Timberliner Testing resumes on the Voyage

Have you ridden an X-Car coaster? Do the restraints feel similar when riding?

Also, despite all its faults, TH13TEEN at Alton Towers handles 3 trains exceptionally well.

I was always amazed that Cedar Point could run three trains on Corkscrew (such a short ride) and do it really efficiently.

But in general, I agree that most (not all) three-train coasters are not run efficiently and always have a train sitting on the brakes. So not only is the third train often a waste, so is the midcourse brake that is required for that third train. Double fail.

Considering how long The Beast is, it's pretty sad to have ANY stacking on that ride. There's like two minutes between each train on the course.

On a really good day (not the norm), Nitro can continuously operate three trains with virtually no stacking. The instant the train on the lift crests, they dispatch the next one and the chain lift never shuts off. But usually a train sits for a while on the brakes waiting for the station to clear. Now that they have to do all that "visual scan" BS, those really good days may be long gone.

So back to the Timberliners on Wooden Warrior...
Stapling eh? Oh dear; here we go...

Well the restraints would have to staple you in since the trains do not have seatbelts. The way the lapbars are curved and with the padding their not to bad as far as being uncomfortable.

Out of curiosity, how big of a guy are you? I'm not terribly concerned for my own sake (5'7" 160), but I know there are quite a few folks on this forum that might like to know how big-boy friendly they are.

From sitting in one, Id say its about the same as two clicks on a NORMAL PTC can ride. YMMV

Chuck: Just for reference, you're talking two PTC clicks like on the standard 6-click PTC train with all the parts in the right place, not two clicks like on Kings Island's trashed-up PTCs, right?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Exactly!

That's pretty damn forgiving.

I will say this, I do think the TL trains have more hip room as obvious by the missing Hip Area of the train, But the Lap Restraint is less forgiving as its more centered on the waist of every rider, whereas a PTC will rest on the gut of a larger rider and can even be pressed into, (If need be)

Way more Forgiving than the MF trains however, BY FAR! But I will say the MF bar sits in a more correct position to prevent a rider from Submarining under it and catches riders on the THIGH!

Im not 100% sure but they talked like shorter riders than any PTC (Less the PTC Jr) could ride Timberliners. Im not sure of the heigth requirement. Does Grona Lund or Quassy have theirs listed?

As of HWN last year, They were not certain as to where the Go/No Go mark on the bar would be set, Also the height setting. Since these coasters are now opening, Im sure that's been finalized.

Found it, Nobody under 42" Tall can ride Wooden Warrior :). Im not so sure this will be the height for every Timberliner though, Can you imagine kids being able to ride Voyage and not Raven and Legend? Which are 48" ???????? WOW! Thats a heck of a difference!

^ I don't believe we'll be changing the height restrictions on our coasters. :)

Thanks, Paula

It's an interesting conundrum for manufacturers and for parks.

The 48" height limit is not only a physical limitation but is also rooted in cognition and emotional development, which is a fancy way of saying that the industry uses height as a surrogate for age, since height and age map very nicely up to about 60". So while a train design may be able to safely accommodate a *smaller* kid, the ride may not be appropriate for a *younger* kid.

Since Paula has already weighed in, we know that Holiday World has already considered this. :)

The other issue is a funny little provision in the ASTM design standard. If a ride can accommodate riders under 48" tall, it introduces a whole new set of restraint requirements that are presently being argued over and hashed out. There is one faction that wants such rides to be treated as kiddie rides, while another thinks that is silly. The latter group presumably understands that this category of under-48"-accommodating rides applies to EVERY ride (except one) at Disneyland...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Dave, I couldn't have put that better.

Paula, Strangely I wasn't suggesting such although it sounded like it. Only that it might be possible.

I remember once where PKI relaxed its height requirement on Racer to 46" instead of 48"so that my Five year old GF's Kid could ride. He loved it by the way, But three years later when he was finally tall enough to ride Beast. His response was, IS THAT IT? LOL, Little fearless daredevil he was!

I totally understand many just wouldn't be emotionally ready to go from say Howler to Voyage :) But maybe that Bunny Hop Jr. Woodie is still possible :)

Not to mention we don't need all these little kids riding Voyage thinking every coaster is going to be that good- it'll set them up for a life of disapointment.

Heres a video i took of wooden warrior
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIpoTdvoAyY

^Nice. That double-up looks pretty aggressive... :)

As for the trains..."slithery". ;~P

I don't know, and I won't judge until I actually ride a coaster with the Timberliners, but those restraints look so....awkward? I mean as far as actually being able to hold on comfortably.

The Timberliners look interesting, but that coaster doesn't look like it worth a cross-country trip to ride it. A ride like that would be perfect for DelGrosso's in PA though.

^Ehhh.. it's not across the country for you Travis ;) Never know until you ride! The Cyclone mouse at Wonderland in Texas is worth it!

What is the black strip in the center of the road wheel on the train pictured here? Do Timberliners have plastic or rubber tires on the metal wheels?

When I last observed a Timberliner train, the wheels were solid steel. The line on the "tire" is most likely oil and/or dirt.

One guess: Perhaps the wheel was "run in" with a drill and a rubber wheel to warm up the bearings during pre-deployment testing.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.