Ride Op-SFGAm
Certified on: Roaring Rapids, Loggers Run/Ice Mountain Splash, Batman The Ride, V2, and Deja Vu.
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Planned Parks for this summer: CP, SFWoA, SFGAm, SFKK, PKI, MA, SFStL, HP, KW, SFMM, KBF. Is 11 enough?
Moving along now to what TankRust said about there only being 3 blocks. That is totally wrong. There are 6 blocks on X. They are, Bottom of the lift, Top of the of lift. First part of Final Break Run. Second part of final break run outside of unload station, then unload station and load station. Thus the number is 6 blocks.
DWeaver, X will NEVER be able to run 3 trains. That is a very unknown fact throughout many. However, the PLC only allows for 1 or 2 train settings and it only has a 2 operation maximum on the PLC. This was pointed out by many at X's media day including people who I was with who were talking to Allen Shelkey, designer of X and owner of Arrow. One of the main reasons that X will never run 3 trains is because of the accident that happened on testing with 3 trains when the PLC is only set in 2 train mode. The third train came barreling into the final break run and the brakes only triggered somewhat because it sensored to move the train into the block outside unload which it will always do on 2 train operation. So, there was already a train in that block and the drive wheels kept it going about 25 MPH or so and it colided with the other train. That is one of the reasons that the thrid train hasn't been on even the TT forever. The new parts for the 3 train that were damaged in the accident can be seen in different spots throughout the park, including the new I beams over next to B side of Colossus. However, MM knows that the ride will never run 3 trains so they have actually started to use some of the 3rd train parts on the 1st and 2nd trains such as the brand new seat backs.
Hope I helped clear up some false info and helped you learn something new today about my personal favorite coaster!
P.S. The longest I have seen X's wait is about 4 hours however, I have not ridden it on a GP day. I have only been on it during all the Season Passholder days and Media Day.
X = 52 rides and counting for me!
DWeaver said:
Ok fair enough Loaded G, that statement I made is not entirely correct. X was built to run 3 trains and may in fact do so at some point. It's actually more my opinion than any inside info. But apparently X has gobbled up so many spare parts for the main two trains, that there isn't much of a third train left. Hopefully a brand spanking new third train will show up, but this combined with the trouble they've had running two, leads me to believe that 3 trains is a pipe dream. And unfortunately I'm not the only one that holds this opinion.
In any event, looks like the 3 train is gone
Same with Knott's Perilous Plunge. Originally set to operate with three boats, the first two cannibalized the third for spare parts and there is no longer a third boat!
And I have an answer!
It has mostly to do with X's operational design.
1. Riders board train. (this is pretty self explanatory here-no user error involved) appx 1min
2. Restraints are fastened and checked by crew. (very little user error, as the X restraints are pretty self explanatory also) appx 1min
3. Before the train leaves the station, the seats are reclined so that the riders are nearly on their backs. The floor does not drop like on an invert. appx 30sec
4. The ride including the lift hill takes place. appx 2min
5. The train comes to a stop in the unloading area
6. The riders exit the ride. appx 30sec
7. The seats tilt back. appx 15 sec
8. The train moves forward to the loading area. appx 15 sec
9. The seats tilt forward to the loading position. appx 15 sec.
By this account, a good portion of the time that is wasted on X is spent tilting the seats back and forth, as in the STOP, UNLOAD, ADJUST, ADVANCE, STOP, ADJUST , OPEN GATES procedure of unloading and reloading riders.
By this estimate, one cycle on X is about 6minutes. Each train carries 28 people (14 from each side). Thus, if there are 100 people in front of you (which isnt very many) , and there is single train operation, then expect the waiting time to be around 45 minutes. If there are a thousand people in front of you (more probable), expect the wait to be several hours. Keep in mind that the line will move twice as fast before it splits, moving you forward 28 clicks per cycle. Once you seperate and choose your side, the line will only advance 14 clicks per cycle.
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I've traded in my 2000 Giovanola for a 2002 Arrow X4D :)
My other car is now an Arrow X4D!
