Woodies live longer? - CoasterBuzz

The Old Indiana/Opryland thread got me thinking about the life of woodencoasters vs. steel coasters. I can easily come up with ten parks that have removed a steel coaster in the last ten years, but I can't think of one still operating park that has removed a full sized woodencoaster in the last thirty years. What about you? and why do you think that is?

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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com

One word: innovation

In the world of steel coasters newer, better and smoother things keep coming along. However, the only real innovative things in the wood coasters are the loop on SOB and this new Intamin track. It also has to due with the fact that wood coasters can more easily be retracked/profiled.

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The Other Siebert

Seems kinda odd: woodies require more maintanance over time (replacing support structure beams) don't they?

Of course, woodies are a great addition to a park that are meant to feel old and rickety, whereas when steel coasters feel old and rickety, it's time to think about something else for the future.

Too many steel coasters are either gimmicky and lose their appeal, or are (sad term) throw away rides. Clones, head bangers that show age, etc. The park get's their investment out of them for 10 years and they need to go....

I don't want to see any coaster get removed, but in the last 20 years with the onslaught of steel clones, I think we will see a big percentage of them not have the long life that most woodies get.

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- Peabody

*** This post was edited by Peabody on 8/3/2002. ***

Ya, woodies are cheaper to replace the stuff though, you can get a peice of wood for about 10 bucks probably. A peice of track for a coaster costs 1000 I'm sure

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(Former Signature replaced due to bad joke with accident) The Beast at night-Two peas in a pod?

I can think of a park that removed a Wooden Coaster in the last 30 years. SFNE removed Wildcat in 1983 when the built Cyclone.

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SFNE Dude, you might wanna reconsider your signature-- it's a little on the long side I think...

Yea, the limit is three lines, but his isn't that bad. Just a few days ago someone popped up with a 12 or 13 line sig. Now that is excessive! Who cares what your top 50 coasters are? :)

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- Peabody

Inovation definitely has to do with it like Drew said. Woodies are always the same except for SOB so there is no real demand for a new woodie but they can do more things with steel.

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-Sean

Wildcat was steel:

http://rcdb.com/installationdetail705.htm

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Off with the trims!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
Woodencoaster.com

Steel coasters can be moved easier and everybody loves a classic woodie.

Yeah, Woodies require more maintence.

Steel coasters wheels cost between $200-$1200 each and wear out at least once a year and sometimes once a day.

Steel Coasters require a 6 figure paint job ever 5 years. Vortex coast well over $200g to paint.

Lets see, Blue streak requires about $13,000 every year in replacement wood and Maintence.

Chuck,

13,000 X 10 still don't equal one paint job

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Charles Nungester.
Visit Lesourdsville Lake :) Park phone is (513)539-2193

And how much does it cost to paint all of the wooden structure?

I heard the final cost for Blue Streak was somewhere around $40-50k.

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Depending on the type of wood used, some wooden coasters require painting as well and a large one like a Cyclone type ride easily costs over $100,000 to do so.

Yes, require, it's not done for looks. It's actually necessary to keep them from rotting.

It always amazes me how much it really does cost to paint a woodie. Imagine how much it would cost to paint Beast...