What are they (HW/SS) up to now? (Timberliners on Voyage)

How about if we all rent a locker near the front of the park and/or have no carry on stuff when we enter the station? Would cut down a lot on that locker/storage time :) the ride already has a front and rear exit :) Of course, everyones going to want a closeup photo or the TL's too. SIGH

Charles Nungester said:
How about if we all rent a locker near the front of the park and/or have no carry on stuff when we enter the station? Would cut down a lot on that locker/storage time :) the ride already has a front and rear exit :) Of course, everyones going to want a closeup photo or the TL's too. SIGH. Maybe a behind the scenes TL tour :)

Maybe they can have a photo opportunity time so that will speed things up.

Different Dave here - but I recall the 'flags' on Racer. They had them on one train (the blue one) on the backwards side, for a part of one season. Literally made from sign shop scrap. Though I think the intention, any maybe their original operation is how you suggest, they were meant to drop down at two clicks, in practice all the flags went down as soon as the bar lock button was pushed, and popped up as soon as the bar release was hit.

I like the idea of a behind the scenes tour of the second TL. Maybe they can work that into the photo walk back, or maybe as an extra activity during one of the ERT's. Recall when they first opened Gobbler Getaway they had an exclusive photo tour of that available with purchase of an extra $10 ticket.

Just the chance, no matter how slight, of getting a TL ride sweetens the deal for sure. I think Rideman responded earlier that he calcs the capacity at 560, mind you this is with eager coaster enethusasts, and no seat belts. I predict you will see people jump into those seats, slam down the bars, so the ops can run down the sides checking, then at the end of the ride the milisecond the bars open, people jumping up and out of the train. I recall stories of the ACE Euro tour where they tried to get what 100-200 people through a Crazy Mouse with only 1 car on, in an hour. It can be done if people are in the right frame of mind. If the event is at 500 now, let's say 600 allowing for 20% walk up (this includes me). That means the wait will be just over an hour even if everybody is riding Voyage. Consider how many 1 riders there are at ERT's or coaster spouses, coaster children, coaster parents, what have you, you know the people who spend all ERT on a bench watching the ride. Then factor in the strange coaster nut behavior of standing in Thanksigivng TALKING about riding Voyage instead of actually riding Voyage, then factor in people's patieince. They may ride once, then head to Legend or Raven for marathon power riding opportunities. Or, for those close to the park, they may just hold back and wait till a nice weekday morning with a drizzle...

I suppose if it were going to a real limited opportunity, say 1 train for 1 night, they may ration it out via tickets, handstamp (get that ink Knoebels uses, they will have to work to wash that stuff off) or other means. (You can either have this block of fudge, or a timberliner ride....)

Hey Dave, did you put up or do a first day of KI 2010 trip report?

We just posted an update about the Timberliner trains and HoliWood Nights here.

Thanks, Paula

^Thanks SO much Paula.

I'd pretend to be disappointed, but you know me too well for that. Timberliners can be ridden during HWN '11 for sure...(and maybe even before then!) :)

Well, then, now we can all look forward to faster-moving lines for the Voyage during ERT. :)

See, when you're talking about the best wood coaster in the galaxy, there's not a lot that can happen to make it "disappointing", so long as it's OPEN!

The jury is still out on the latest changes to the schedule. Any announcement containing the words "morning" and "earlier" anywhere near each other is automatically suspect. :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Really, Im not disappointed at all and it avoids some headaches like two of the three coasters running one train ops Raven/Voyage.

Brings back final hour ERT Marathoning and seat hoping! WOOHOO!

HW makes it right, Extra ERT on Wildebeest will be welcome. Im hearing up to 2hr waits during normal operations so don't miss it!

C You there! IM hoping they at least have car one where you can test seat it. So you can see what they feel like.

Chuck, making plans for July 4th to celebrate the holiday at the aptly named HW.

Well Crap

Just posted

**Timberliner update for HoliWood Nights attendees from Will Koch (6/2/10):

Thanks so much for your patience and understanding as we work to get the first Timberliner trains built, tested and open for riders on The Voyage.

Unfortunately, we’ve had to make the decision that although we’re close, we’re not yet ready to put riders on the Timberliner train for HoliWood Nights.

We know this is a huge disappointment and hope you know how hard we’ve tried to make it work for this weekend.

We’ll tell you more about it when you get here.

Meanwhile, we’re going to have lots of fun! To make extra sure, we’re adding:

• Earlier start for extended Wildebeest ERT on Saturday morning

• Wildebeest photo walkback during Saturday morning ERT

• “Open House” with me (Will Koch), The Gravity Group’s Mike Graham, and the front car of Timberliner #1 during both nighttime ERTs

• Q&A with Will and Mike prior to Friday’s ERT

• Rides on HallowSwings and Turkey Whirl (Friday) plus Pilgrims Plunge and Scarecrow Scrambler (Saturday) during evening ERT

• Other goodies tba when you arrive

Thanks for understanding.

We’ll see you soon—safe travels! Will Koch

Charles Nungester said:

Brings back final hour ERT Marathoning and seat hoping! WOOHOO!

"seat hoping": When you reach the final brakes and you're praying that the queue for your row will be empty when the train gets there, so that you don't have to get off?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

That ended?...s'news to me! Last year I got lots of rerides without leaving the train because my non-end (as in "not the front car or last car") queue row was empty.

Bitter sweet. "Yay!" with a side of "bummer."

When you consider that Holliwood Nights may be the LAST time you get experience the Voyage with PTCs, it's not that bad. We'll have the rest of the coaster's existence to enjoy the Timberliners.

^What ended? I'm lost. Seat hopping ended? That would be strange...

Yes, "morning" and "earlier" used in same sentence is instantly suspect, particularly if that means the deadline to present ourselves at the main gate is also made earlier. As I recall, when we were timing this trip out, we estimate arrival at hotel at 11:30 - midnight friday, and needing to leave hotel by 7:30 to comfortably make an 8:15 deadline.

I can see there isn't going to be much sleep going on this weekend...

Mamoosh said:
That ended?...s'news to me! Last year I got lots of rerides without leaving the train because my non-end (as in "not the front car or last car") queue row was empty.

I think Chuck was suggesting that there would have been none of that with single-train operation.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Let the voyage begin. Wonder if Columbus had google navagation to help.

^Columbus had maps...he wasn't "flying blind".

Regardless (and irregardless, hehe)...I'm outta here, see you all in Santa Claus tomorrow night! :)

No, I'll see YOU in St. Louis Tomorrow Morning!