Cedar Point (CP) Discussion Thread

[thrillrider]

We have vertical construction!

[DirkFunk]

I get what you're saying but I disagree. Slowing down any thing is going to decrease the intensity along with frequency. If you were to drive over a speed bump at 5 mph verses 25 mph, which is going to be more intense?

 

If you're traveling fast enough and you get to a small pothole, what happens? If you've spent enough time driving, you know that the forward motion of the car is such that you'll basically pass right over the hole with minimal vibration. With a coaster, this can be the case. Mean Streak doesn't always run on wheels that are down on the track, and when the block is off, you'll find the train sometimes riding on the under or side wheels to match the track curvature. If the train isn't going fast enough, sometimes it hits those and it ends up bouncing going uphill or through turns.

 

The smoothest rides I've ever had on Mean Streak in the last 5 years were with no block because it hits the track the way it is supposed to. Whenever the block is on, it is totally unrideable.

[King]

That all depends on the size of the pot hole, so yes and no depending. And if there's a long run of pot holes that causes all four wheels to be on varying uneven surfaces at the same time, what happens? What you're saying about riding on the up stop wheels defies the laws of gravity. The only time the train would do that is during negative g moments which won't happen going uphill...Well...perhaps...if roller coasters had wings to create lift , but even then the transition from forward motion to vertical motion would create a positive g forcing the main wheels onto the track.

[DirkFunk]

That all depends on the size of the pot hole, so yes and no depending. And if there's a long run of pot holes that causes all four wheels to be on varying uneven surfaces at the same time, what happens? What you're saying about riding on the up stop wheels defies the laws of gravity. The only time the train would do that is during negative g moments which won't happen going uphill

 

It will ride on underwheels as long as the forces on the train are trying to move it up against gravitational force. This can happen on a flat surface or a parabolic one depending on how the fast the train approaches it going uphill. Additionally, you'll see trains that primarily end up running on side wheels depending on the surface. It is my understanding that many of the changes made to Voyage since opening year were to make those sorts of transitions move more fluidly by reducing stress points on the ride. My belief is that a lot of this has been done to MS, but that the manner in which it is operated negates those gains.

 

There's a much, much better description of what I'm saying that was done by Dave Altoff and can be found with a fairly quick google search. He's fairly well educated on the topic and is a certified ride inspector. But basically the argument that "trims will save maintenance cost" is largely theoretical and flawed.

[Philrad71]

Took a few pictures from this weekend. The park was packed, and we did not really ride much. Construction seems to coming along on valravin, and I was able to get a few pictures of it.

 

Even Friday night was packed? That's unusual, but I wondered that being Columbus Day weekend and all...

[thrillrider]

Took a few pictures from this weekend. The park was packed, and we did not really ride much. Construction seems to coming along on valravin, and I was able to get a few pictures of it.

 

Even Friday night was packed? That's unusual, but I wondered that being Columbus Day weekend and all...

 

Friday was not too bad. Millennium had a 15-20 min wait.

[Philrad71]

^Oh, that's not bad at all!

 

That's why we prefer just going to the park on Friday night & skipping Saturday's altogether for Halloweekends. In six hours, we can usually ride all of the coasters and thrill rides (sometimes more than once), whereas I would be lucky to ride four of them on a Saturday (unless we bought Fast Lane Plus). As long as we don't do the haunts, lines are mostly non-existent.

 

Still holding out hope for this Friday although temps are supposed to be quite chilly. Will have to monitor to check temps, rain percentage and wind conditions.

[thrillrider]

This weekend looks dry but cool. We are hitting Kings Island this weekend though.

[Philrad71]

^ It's supposed to be 41 with a chance of showers here...we need to get out of town!

[OnPointTony]

We have vertical construction!

 

Hello! I know y'all are excited, but please help us out and credit the source of your photos, especially when the park is closed. It helps maintain the integrity of the sources of information. Thanks, and more photos to come!

[LiftThrill]

if roller coasters had wings to create lift

 

That would be awesome.

[Password121]

We have vertical construction!

 

Hello! I know y'all are excited, but please help us out and credit the source of your photos, especially when the park is closed. It helps maintain the integrity of the sources of information. Thanks, and more photos to come!

Tony I just have to say I absolutely love what you do for the enthusiasts. It would be even more amazing if you posted on here regularly

 

As for vertical construction, I imagine they're looking to get as much done before the harsh winter sets in. I think this project is way bigger than many of us are thinking--of course you have the worlds tallest, longest dive coaster, but the reconfiguring of the paths, new landscaping, new Marina gate, etc.

Oh, and that tunnel

[CP Maverick]

The Valravn project is easily matching the scope of the GateKeeper project. There is a very good chance they won't do anything with the entrance until March.

 

Thanks for sharing, Tony!

