Trim Brake on Mantis

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mudinthevayne said:
That wasn't my logic. Someone else posted that and I asked them if it was to reduce "wear and tear" then why wouldn't Chang and RRv have it.

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Gotcha, my apologies. I was confused by your post originally but it makes much more sense after that clarification.

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Jeff said:
So now you're an expert in lift motor maintenance and block programming?

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No, I'm just saying that the blocks are evidently working as planned. And that plan is pretty much to make sure that two trains aren't in the same block. To me, it seems like slowing down the entire coaster just to save a matter of seconds of waiting is completely preposterous.

While I have not been on the Beast until just a few years ago, and I can't make a judgement based on its early years, that brake on the first drop is probably the most noticable brake I have ever felt on a coaster.

As far as Mantis having that brake on the first hill, I can kind of see why it's there. If you have been on Mantis and Chang, Chang has a more gradual drop. I believe that was meant because the steepness on Mantis's drop was to much.

I have yet to get on a coaster at an SF park that has a brake on the first drop of a coaster.

I guess you haven't ridden SFDL's Predator?

And you would be correct sir.

But I guess if I get out to Darien Lake in the future, it won't be under the SF name so my statement still stands. :)

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SFoGswim said:
No, I'm just saying that the blocks are evidently working as planned. And that plan is pretty much to make sure that two trains aren't in the same block. To me, it seems like slowing down the entire coaster just to save a matter of seconds of waiting is completely preposterous.

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You're completely missing the point.

When Mantis is running three trains, there is a possibility that all three could be stacked (one train in the station, one on the brake run behind it, and a third coming into the brakes from the second half of the ride). There are two blocks on that final brake run. When a train comes into the brake run and there's already another train sitting there, it's forced to stop *hard*. That means pain for the passengers.

A trim on the first drop allows more loading time for the crew so that they're not stacking trains, as well as a slower-moving train that wouldn't have to stop as hard.

-Nate

Your point makes a little more sense, but still isn't complete. We're not talking a matter of minutes here the ops have extra, it's barely anything:

Trimmed video: [ http://youtube.com/watch?v=OYHeFNxY8hs ] Time from top of drop to brakes: 52 seconds
Untrimmed video: [ http://youtube.com/watch?v=vwwo45MsUAU ] Time from top of drop to brakes: 52 seconds

And, if they wanted to slow it down into the final brakes, why not have the MCBR bite harder? Sounds cheaper than a brand new brake.

I don't know the specifics, and I'm not pretending to. But here's my guess:

1) The trim on the first drop would prevent the midcourse from slamming riders in case of a set-up, or

2) The trim on the midcourse already grabs the train, and the trim on the first drop prevents it from having to grab even harder (and thus, again, jerking passengers painfully around)

-Nate
*** Edited 8/11/2006 7:41:50 PM UTC by coasterdude318***

You know, we (as a community) often have this attitude that trims just must suck, no matter what.

On Mean Streak---they suck, but at least the ride doesn't tear itself apart. (You might argue that that's a bad thing, but still.)

On Mantis---they don't suck. The ride beats you up less. You get a bit more "hang time" in the loop. I think the thing rides *better* with the trims on. So who cares why it's there? It works. If you want to get a big huge unimpeded drop, ride the big blue thing across the midway. That's not what Mantis is all about.

On Magnum---arguable. I still end up with bruises on my thighs unless my belt is real tight, even with 'em clamped on pretty good. The ride might be more fun with 'em off, but it's not the end of the world when they are on.

On Gemini---thank god they're there. I like my upper vertebrae, thanks.