The Batwing station at SFA.
I was looking at some pics of Batwing at SFA and I was wondering what the double track into the station is all about. Do they have 2 que lines for the ride? Is this to avoid stacking and create better capacity?
-------------
""Coaster riding is a disease and SFGAm is the cure!!!!!!!"" *** This post was edited by Chitown on 6/13/2001. ***
-------------
""Coaster riding is a disease and SFGAm is the cure!!!!!!!"" *** This post was edited by Chitown on 6/13/2001. ***
Both Batwing and X-Flight have two stations. The queue splits before climbing up. There is a switch in the track that directs trains to one or the other.
This is a big change from Stealth, and I assume was added because of the nasty capacity. The problem is, at least on X-Flight, the state still hasn't approved three-train operation, and on top of that, they can't staff the ride and the trains are so complex that there's always something wrong with them.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
This is a big change from Stealth, and I assume was added because of the nasty capacity. The problem is, at least on X-Flight, the state still hasn't approved three-train operation, and on top of that, they can't staff the ride and the trains are so complex that there's always something wrong with them.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
I've said it once and I'll say it again, I do not believe that they will ever run three trains on Batwing or X-flight. Why? Simple reason really, storage space.
On both coasters the ride ops were adamant about taking things on the ride, including even hip/fanny packs. They make sure that NO ONE took any of these things on the ride. Instead, riders were instructed to place them on the exit side of the platform.
Now, imagine a three train operation. A train would depart from one station, yet return to the other station. How would riders be able to stow their gear? Furthermore, neither coaster has a locker bank (ala Dueling Dragons) nearby. As currently configured, a three train operation would cause MORE logistical headaches than it would relieve.
Furthermore, since there is no midcourse brake, I personally do not believe that a third train, under normal operating conditions (people fumbling with the restraints, rechecks etc.), would significantly increase capacity. Instead, I envison patrons stuck lying on their backs on the brake run (though I would hope that the seat would right themselves there..how that would work I have no idea).
lata,
jeremy
--the unbeliever
On both coasters the ride ops were adamant about taking things on the ride, including even hip/fanny packs. They make sure that NO ONE took any of these things on the ride. Instead, riders were instructed to place them on the exit side of the platform.
Now, imagine a three train operation. A train would depart from one station, yet return to the other station. How would riders be able to stow their gear? Furthermore, neither coaster has a locker bank (ala Dueling Dragons) nearby. As currently configured, a three train operation would cause MORE logistical headaches than it would relieve.
Furthermore, since there is no midcourse brake, I personally do not believe that a third train, under normal operating conditions (people fumbling with the restraints, rechecks etc.), would significantly increase capacity. Instead, I envison patrons stuck lying on their backs on the brake run (though I would hope that the seat would right themselves there..how that would work I have no idea).
lata,
jeremy
--the unbeliever
I can dream that they'll have three trains running on X-Flight when I go this year, right?
-------------
Let the bears pay the Bear Tax, I pay the Homer Tax.
-------------
Let the bears pay the Bear Tax, I pay the Homer Tax.
People dragging their crap around a park that they don't need is not a reason to disallow three-train operation. I for one can't stand the way people bring all that crap into the park at all, let alone in to a ride queue. Why should anyone have to wait longer because people feel the need to bring all that crap, none of which is required for riding anything, into the park? Leave it in the damn car.
-------------
Jeff (who on more than one occasion has kicked peoples crap out of his way on the Batman platform at Geauga Lake)
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
-------------
Jeff (who on more than one occasion has kicked peoples crap out of his way on the Batman platform at Geauga Lake)
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Jeff.. you are a bad boy!! how could you do that to a poor person's crap!! I am sure there were some things in there that were valuable!!! C'mon,, i mean you sure wouldn't want someone to kick your cute little fanny pack with the useless things that shouldn't be brought in anyway!
WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF SARCASM, DON'T TAKE ANY OF IT SERIOSLY!!!
-------------
Life is short, make it count...
WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF SARCASM, DON'T TAKE ANY OF IT SERIOSLY!!!
-------------
Life is short, make it count...
But if its in your way, you have no choice. Have you ever seen the Villan's platform. Talk about, pick your prize.
