Wicked Twister topped off

Hey it looks like WT has just been topped off. Track work is now complete? Or do they keep one piece of track off until they put the train on? Does anybody know how that works?
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I tried to sign my name here but the ink didn't stay on the screen.

Nope, that's the whole deal. Looks like the roof went up as well. Now let's see how long it takes before someone complains that nothing is going on over the course of the next month (not realizing the electrical component of this project will be very time consuming).

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Nothing is going on at construction. This is boring. ;)
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The legend lives!

So, one question for you (anyone): how do they get the trains on the track since there is no maintenance track area? I know that the actual cars can be disconnected from the wheel assembly (evidence here http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/inside_park/rides/thrill/2002/wt/construction/picture.cfm?id=100). But do they remove the top wheels then raise the wheel assembly up to the track then reinstall the wheels? That seems awefully redundant if they do. But I guess that's easier than placing the wheel assemblies on the track then installing the track onto the supports.
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I tried to sign my name here but the ink didn't stay on the screen.

I'm sure that they put on the wheel assemblies then attach the cars. RideMan?
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SFNE loses its "floor" for 2002! Visit www.geocities.com/sfneguy for info. and pics of SFNE, including the most unique constr. pics of SFNE on the web. Formerly known as srosatsfne.

Rideman is not availalbe this week.

The bogies are attached first, then the seats. It's a similar process to removing a train that rolled back, in that you have to remove some part of the wheel assembly to get it on or off. It would at least appear (looking at my photos) that the best place to do this is to open the joint where the wheel assembly (which is more or less one piece for the top and bottom wheels) connects to the shaft coming out of the cylinder on the bogie. That's where the wheel assembly can pitch independently of the car. I could be wrong, there's probably an easier way, I just don't see it.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

They attach the wheels on first. I was at SFWoA while they were doing Superman's trains. Once they get the wheels on then they can put the rest of the train together from the base of the wheels.
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Sorry for my pathetic vocabulary, what's a bogie? I know I have heard of that before........

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"This feels like walking into pins and needles. Nice to Know You.
Goodbye."-Incubus

I think a Bogie is when you score one above par in golf.

It's easier to show you a bogie. http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/inside_park/rides/thrill/2002/wt/construction/picture.cfm?id=101

On the CP site, they are reffered to as the chassis.

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I have no signature.

I knew that they must put the wheels on the track before they attach the cars to the wheel assemblies, but since the trackwork is complete there are no gaps in the track to install the wheels. So they must have to take the top off the wheel assembly in order to get them on. That must be some headache with the LIM's in the way.

P.S. Actually I think a bogie is a type of dance. ;)

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I tried to sign my name here but the ink didn't stay on the screen.

if you read the construction diary @ cedarpoint.com it tells you that ALL the track is assembled into place and that the train isnt ready to be loaded onto the track. it also says that there is alot of wire placement to be done for the LIM's.

Generally what they do is they unbolt the to top running wheels raise the assemblys into place and reatach the top wheels and set the track gadge. Millinneum force valled several times and all they do is unbolt the wheels and lift the car off the track. If you look closely at the photo somebody posted above. The top large running wheel has a large bolt through the assmbly, undo the bolt pull the wheel and install the car on the track. It is like removing your own car tire same kind of thing.

It is possible that there is a small section of track that is specially disigned to accomadate train removal. It really is an easy process.

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Upsidedown's Website
http://johnnyupsidedown.com

I know thaton Face Off at PKI there is a section of running rails (right past the station) that can be removed without removing a whole piece of track. In order to do that, if you notice, part of the exit ramp is not permanently attached to the ground but is a bridge that can be removed so that maintenance can get in to remove the cars by takings the rails off and sliding the cars through the opening in the rails. (That`s what I think anyway)
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I`ve ridden Son of Beast 67 times!

Same way they put them on Deja Vu i guess.

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The Scream Site
http://www.screamsite.cjb.net

yeah, and Deja Vu is getting very good at removing valleyed trains.

Taking off the top wheels won't do you any good, because the wheel assembly is one solid C-shaped piece. In fact the piece even secures the wheels on both sides.

That means it has to be disconnected elsewhere, and my guess is still the pitching joint between the bracket and shaft coming out of the bogie.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

what does topped off mean?

You can't be serious??? This is a joke right?

Topped off means the top portion of the track is in place...on a shuttle it would be the last piece usually, and on a full circuit coaster, it would mean the lift hill.

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"Look for the big black sack of Mofuggin Nuts at your local grocery store". -- Radio ad in FL