Sooperdooperlooper chain in station

Any other Schwartzkopf coasters have a chain in the station, just like sooperdooperlooper? Or any coaster for that matter?

Revolution at SFMM has it.

EDIT: Viper at SFAW has it too. I think most of the non-launched looping Schwarzkopfs have them. *** Edited 8/25/2004 5:26:14 PM UTC by CoasterCameron***

I think that Dorney's Lazer has it too. If not a chain, then some kind of similar mechanical way of getting the train from the station to the lift hill. Probably a common thing on many Schwarzkopf coasters. I know that Jet Stars have tires that get the cars out of the station.

Although they are not exactly like Sooperdooperlooper, these Schwartzkopfs have a chain in the station:

Viper - AstroWorld

Silver Bullet - Frontier City

Lazer - Dorney

And although I haven't been, I would guess Colossus / Fire Dragon at Lagoon probably has the same set-up as Dorney.

Is this where I throw in MY Anton, El Escorpion? ;)

Schwarzkopf's stations are level, not sloped. Instead of using tires to advance the train to the lift he uses a chain.

Hmmmmm... what about Mindbender at SFOG, or Mindbender at West Edmenton, or Shockwave at SFOT...?

If I recall, Lazer and Doppel Looping as well as Viper at SFAW use a unique chain that only has a train catch ever few feet or so. So basically the train sits idle while the chain moves a few feet until the catch engages. Perhaps I am crazy, but I distinctly recall sitting on Doppel and Lazer wondering whyyyyy iiiiiiiiiiiiiit waaaaaaaaaaaas goooooooooooooing sooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooow.

Wasn't that station advance chain on Revolution attributed to a ride op's death? I seem to recall hearing that an op tried jumping across, just as a train was approaching. They fell and got tangled as the train was being advanced by the chain. I believe the Op was basically severed in half or something terribly grusome liek that. Is that a wives tale?

Shaggy *** Edited 8/25/2004 6:23:49 PM UTC by Shaggy***

I think that's a wives tale, Shaggs ;) The only employee deaths I recall regarding Revolution where those in which employees -- gardeners -- where standing too close to the track and were hit by a passing train.

Anyone want to verify Shaggy's story?

The story is definitely true: http://www.rideaccidents.com/coasters.html (scroll to 1996). I'm not sure if the incident was as gruesome as Shaggy described, however.

-Nate

Thanks, Nate. Sorry for not believing you, Shaggs ;)

Ride ops improperly crossing over tracks is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves in the industry. It not only risks the ops life and limb, it gives the impression (to *impressionable* young people watching) that it is a safe thing to do. I've even seen a few youngsters emulate this behavior and cross tracks in the station themselves.

If you are crossing the tracks in the station, use the train itself as a walk-through...shoot, some coasters even have a platform specifically FOR that purpose (maybe more rides should have those).

After the Revolution incident in '96, SF set forth a mandate requiring operators to cross the track through a train in the station only. They may have changed since then, but that was still the standard as recently as 1998.

And, for whoever asked, Shockwave at SFOT does not have the chain in the station. It has drive tires that puch it from the station across the transfer track to the lift.

bigboy, I should have been more clear, the *crossing the tracks* thing isn't something I've noticed exclusively at SF parks (although I have seen it at SF parks as well). It happens ALL the time, and I just CRINGE when I see that, like a pet dog running in front of a combine on a farm...keep it up, and "Bad Things" (TM) are gonna happen.

Wasn't Timothy Bottoms also killed by a Revoloution train?

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Shaggy said:
Hmmmmm... what about Mindbender at SFOG, or Mindbender at West Edmenton, or Shockwave at SFOT...?

If I recall, Lazer and Doppel Looping as well as Viper at SFAW use a unique chain that only has a train catch ever few feet or so. So basically the train sits idle while the chain moves a few feet until the catch engages. Perhaps I am crazy, but I distinctly recall sitting on Doppel and Lazer wondering whyyyyy iiiiiiiiiiiiiit waaaaaaaaaaaas goooooooooooooing sooooooooooooooo slooooooooooooow.

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You're right, there are several Schwarzkopfs that use tire drives to move them in and out of the station instead of a chain. (And some use a tire drive for the lift too.)

Laser didn't always run that slow. Cedar Fair has slowed down the entire operation of the lift chain, so now when it is supposed to run slow (when it engages the train) it moves at a snail's pace. Viper and Silver Bullet run at normal speed. I cannot speak for any other Doppel Loopings as I haven't been on any others. Where did you ride a Doppel Looping? Florida?

@Shaggy
Mindbender in Canada has a curved tire drive lift. There is no chain used at all. The same technique is used on Dreier Looping, Thriller, Olympia Looping, Alpina Bahn, the Katapult and the Bullet (Shuttle Loop 3). The latter two have much more power, but its the same idea.

All of his transportable loopers with straight lifts have the station chain.

Yeah, the tire drive and tire launch systems are quite cool.. All done with a single flywheel motor and shafts all the way up the lift.

Pretty sure the Schwarzkopf at Lagoon has the chain start in the station.

$8,745 fine! No wonder they can't get all the rides running. They've never been able to recover the unexpected expense.... :-)

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Shaggy said:If I recall, Lazer and Doppel Looping as well as Viper at SFAW use a unique chain that only has a train catch ever few feet or so. So basically the train sits idle while the chain moves a few feet until the catch engages.

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Close.

Viper (SFAW) and Silver Bullet (FC) have 2 chains that run in parallel. They are connected together by links every few feet and have 2 pushers spaced 180 degrees apart on the chain which engage the train from the rear and push it up the lift. *** Edited 8/25/2004 11:48:10 PM UTC by Jason Knutson***