-------------
Dayuum, Your HOT!
-------------
Dayuum, Your HOT!
Well, I agree that people bring in tons of useless things that they could've left in the car. However, SOME of us *HAVE* to bring extra stuff in with us. I can NOT go back to the car every time I need to check my blood sugar, for instance -- it's impractical, and downright dangerous (if I'm going low, I could be passing out by the time I get to the car!)
So I take a fanny pack with me wherever I go, which contains the meter and some emergency candy. All is fine and good, never gives me any problems.
Until now. X-Flight, and apparently Batwing, you can't even bring THOSE on the ride with you. This presents a problem. I'm not leaving the meter behind in a locker. Nor am I leaving it in the station where it could get snatched. Looks like if I'm planning on riding either of those, it'll be a cargo shorts day...
(Yes, I've ridden X-Flight, at the TV taping, where I DID feel Ok leaving the fanny pack in the station, since there was only one train, etc.)
Now, they COULD use a variation of the system I've seen PKD use on Hypersonic to allow 3 train operation on the switched-track Dutchmen. On Hypersonic, a ride attendant walked along the train, putting any items people wanted to leave on a cart. When the train was dispatched, the attendant would bring that cart over to the unload area so the items would be there when the train returned. A similar system would work on the Six Flags rides -- put the items on the cart, then wheel it to the opposite side when the train returns...
-------------
--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 6/13/2001. ***
So I take a fanny pack with me wherever I go, which contains the meter and some emergency candy. All is fine and good, never gives me any problems.
Until now. X-Flight, and apparently Batwing, you can't even bring THOSE on the ride with you. This presents a problem. I'm not leaving the meter behind in a locker. Nor am I leaving it in the station where it could get snatched. Looks like if I'm planning on riding either of those, it'll be a cargo shorts day...
(Yes, I've ridden X-Flight, at the TV taping, where I DID feel Ok leaving the fanny pack in the station, since there was only one train, etc.)
Now, they COULD use a variation of the system I've seen PKD use on Hypersonic to allow 3 train operation on the switched-track Dutchmen. On Hypersonic, a ride attendant walked along the train, putting any items people wanted to leave on a cart. When the train was dispatched, the attendant would bring that cart over to the unload area so the items would be there when the train returned. A similar system would work on the Six Flags rides -- put the items on the cart, then wheel it to the opposite side when the train returns...
-------------
--Greg
http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/
*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 6/13/2001. ***
Jeff: I might have simply "agreed to disagree" with you on the subject of taking crap with you to a park, except in this case, since NOTHING is allowed to ride with you, it's bull crap.
For the most part, I only bring my hat, keys, wallet and an extra set of glasses with me (either my regular glasses or sunglasses, the other pair is on my face). All of these, while not needed for the actual ride, are VERY important to me during the course of the day. In order to keep from losing them (which has happend BTW) I bought a hip pack and take it to every park I go to (the two times I didnt were the two times I lost something). Now, even though this can be fixedly attached to my person, it is not allowed on the 2nd gen FDs. (I overheard one of the managers saying that they can interfere with/damage the soft restraints). Should I also not have these? Sorry, sometimes all this "crap" is needed.
Oh and one more thing, what an elitist comment, "leave it in the damn car". Not everybody goes to the park in a car. I know several people go to SFA on the bus, and if I'm not mistaken, SFWoA is on/near a bus line too.
lata,
jeremy
--who wishes he had a high horse to get on too.
For the most part, I only bring my hat, keys, wallet and an extra set of glasses with me (either my regular glasses or sunglasses, the other pair is on my face). All of these, while not needed for the actual ride, are VERY important to me during the course of the day. In order to keep from losing them (which has happend BTW) I bought a hip pack and take it to every park I go to (the two times I didnt were the two times I lost something). Now, even though this can be fixedly attached to my person, it is not allowed on the 2nd gen FDs. (I overheard one of the managers saying that they can interfere with/damage the soft restraints). Should I also not have these? Sorry, sometimes all this "crap" is needed.
Oh and one more thing, what an elitist comment, "leave it in the damn car". Not everybody goes to the park in a car. I know several people go to SFA on the bus, and if I'm not mistaken, SFWoA is on/near a bus line too.
lata,
jeremy
--who wishes he had a high horse to get on too.
