Terra Coaster Question

I've always wondering... Is there a crane tall enough to build a terra coaster? Or they have to use a helicopter to raise tracks for the lift hill?

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SFNE's Superman's the best!

The tallest crane in the world is 625 feet I believe. Mazzella lifting owns it.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes MCS
"Thank You Jeff Putz"

Cranes aren't always necessary for large scale construction. Look at the structures out there taller than 625 feet. Where there's a will (and enough $), there's a way.

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- Peabody

If there's money to build it, it can be built. There are many types of cranes and many ways to build structures... othwerise, no buildings would be thosands of feet high!

This is the last thing I would worry about when building a coaster.

Zero-G said:
"The tallest crane in the world is 625 feet I believe. Mazzella lifting owns it.
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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes MCS

That maybe true but, think about the base of that crane. There is no way you could just drive it down the midway of a theme park.
"Thank You Jeff Putz""

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Did I mention, that I like coasters...

RollerFreak said:

That maybe true but, think about the base of that crane. There is no way you could just drive it down the midway of a theme park.

Nor a city street for building a skyscraper. I'm sure they're just assembled on site.

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- Peabody

Well, I don't think there is a crane tall enough for a terra coaster, considering Intamin said GIGA coaster could be built above 600 feet.

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Yatta!
Hey, look, I have a signature now! Even if it is only Yatta...

What if there's no crane tall enough? Is it possible for a park to rent a helicopter to raise some track pieces for the lift hill? Is there an other way?
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SFNE's Superman's the best!

Peabody said:
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RollerFreak said:

That maybe true but, think about the base of that crane. There is no way you could just drive it down the midway of a theme park.

Nor a city street for building a skyscraper. I'm sure they're just assembled on site.
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- Peabody"

You don't need a very tall crane to build a "skyscraper". Why? Well because the shorter crane just moves from floor to floor, during constrution. Do you think they had a 1454ft. crane to build the Sears Tower? I think not.
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Did I mention, that I like coasters...

*** This post was edited by RollerFreak on 3/10/2002. ***

How about this? First build 3 skyscrapers like Millenium Force's supports, then then lay track on the top of each (with stairs). Then Slide more track pieces along the existing track to connect the 3 towers.

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Kingbob wrote this.

I still think the helicopter's the best way to build 400 or more feet coasters.

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SFNE's Superman's the best!

XFan said:
I still think the helicopter's the best way to build 400 or more feet coasters.
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SFNE's Superman's the best!

It's kinda funny imagining that. I'd rather kiss a fan than be on that job.

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Kingbob wrote this.

What's so funny about it?

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SFNE's Superman's the best!

It's somewhat rediculous to rent a helicopter... i've never heard of a bridge or anything like that built using a helicopter, have you?

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes MCS
"Thank You Jeff Putz"

Good Point...

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SFNE's Superman's the best!

The tallest cranes, as long as they don't need to lift heavy loads, are generally not that hard to move they just come in a lot of prieces. Coasters come in lots of pieces, none of which weigh more than a few tons. The pieces roll in on trucks and are stacked together. Many of these cranes are designed so that they can lift and add their own extensions. They assemble a central tower and then climb the tower. This is how tall buildings are normally built. Tower cranes are also handy for congested areas. I've never heard of this being done for coasters since even the first hill on MF could be built with a conventional mobile crane which costs much less to rent. Here is an article on tower cranes http://www.howstuffworks.com/tower-crane.htm

Helicopters make lousy cranes. They are expensive to operate. They can't function if the wind is above a gentle, steady breeze. They can't lift heavy loads. They can't make many lifts in one day. They spend more time on the ground being serviced than making lifts. And, they stop all other work going on in the area, because people just can't help stopping and watching the show.

That said, they do have a nitch. If you need to make one or two lifts in an area where you can't set a crane nearby easily or that is so remote that you would have to build a road to get the crane there, a helicopter may be the answer. While I know people who have used them, in 30 years of heavy construction I have never had to use one. There has always been a cheaper, safer, more reliable alternative.

Thank you all for make me clear about all this.

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SFNE's Superman's the best!

Speaking of terra coasters, how is the one in Germany going? Has construction started yet? I think I might have missed something because I havn't heard much about it.

It's future is in question. Due to many factors, there is no 100% guarentee on the height and if/when it will be built.

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- Peabody

There is a crane tall enough. In my hometown (Charlotte), they just got done building a 47 story buildiing. The had a 48story crane assembled on site, Yes, thats a 48 story crane, and there were two of them. Cranes can be taller than you think.

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