Why only three trains on Kennywood's Racer?

Anyone who knows Kennywood knows that the Racer has three sets of PTC trains. Which means that the coaster is only capable of running two trains at once, since running the third would cause one train to operate on its own.

Now, even though the Racer is one continuous track, it has two lifts, two brake runs and two sets of station breaks. And that basically means that the coaster is essentially two standard wooden coasters that happen to run into each other. So, if that is the case, why don't four trains run on the ride? Certainly, it would give the coaster higher capacity! I'm sure its not because Kennywood is being cheap and held off on buying a forth train. Is there something that I'm missing here?

Kennywood never really gets so busy that a 4 train operation would ever be needed. I think this subject rescently came up, and someone mentions that a full queue will usually take no longer than 30 minutes with the 2 train operation.

Think of something like Phoenix, it's about the same size as one track of Racer. A two train operation on Phoenix is dynamite capacity, no need for more. Same thing with Racer. The trains just happen to be dispatched at the same time, rather than staggered. They COULD run 4 but why?

The Racer is one coaster. The approach brake run is a 'stopper' brake. It cannot be used for 'block' braking, as if those brakes would stick, or the train fail to move, or the kangaroo tail gets caught under the wheels, there is no way for the trains to stop once they are over the lift.

Therefore, there can only be 2 trains. The Racer is just like a old woodie with a 2 train operation. Nother more, nothing less. They can move 1000/ hr with the current set-up, and from a maintenence outlook, that is more than adequate for a ride that is nearly 80 years old.

Racer has two stations, two reliable block brakes, and two lifts. That's six blocks, which is enough to run four trains. The Rule™ still applies. No train may crest the lift until the block brakes, which are long enough to reliably bring the train to a full stop, are clear. They could run the ride with four trains, and I believe in the distant past they did so. I submit that running four trains might be difficult with the present configuration, if only because of the amount of time required to move 48 riders onto the loading platform. It would also require a level of operator responsibility that Kennywood may not be willing to require, particularly after the Thunderbolt incident (collision) a few years ago...the Racer does not appear to have an automated safety system, though one would be easy to implement.

The unfortunate side effect of running only two trains on this ride is that the Jack Rabbit running two trains actually has a higher total hourly capacity than Racer does...and Jack Rabbit has smaller trains. This is because two train operation on the Jack Rabbit forces shorter station dwell times. The single-pair operation on the Racer doesn't force anything so long as both trains are synchronized.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

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Agent Johnson said:
or the kangaroo tail gets caught under the wheels, there is no way for the trains to stop once they are over the lift.

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Wouldn't that injure the kangaroo....I think the tail is used as a rudder, and therefore a broken/amputated tail would force him to hop around the park a bit lopsided...;)

Dave, do you know when they added the MCBRs to Racer? I have seen pictures of the original layout and that was one of the biggest changes.

Um, what Racer are you talkin about? Kennywood's Racer doesn't have an MCBR ...

It sort-of does though. Right above the station right after you 'round the corner. Sorry, I don't have any pictures.

It's a brief flat spot of track after the above-station turnaround. It's always been there, and there aren't any sort of brakes on it.

Racer use to have a double dip there but was removed sometime during the 1940's if memory serves me correctly and replaced with a flat section of brakes. At the same time the station look was changed to a more World's Fair feel. Those brakes were eventually removed and KP kept the long flat section. That happened sometime during the 60's but don't quote me on that one. Does anyone have the exact date?

I did operate the Racer for the summer of 2002. Unless the braking system changes to a more failsafe design, don't count on KP adding a 4th train.

The Racer is fine just the way it is. Leave it be. :)

Coasterman Mike

My first exp. with racer, I was amazed by the fact that the line moved so fast. With 2 trains, during Phantom Fright nites, the cue was full, and I didn't wait any more that about 15 min.

I (ready to be yelled at here) wasn't so impressed with Racer, its a fun coaster, but not in my top 10, but I don't see any need for another train. Its cool just the way it is.

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Coasterman Mike said:
Racer use to have a double dip there but was removed sometime during the 1940's if memory serves me correctly and replaced with a flat section of brakes. At the same time the station look was changed to a more World's Fair feel. Those brakes were eventually removed and KP kept the long flat section.

The Racer is fine just the way it is. Leave it be.

Coasterman Mike

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Thanks, I knew there was a brakerun-type-thing-y there. Too bad they removed the double dip, that would make two places through the course where you get some airtime. And I can't agree more, Racer is too classic to touch. I love those brakes, and I don't think they would modify it the way they did Jack Rabbit because there really isn't a need.

Tekno, I don't think people rate Racer really high on their top ten. It was built to be a family ride, and continues to be a great family type coaster.

Remember everyone, if you don't slap hands, you don't get the whole experience!

I remember seeing pics of the Racer in Charles Jacques' Kennywood books with both the double-dip off of the station turn as well as a flat section with brakes. I forget if those brakes were there when I rode in the mid-90's.

Here is a picture of the old MCBR.

I stole the other one. Just kidding. Maybe they planned on only running 2 trains and the 3rd was just used to put in when one train went in for maintenance. Maybe Kennywood couldn't afford the 4th? Accident wrecked the 4th?

They purchased the third as the relief pitcher of sorts. Never intended on buying a fourth.

When were those trains added? Were the ones that they replaced the original 1927 trains?

I would assume that the new trains were added after Kennywood decided to keep the Racer. That is, if those rumors about Kennywood once contemplating the removal of the Racer are true...

If I recall, the current PTC trains replaced the set that Andy Vettel built after WWII. Probably after KW bought the NAD Century Flyer trains for the Pippin they opted to build the Racer trains in house.