I must say that the dispatch times for single train operation were horrible. The reason that I can see for much of this is the amount of double checking that goes on after the restraints are locked. I realize they are necessary, as it is a new coaster, and so I'd imagine that with time, the operation will smooth out. It must be noted that X has only been open to the GP for around two months, so it's still a baby. When it was running two train operation, the dispatch times were hovering around 2 minutes give or take 30 seconds. Another place where I can see loading problems is the entrance to the station. People stack up right around the lockers and the back row line, not really knowing where to go. Often, other rows have very short lines, and it seems to take quite a while for many people to figure this out. I think some signage could really help things out there, as well as making the open space between the fence and the station wall into a line for the front 3-4 rows. This could probably help congestion at the entrance, helping the line to flow more smoothly.
For a while on Saturday, I saw mechanics on the transfer track checking the 2nd train and perhaps even working on it, but in the end nothing came of it. I certainly hope they can iron out the problems with the trains before they go to daily operation of the park.
On to some questions I have...is the park still allowing those standing in line for X at closing time (provided it is operating) to ride the ride? Also, does anyone else think that making the outside (purple) rails in such a position in the station that the seats would be upright all through it and installing a lowering loading platform similar to an inverted would be a good idea? With all that time that I've spent in line, analyzing ways to make the ride run more smoothly has become a sort of hobby for me.
-Matt
BTW, to chris senn, your 52 rides on X officially make you a lucky, lucky bastard...=)
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"He's blazin' away like the stars in the universe.." A. Vega + M. Rev "Ghostrider"
I appreciate all the praise for knowning a lot about X and MM stuff. I look this way for CP news all the time. I do have my differences on the way that the site is run and some of the high up people that run the site however, I don't like the take that out on everyone. I personally don't mind talking to anyone on the foums here. Everyone has been nice to me here accpet for a few and I have tried to work things out with them. I don't want to take anything out on anyone who doesn't deserve it, I'm not biast like that.
As far as 52 rides go on X, I am a lucky bastard and I will admit it myself. I went to EVER season passholder day and to the Media Day. The thing is though, the season pass holder days after December 31st 2001 were dead empty because they were only usually allowing people in with a 2002 season pass. I had one and would go. I remember on January 2nd of this year I entered the station with 1 train operation and there was absolutely NO ONE but me, my friend, and 4 other people. This was like this for about 2 hours. I got 19 rides in 1 hour and 45 minutes with single train operation! Walk on. Now that's why I consider myself a lucky bastard. Especially seeing as how long the lines get now and how slow dispatches are with 1 train operation over the last 2 weekends. Hopefully they will get the 2 train operation back up soon.
If anyone has questions about MM or KBF. Feel free to IM me anytime however, I might not talk sometimes because of work.
Ok, let's start off with why X was closed. It was because the pnuematic airgates in the station that go up when the train gets in there were slamming down and ruined themselves.
Well, it would help if the ride ops didn't kick them down with their feet when they get stuck in the up position!
DWeaver, X will NEVER be able to run 3 trains. That is a very unknown fact throughout many. However, the PLC only allows for 1 or 2 train settings and it only has a 2 operation maximum on the PLC. This was pointed out by many at X's media day including people who I was with who were talking to Allen Shelkey, designer of X
I'm not questioning what you heard, but I heard straight from the source (Allen) on that same media day, that he was hoping that there would be 3 train operation, and that it had been designed for that. Also after that day I had heard that a new third train was being built based on what they had learned from the problems on the existing trains so that they don't have to resort to cannibilizing other trains anymore. When that third train would come is anyone's guess though now. And that's something I heard through the grapevine so that may not be correct. But Allen definately wanted 3 trains, at least on media day.
*** This post was edited by Coasterbuf on 2/28/2002. ***
Geez... it isn't the end of the world that the ride is having difficulty running. Its been about a month or two now since public operation. You people really need to calm your nerves down. The ride is going to be there for a very long time. If it isn't open when you go this year, just go another time and don't give me that, "I'm never going to SFMM ever again in my life." Not all rides operate perfectly the first time around.
Coasterman Mike
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Now, a card carrying member of ACE.
Total rides on Pittfall: 255
Total rides on Superman:UE : 633
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