Rollerman87

You sure are quick to make bold pronouncements. But if you'll kindly read my post, you'll see that I never claimed that all the operator does is brake. In fact, I took great pains to explain how the trains are powered and exactly when that power is applied. But I suppose there's no way I could possibly compete with your mighty second-hand knowledge--unless of course I had worked Calico Mine Ride myself, personally, for years. /Tell me more about how wrong I am. Please. I just reread the post, and again, am sitting behind my statement. I may not know the ride (I might be learning it very soon), but at least the way they've operated it everytime I'm on it, they do use the power from load, to the lift, to unload. Sometimes they throw it in neutral, but most of the time, they're actually running power through it. And yes, I have heard that they've derailed a few trains. I'm sure you could go into the technical aspects of where my statements might actually ad up to yours, but lets just agree to disagree at the moment. Once I learn it, then I can get back to you on certain things, for they may do things a little different than when you worked on it.

This looks like a job for Electerik! The trains have electric motors, but they're only used to go from Unload to Load, to get the train rolling from Load, and to get the train up the small uphill section just past the stalactite caverns. The rest of the way, the operator pretty much rides the brake. Theoretically, the operator could power the train through most of the ride, but it would be pointless and possibly unsafe (as it would cause the train to go entirely too fast through several areas that normally require heavy braking to maintain the approved ride pace). Wrong. I work at Knott's and have been on Mine Ride more times than I could count. More than that, I have many friends who work on it and have taught me about it. The entire thing is powered. It uses an old gear system to operate. Next time you go to Knott's, ask the operatros, for you will find they do more than just "coast with the brakes."

I heard somewhere (I wish I could remember where) that the Calico Mine Ride was entirely gravity powered and the driver only had control of the brake. That could help explain why they need a chain lift in the middle of the ride. I guess that could make this a poor man's scenic railway but I don't really consider it any more of a roller coaster than a Log Flume. In fact, Splash Mountain has a roller coaster section and I don't even consider that a coaster. Total lie. The entire Mine Ride is powered. The operator does more than control the brakes. As for elusive 1o, hmmm... Jaguar Zoom Xcel Boomerang Pony Sierra Sidewinder Silver Bullet Ghostrider Timberline Twister I've heard (idiots) claim that Supreme Scream is a coaster. Total bullcrap, but they might be trying to promote it as such. That still only brings it to nine.

Ghostrider at Knott's. That's my home park, but it's a piece of crap. It especially irks me when I continually hear praise for it, right before they chicken out on Pony Express.

For those talking about the Solace vs. WCB, I think 2 things that help WCB is that: 1. WCB has been lead by the enthusiasts from the beginning. It started with RideWorld doing a little talking with SFMM for a few hours of ERT for a day. And then Jay Thomas took it under his wing and ran (hand in hand no less) with Robb Alvey and Chris Godsey (please let me have said ther right guy:P), making it an enthusiast's (and just plain coaster lover's) dream. 2.) A fellow "brother" was involved with this year's event. He works at the park, and was in a position to be able to influence the Bash. I personally would love to see who organizes the Solace and see if the few of us who work there could possibly give them ideas about how to improve the event.

I'd say Riddler's Revenge or Montezooma's Revenge

Team 5, 11th place. Oh well, better luck next time I must say the only thing I was dissapointed with about the WCB this year (besides X2 being down both times we wanted to ride) was that there was no raffle like I saw last year. I really wanted the chance to win a Viper wheel or something. Ok, well maybe a Riddler's Revenge wheel

Wahoo! We searched a freakin hour for that plaque, and we ended up guessing that the letter would be a B But we still lost

I have finally uploaded my pics onto my laptop, and might do a PTR later, but for right now, this pic I got of Tim Burkhart cracks me up. He looks like he's doing the macarana Possibly the funniest pic I could have gotten of Tim Burkhart

I am number 93. My real name is William (so, yes, when everyone kept calling "William," I started to get oh so very confused. And my username is Rollerman87! Also, my friend Heather is number 88. She was actually my guest I kept running into #71 and #94 (him at Knott's too ), but kept forgetting to get their names, so I'm so glad Big Mike did this

We get people taking off their shoes on Pony Express all the time. I just look at them, tell them they have to keeep their shoes on, and then ask, "What kinds of thing do you think have touched that platform do you think?" Ladies and Gentleman, the real reason you wear shoes on anything that has a floor

I swear, every comment I've heard about a new coaster at Knott's is about some huge B&M hyper or something. Why not look at something smaller, like a more compact Maverick, or even something like Wicked Twister. Maybe even an X-Coaster or a Eurofighter (we need one of those in So Cal too ). Trust me, there is room in the park, but its more about them having to rearrange and remove things, and I'm not even talking Ghost Town, I'm talking Boardwalk.

The coasters you should ride: Xcel Montezooma's Revenge Pony Express (Yes, get all three launchers ) Jaguar! Silver Bullet Ghostrider (if you don't like your body) Boomerang is very much skippable. Check out La Revolucion, Mine Ride, Log Ride, Supreme Scream, and even Hat Dance (our version of Teacups, and they go a helluva lot faster ) Is this in May, or April?

Awesome event! Bummed that we missed X2 both we went for it, but got to meet a lot of the people we all post with, and rode every ride in the park by the end... well, except Superman and X2 I cannot wait for Terminator Salvation: The Ride to go up! Even with his detailed description, I still cannot picture the station and the pre-show buildings and stuff.

Yes folks, Xcel was up... with people on it around midday today! So it should be open for the Solace tomorrow. It is only at a 1 train operation though, but hey, it's open

Sadly, I'm always a week behind on the Season Pass podcast So I'll probably end up meeting you at WCB before I hear the interview Should be interesting!

Become a ride op, have guests who are too short, too fat, or are just obnoxiously annoying, and then talk to me about stacking. I work Pony Express, and, due to how short the ride is, we have to stack. Makes it even worse when guests aren't following rules, etc.

This thing looks pretty cool! I'm used to seeing the Tatsu train and layout, so to see the lift out in the middle of nowhere is weird. And the trains seem uber long for a flier. Maybe it's the zero car doing that to me I look froward to seeing what the "splashdown" feature ends up being like. Ands heck, maybe one day I'll be able to get out there ride it

Wai, red train is the "newer" one with the black headrests Dang. Maybe the other one will finally be upgraded afterwards

^^What Rocket Rodder said. Us Ride Ops just show up to the ride, and run it. If it's acting differently, we just know to pay more attention. But it behaves differently because of whatever maintenance has done. EDIT- I've had several sources say that Xcel will be up by the Solace this weekend. Apparently, no one can say for certain, but there is a very high chance it will be up!

It was realy, really sick. Why was it sick? The hyrdaulic gods gave it dyrhea. Sadly, that is about all we can say. Cause I know G-Force likes his job too.

Of course I've seen Tigger and Pluto and Goofy too! Oh, and see Snoopy all the time

^The Solace is this weekend, the 20th and 21st.

I work at the park (not that ride), and so I can't say much. But there is a slight chance it will open. But only time will tell. In the meantime, you get a maintenance tour on my ride Yep, good ole Pony Express, the ride where you can see everything from the station

From little I can say, I can at least tell you it will be up very soon. Heck, if we cross our fingers, maybe the Solace