Steel Dragon (Japan) gets B&M trains

So happy to see this. One of the drawbacks of B&Ms (for me) is the 4 across seating, so I think this is very cool. Good to see such a great company venturing into other areas.

I was suspicious at first, but the official website for the park confirms it. Here's the Google-translated page.

Looking at ^that^ translator, I had to chuckle at "Boriga & Co. Mabirado"...

That looks awesome.

After all these years, I just noticed that Steel Dragon in the only Morgan coaster with the wheels on the outside of the rails (like B&M and Intamin) as opposed to inside the rails (like Arrow). I wonder why this one design was built differently.

I wonder if the train replacement had anything to do with the wheel incident. I know quite a bit of time has passed since 2003 (and 2006 when it re-opened), but I'm led to believe Japan works differently (see: aforementioned 3 year SBNO period).

This is exciting and surprising to see. Is this the first time that B&M has developed trains or a product to assist in rehabbing older, non-B&M coasters? Regardless, I'm very happy to see it.

Could this mean that some increasingly rough, aging Morgan / Arrows might get a new generation of life at some point? While many might not be worth the investment, these trains might make the average rider much happier on legendary coasters like Magnum, Phantom's Revenge, etc.

Like Billy, I also tend to dislike B&M's 4-across trains. While they were an awesome novelty in 1994 with Raptor, I think they're holding back some of B&M's recent coasters by lending to a slower, heavier feel. I much prefer the nimble feel of 2-across trains, so seeing B&M deviate here is awesome.

Apparently the new trains come with a lower height limit of 185cm (a little less than 6'1"). That'll be fine for the local market, but I'm guessing there will be quite a few pissed off tourists.

I'm glad I rode it when I did.

FWIW, SD2K felt exactly the same as every other Morgan out there. If you've ridden one, you really have ridden them all.

Wouldn't the age limits piss off more tourists? You must be 10 to 54 years old to ride? Is that just an error in the translation or actually real?

Ride op: "Excuse me sir, can I see your I.D.? 55?!? Security! Direct this man to the cemetery."

"You cannot bring luggage when boarding" Damn airlines.
"You need to ride in a state that does not have anything" Trust me, I already do.
"Pregnant women is not available" Ummmmmm...

I love translations.

I'm not sure that I want to see Magnum's or Phantom's trains replaced, but I can think if a few Intamin rides where this new train might be good. (ducks flying objects here...) But this train seems to combine the sleekness of an Intamin Giga train with the comfortable seat and clamshell goodness of B&M hyper trains.
They seem to have leg holders/restraints built into them. I wonder if that's why they have a height max restriction, maybe the long legged guys won't fit comfortably.
This has taken me by complete and total, if not delighted, surprise. Did we know this was coming and I just missed it?

RCMAC said:

I'm not sure that I want to see Magnum's or Phantom's trains replaced

I think I reflexively gasped and grabbed at my chest when I read this. Shudder inducing.

i love four across seating.

Jeph said:

Wouldn't the age limits piss off more tourists? You must be 10 to 54 years old to ride? Is that just an error in the translation or actually real?

I'd say it's real. Quite a few of the bigger coasters in Japan have age limits.

James Whitmore said:
After all these years, I just noticed that Steel Dragon in the only Morgan coaster with the wheels on the outside of the rails (like B&M and Intamin) as opposed to inside the rails (like Arrow). I wonder why this one design was built differently.

I think it was because they used much larger wheels for this ride to accommodate the high speed. If they went up to, say, 12" guide wheels, that means they would be rapidly running out of space between the rails for the guide wheels, and would potentially have problems with clearance for brake calipers, chain dogs and related stuff.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Jeph said:

This is exciting and surprising to see. Is this the first time that B&M has developed trains or a product to assist in rehabbing older, non-B&M coasters? Regardless, I'm very happy to see it.

Psyclone at SFMM was a Summers and Dinn woodie running B&M trains. Only other non B&M coaster with B&M trains that I know of. I believe those trains were saved for Colossus when Psyclone was dismantled.

matt. said:

RCMAC said:

I'm not sure that I want to see Magnum's or Phantom's trains replaced

I think I reflexively gasped and grabbed at my chest when I read this. Shudder inducing.

Ha! Me too.

The first B&M project was to design and build a new fleet of bobsleds for the relocated SFGAdv Sarajevo Bobsled when it moved to SFGAm. That was all the way back in 1989.

I actually liked magnum's trains. They're simple, and send you flying up in the air on air time hills!

Yes, Tyler, but the restraints suck and bruise the heck out of you.

bunky....give Tyler 20 or 30 years, and he'll gradually begin to agree... ;~)