The Big One: What's the cable for?

After seeing so many pictures of the Pepsi Max Big One (which ranks among the top most jumbled coaster names worldwide), I wonder: what function does the cable attached to the track (particularly on the first drop) serve?

I have no clue. Any thoughts?

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I'm thinking it's a safety line so maintenance can clip on and perform track walks. Could be way off though.

Pictures?

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Raging Bull is best when you're first. [6/16/03]

I'm guessing that this came up because of the nice closeup shots of the F1 car on the track thingy (technical term). See:

http://www.f1racing.net/photo_large.php3?ID=20339
http://www.f1racing.net/photo_large.php3?ID=20341

You'll see that much of the track is accompanied with a walkway, either on the spine, or to one side of the track. Particularly at those steeper sections, if you're the guy doing the maintenance/track walk, you'll want something to anchor to the whole time (plus, like in Australia, I'm sure Workplace Health & Safety regulations or UK equivalent force them to have such systems installed). My best guess, as James said, is a running cable anchor, which you use a Y-shaped lanyard with two clips of some sort, so that at any point, even when changing sections, you're always connected. I wouldn't have used the same system as they did, but someone must have thought it'd be the best way to go.

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*** This post was edited by auscoasterman 7/26/2003 4:30:01 AM ***