It seems the exact policy on X-flight depends on which operator you get. Scott Short claims that he's ridden with his belt pack, that it is OK so long as it's off to the side (where I always carry mine anyway...) much like what we see on Millennium Force.
All I know is, if I am carrying my video rig, it's going on the ride unless the ride attendant wants to take personal responsibilty for it. And since I still owe more for it than most ride ops will make all summer, the chances of that happening are pretty much -nil-...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
All I know is, if I am carrying my video rig, it's going on the ride unless the ride attendant wants to take personal responsibilty for it. And since I still owe more for it than most ride ops will make all summer, the chances of that happening are pretty much -nil-...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Just for the record, I've had no problems taking my fanny pack on X-Flight. One ride op asked me to take it off, I said I took it on before, a higher ranking op said that if it's on your side, not interfering with the vest or lapbar, it's OK. During the photo shoot, I'm guessing they were a bit more paranoid since it was the first public runs.
-------------
Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
-------------
Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
Well the guy Scott @ SFA, pretty much the head honco when it comes to ride operations, told one of the members of the media that *they* could not ride with a hip pack. Given the incredible number of concessions that were given to the media that day, for him to stick on this point seems to indicate to me that hip packs will not be tolerated at all when the ride opens to the general public.
Oh, and I must have just missed the lockers near X-Flight...maybe they will enforce their use and similarly on Batwing. If they ever do run three trains, I'll eat my words (nothing new), but I dont see it happening.
lata,
jeremy
--Whatever happend to the boxes like they have on Shockwave @ SFGAm?
Oh, and I must have just missed the lockers near X-Flight...maybe they will enforce their use and similarly on Batwing. If they ever do run three trains, I'll eat my words (nothing new), but I dont see it happening.
lata,
jeremy
--Whatever happend to the boxes like they have on Shockwave @ SFGAm?
Jeff just to let you know we are over staffed on X-Flight. We are always sending people home because of it or sending them to other areas. Reason why we aren't using 2 stations at the present time is that of mechanical problems with the individual trains and not that we don't have enough workers. And to let anyone who wants to know we have done 16 trains in one hour w/ 1 train operation. and thats a lot considering load times.
-------------
Don't mess with the X in 01 *** This post was edited by XFlight on 6/13/2001. ***
-------------
Don't mess with the X in 01 *** This post was edited by XFlight on 6/13/2001. ***
I think it has to deal with the individuals that a group of 4 enters a park, each with his/her own backpack. When they arrive at the ride they just through the crap everywhere.
As an ex ride op I have seen people just through their stuff on the platform and then when they return things are missing. The thing that peeves me off is the stuffed animals. You won the dang thing it's your responsibility, and then if it get's stolen they want a replacement. It's not the ride op's responsibility to watch over every object that gets left while peep's are on the ride. Give the Ride Op's a break and take responsibility for your belongings.
I believe SFGAM still uses the boxes. I remember when they first installed the boxes at Shockwave, I was lead that year. The boxes were the best thing ever to assist the Ride Ops.
-------------
BMCOASTER
bmcoaster@wi.rr.com *** This post was edited by BMCOASTER on 6/13/2001. ***
As an ex ride op I have seen people just through their stuff on the platform and then when they return things are missing. The thing that peeves me off is the stuffed animals. You won the dang thing it's your responsibility, and then if it get's stolen they want a replacement. It's not the ride op's responsibility to watch over every object that gets left while peep's are on the ride. Give the Ride Op's a break and take responsibility for your belongings.
I believe SFGAM still uses the boxes. I remember when they first installed the boxes at Shockwave, I was lead that year. The boxes were the best thing ever to assist the Ride Ops.
-------------
BMCOASTER
bmcoaster@wi.rr.com *** This post was edited by BMCOASTER on 6/13/2001. ***
2Hostyl said:
"Now, imagine a three train operation. A train would depart from one station, yet return to the other station. How would riders be able to stow their gear? "
If I am seeing things correctly in the pictures, Batwing discharges to the center platform. This should make it possible to pickup your stuff no matter which side you come in on as long as it is placed in the middle?
You must be logged in to post
