brakes so it can stack all its trains at the end of the ride rather than stranding one out on the MCBR if the load takes a while.)

---

In my experience, Andy...Whizzer, SDL, Revolution, even Wildcats....the answer would seem to be that there are *loads* of blocks at the loading/unloading stations. I have also seen people stopped mid-ride, although not for loading slowness....I saw CP's Wildcat have a breakdown once that required a bunch of evacuating...

So I guess my answer is....BOTH! :)

The only set of brakes on the course itself is right before you dip down into the helix at the end of the ride. You can feel them trimming you up so to speak. In fact, I've seen them stop a train completely before.

---

There are some on the big turn after the loop... they are the old Intamin/Swarzkopf brakes, they were built on curves/hill tops alot.

---

Rob Ascough said:
Believe it or not, SDL used to get huge lines.

---

Which is why the queue is 3/4 of a mile long, most of which you still have to walk through and can't take any shortcuts. :)

How true, although it is pretty cool to walk right along the river before climbing to the second level of the loading platform. I remember when the river used to be filled with paddleboats!

SDL is still a great ride--one of my favorite loopers. Anton! Anton!

I hope Hershey holds onto it for quite some time.

---