Why do some people hate Gerstlaur trains?

We don't understand the general concensus on this board (least ways the vocal concensus) that G trains are so bad. Although we always get our "Boss bruise", to us the G train, when properly maintained give a comfortable ride with some freedom of movement. Keeping in mind that Angela and I are both somewhat larger than average and have wide hips we HATE trains that have dividers between the seats with pulldown from the side or single across bars as these are tight and the restraints tend to bash your stomach if there is any good air on a ride. I will personly trade a bruise or 2 for the freedom of movement and the relative comfort of the horseshoe restraints any day. Keeping the previous comments in mind, we do admit that when the coaster is running hard and you end up in the most used (and least maintained) train that the G trains can and do provide a less than thrilling experience. Your thoughts and comment are appreciated. Convince us how bad they are and how good brand x is. ;)

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Just a couple of G-Force junkies!

It's mainly just a less comfortable ride for my wife and I. Thus far we've not been impressed with the G trains.

The reason I don't like them is because they don't track as well as they should. On a high speed turn, the train shimmies from side to side, alot! I don't know what causes this, but take a ride on the MB Hurricane and you'll know what I mean.

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MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM, roller coasters (Homer Style)

I've had many, many rides on the MB Hurricane, while it does do as muzicGuy says, it doesn't always do it, it has better days. Rides with PTCs have thier own share of the shakes from time to time. But, as far as the "wildness" of the ride goes I can enjoy what faults are brought, those Gtrains are just about my faves(MBHurricane). Just like said before, freedom of movement. They have seat divider action without a seat divider via the bump between seats, open air feel, & I prefer a bar that's not coming from one side, the shape of those bars is much more "open". The appearance is also very classic, IMO, it looks like a new version of what you could call the classic stereotypical woodie carriage. Haven't tried the funny looking Boss type, though. They also make a really cool set of whizzing noises as they roll;).......

I have only been on The Villain, which is probably a bad example of what G-trains are capable of doing. On The Villain, the train can't track around curves very well and the train vibrates a la SOB. I don't have too many problems with the seat size, but that is only because I am pretty small. My only other complaint is that the lap bars staple you when you hit those great postivie Gs. PTCs use the seat belt as the primary source of restarint, so the lap bars do not ratchet down far enough to staple you in.

-Craig, who thinks SF needs to re-track The Villain, now!

the trains on the hurricane are fine, it is the supports that give the problem.

The only Gerstlauer train I've been in is a sledge coaster train on G'sengte Sau, and even though the trains looked really nice, I didn't like them. I could barely get my legs into the train, and I'm everything but a tall person.

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Dutch Coastin' :: European coasters, thrills and theming!

Let's put it this way... I'm a young, physically active seventeen year old teenager, and despite this, my attempt at a Villain ride-athon was brought to an abrubt hault after only ride number four. Those G-Trains hurt my back soooo much, I was in pain for the rest of the day I was at SFWoA. If I can't re-ride the Villain... I honestly don't know who could.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew (Have Fun Trying To Find Me!)

Why do people hate G-trains?

a. the name is too darn hard to pronounce

b. they look like they came straight out of 1920

c. they dont track well

Why would you ever use g-trains on a ride that has over a 150 ft first drop* coughbosscough* and goes 60 mph, just absolutely baffling. Not a very wise design choice IMO. Those trains are best used on mediocre sized wodies.

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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final break run wiping tears from your eyes"-me

Bad tracking + No padding = Bad ride

If you rode the Legend with the G train, and then rode with the new PTCs, you'll swear off G trains forever! :)

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

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the trains on the hurricane are fine, it is the supports that give the problem.

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Uhh, no? The problem (if it is your opinion that one does exist) would come from the fact that the Myrtle Beach Pavilion isn't exactly top notch at keeping up a wooden coaster.

Now, back to the Gerstlauer subject. The only coasters I've been on with the G-trains are Hurricane at the Pavilion and Twisted Twins at Kentucky Kingdom. I enjoyed both rides and didn't exactly detest the G-trains, but IMHO both rides would be better with PTCs. I love the look of them and the slightly more openness to them as opposed to the PTCs, but the lapbars just aren't that fun.

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Jonathan Hawkins
Starcoasters.com
"There is a cluster of bees at the top of the lift. Sorry for the inconvenience."

*** This post was edited by StarCoasters on 1/18/2003. ***

I don't see why their so bad. On the Villain, I don't feel a thing. That's why I ride it so many times.

I actually love the look ("look like straight out of 1920" is a GOOD thing compared to the visual boxes most coasters run). Most of the time they actually track pretty well. The problem for me is the lack of padding on the bars. Hit serious laterals, and I'm in serious pain.

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--Oat Boy
My page

I hate G-Trains because:

My legs were too long to ride Villain comfortably. In order to get any semblence of airtime, I had to keep my lapbar about 7" above my lap. And even though it sounds dangerous, I still couldn't move more than an inch out of my seat.

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A failure in society is a failure of society.

G-Trains... negatives of these trains...

1. Uncomfortable

2. Little to no soft padding

3. Heavy U-Bar which leads to some serious staple action

4. You hit those strong lateral turns and say goodbye to your thighs

5. All vibrations go straight to your head which leads to a very bad headache

... positives of these trains...

1. Look pretty

2. Extremely funny to watch the G-Train "shimmy" as it rounds turns

I've been on numerous coasters that run with G-Trains(Legend, Boss, Villain, Twisted Twins, Megazeph) and each time I strongly felt that what was a terrific layout, was ruined by these horrible trains. Sure they do add a great deal of intensity to the ride but while trying to defend yourself from getting bruised legs, it also takes alot away from the ride. I also found these rides very moody. Some rides would be not as rough as others despite the fact I would be riding in the same seat in the same train. Types of weather also play huge factors in how the ride goes.

Coasterman Mike - outstanding layouts, horrific trains

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My 2002 Coaster Season Video Review is now available here: http://www.geocities.com/coasterman_mike

One Word: BRUISES

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-Bret Pritchett
AIM: DrFrreezz
If at first you don't succeed... skydiving isn't for you

G trains arent that bad. People need to understand that when riding a wooden roller coaster, you have to be ready for a rough ride, thats what a woodie is all about to me, and i feel g trains are great. Now ptcs are very nice too. True they are more comfy, and they have more room, but to me they are too enclosed, and i like the open air feeling of the g trains.

I don't hate them. I actually liked them on The Legend; I think they ran a bit faster than the PTC's. They're still better than some other trains out there, like the Morgans on Colossus or the things on SOB.

For the most part, I think it's really just a bit of prejudice; people are used to the PTC's.

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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...

Poor manufacturing...parks only buy them because they're cheaper than other types of trains. There's nothing I hate more than the horseshoe style lapbar...it ruins the ride for me. Look at Holiday World...they knew the Legend trains sucked, and they bought PTCs, simple as that...

I think after you have been spoinled by PTC and Millennium Flyers, why should we settle for anything else? G-trains bruise my legs really bad - so bad, that one time I had the bruise STILL a month later - it was THAT deep. I just think when there are better trains out there, why spend the money on a cheap looking piece of, well you know. :)

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