Steel Venom GL, a good question

I was just wondering if anyone has ever been on or around the ride when it brakes down, when the train gets stuck.?? the reason I ask is, I just want to know why does it happen? and does it happen when the train launches, when it's falling back down, etc. I just want to know if anyone knows what I'm talking about

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lakecrystal said:
I just want to know if anyone knows what I'm talking about

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No

I was actually on the ride in 2000 when the brakes came down just after the initial launch. It feels like the train coming to a stop way out of the station. Basically, it happens when the computer sees something it doesn't like.

Mike

I don't know why it happens, but on my first ride ever, we launched up, then went up the back spike, then launched farther up the twisty, then all the way up the back spike where the holding brake came one...but not for as long as it usually did. It felt like it grabbed and slipped, as we really didn't even stop. Then we braked all the way to the end of the launch track, where we stopped for about 5 or so minutes.

I knew it didn't feel right when the holding brake cought. I could tell a difference when I rode later and it cought us and we stopped for a little longer.

Ok thanks. See I've seen the train sitting well out away from the station, just before the spiral spike. Though, I've never seen what actually happens that causes the train to halt like that. Thanks, at least the computers are there. It just makes me feel safer. I noticed the computers save the day on more than one occasion on some rides. Cool, thanks for the info.

Yah, almost the same thing happens on the original Steel Venom at Valleyfair!. I was on it last year when it happened and i thought it was pretty cool, especially cause we got to re-ride without getting off.

Last year I happened to be at the park with a friend, and he managed to capture an emergency stop on video with his digital camera. The brakes came down after the ride went through the back spike the second time, and the train came to an abrupt stop. After about half an hour the ride was working again; a ride op explained that the light curtain mistakenly "read" that an object had crossed into the ride's path.

I have another question that bothers me, why did they put on the break on the back spike? I know it wasn't originally there, it was an addtion put on. Please if anyone knows.... :)

I'm pretty sure the ride was built with the holding brake. There might have been a period where it was not working in between its opening and now.

The holding brake has been on Steel Venom since the beginning. As stated in the previous post, for a stretch of time the ride ran without the brake.

How does the holding break work? I thought Magnets cannnot completely stop the train, thus the use of the tires on rides like SROS.

That's true, magnets cannot completely stop a train. However, LIM's don't use magnets, they use induction motors (hence the name), which are used to create electric fields that interact with the fins. The LIM's on the back spike aren't actually functioning as typical brakes (as magnetic brakes aren't powered in any way), they're thrusting in the opposite direction of gravity, creating a momentary stop for a fraction of a second. (The train wants to go down, and the motors are pushing it up.) However, I do remember someone familiar with the ride mentioning that if the spike LIM's were left on forever, the train would eventually slide back into the station.

Psst... breaking is when Kingda Ka goes down, braking is what you use to stop a ride. :P

*** Edited 5/29/2005 2:09:41 AM UTC by PhantomTails***

^the LIMS seem to function differntly each time. On some trips, the train slides down, while other times it goes up the spike. Rarely does the train stay perfectly still for the short stop. i would venture to say that the LIMS are set to use the same amount of force/power every time. If there is a lot of weight in the train, it would slide down. If its empty, then it could slide up.

Lol..the "brake" and "break" difference has always been a pet peeve of mine..But anyways, I agree with Mark. If the train has more weight in it, it will slide down a small amount. If it is balanced well, I assume that the train would stop for a short time.

Steel Venom does not "weigh" the train, so yes Mark, the same amount of force is applied everytime the hold brake is on. It does, however, calculate speed... so in theroy, the computer could find out the mass of the train, if it were to be so programmed. *** Edited 5/29/2005 4:26:31 AM UTC by Fun***

I think this happenes on all those type of coasters, because it happened to me the first year of Wicked Twister. I had to sit and waite for the crew to tie a rope on the train and pull it back into the station. I think it took about 25Min. CP said that they were sorry and gave us front of the line passes to ride anything in the park.

For a few weeks last yeat, Steel Venoms holding brake was turned off. Im not sure why though.

Oh, I beleive there was a discussion on when they actually put the LIM brake into effect. The first time I rode Steel Venom I didn't remember a brake, and I know why now, it was turned off. I do like the holding brake, it adds a nice touch to the ride. :)