[King]

That all depends on the size of the pot hole, so yes and no depending. And if there's a long run of pot holes that causes all four wheels to be on varying uneven surfaces at the same time, what happens? What you're saying about riding on the up stop wheels defies the laws of gravity. The only time the train would do that is during negative g moments which won't happen going uphill

 

It will ride on underwheels as long as the forces on the train are trying to move it up against gravitational force. This can happen on a flat surface or a parabolic one depending on how the fast the train approaches it going uphill. Additionally, you'll see trains that primarily end up running on side wheels depending on the surface. It is my understanding that many of the changes made to Voyage since opening year were to make those sorts of transitions move more fluidly by reducing stress points on the ride. My belief is that a lot of this has been done to MS, but that the manner in which it is operated negates those gains.

 

There's a much, much better description of what I'm saying that was done by Dave Altoff and can be found with a fairly quick google search. He's fairly well educated on the topic and is a certified ride inspector. But basically the argument that "trims will save maintenance cost" is largely theoretical and flawed.

 

Maybe I'm a slight bit slow, but I don't think any coaster runs primarily on it's upstops or side frictions. The main wheels carry most of the load which is why they are the largest. The forces your talking about don't happen going uphill. It happens when the track direction changes and Newton's first law is applied creating positive, negative, or lateral gs or any combination of the three. The surface has nothing to do with it, especially since all coasters run on a steel surface.The only way to reduce stress on a structure/point is increasing support and/or decreasing the amount of force applied to that point, which is what trims are doing by slowing the train.

[scottm13]

That all depends on the size of the pot hole, so yes and no depending. And if there's a long run of pot holes that causes all four wheels to be on varying uneven surfaces at the same time, what happens? What you're saying about riding on the up stop wheels defies the laws of gravity. The only time the train would do that is during negative g moments which won't happen going uphill

 

It will ride on underwheels as long as the forces on the train are trying to move it up against gravitational force. This can happen on a flat surface or a parabolic one depending on how the fast the train approaches it going uphill. Additionally, you'll see trains that primarily end up running on side wheels depending on the surface. It is my understanding that many of the changes made to Voyage since opening year were to make those sorts of transitions move more fluidly by reducing stress points on the ride. My belief is that a lot of this has been done to MS, but that the manner in which it is operated negates those gains.

 

There's a much, much better description of what I'm saying that was done by Dave Altoff and can be found with a fairly quick google search. He's fairly well educated on the topic and is a certified ride inspector. But basically the argument that "trims will save maintenance cost" is largely theoretical and flawed.

 

Maybe I'm a slight bit slow, but I don't think any coaster runs primarily on it's upstops or side frictions. The main wheels carry most of the load which is why they are the largest. The forces your talking about don't happen going uphill. It happens when the track direction changes and Newton's first law is applied creating positive, negative, or lateral gs or any combination of the three. The surface has nothing to do with it, especially since all coasters run on a steel surface.The only way to reduce stress on a structure/point is increasing support and/or decreasing the amount of force applied to that point, which is what trims are doing by slowing the train.

Newton's First law is that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion. I'm not really sure what you're trying to say here. I think that instead of going off what you think, you should read the article that was posted and more about how physics actually works.

[ALT2870]

Was going to buy a 2016 platinum season pass, but will not to go to the park until May. Looked on their site and does not have a process by date anywhere I can find. Does anyone know if there is one?

[mpmbee]

Was going to buy a 2016 platinum season pass, but will not to go to the park until May. Looked on their site and does not have a process by date anywhere I can find. Does anyone know if there is one?

 

We didn't process ours till August this year at Kings Dominion so I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Coaster Hero]

We have vertical construction!

 

Hello! I know y'all are excited, but please help us out and credit the source of your photos, especially when the park is closed. It helps maintain the integrity of the sources of information. Thanks, and more photos to come!

 

Proof that upper management really do read the forums

[DoinItForTheFame]

I feel like there was so much "pothole" discussion that this got overlooked... Well... at least it did for me.

 

We have vertical construction!

 

Omg. Yay!!! Loving the colors so far.

[blk_mamba]

glad to see the ride is finally vertical, pun intended. lol

[boldikus]

We have vertical construction!

 

Hello! I know y'all are excited, but please help us out and credit the source of your photos, especially when the park is closed. It helps maintain the integrity of the sources of information. Thanks, and more photos to come!

Tony I just have to say I absolutely love what you do for the enthusiasts. It would be even more amazing if you posted on here regularly

 

[coasterkyle]

The first Pointcast on Valravn construction is now live

from Cedar Point's Youtube

[RandallDuell]

Excuse the silly question, but curious as to what occupied (if anything) the spot where the new coaster is going? Thanks.

[coasterkyle]

The location of the station and lift hill were occupied by Calypso (now located in front of Wicked Twister and called Tiki Twirl) and Turnpike Cars with was removed. The second half of the ride is where the Good Time Theater was located and Dodgem (now located adjacent to maXair.

[Superbatboy]

Be interesting to see where they fit the next coaster, they did a pretty creative job shifting things around for Valravn. It'll also be interesting to see if they go with B&M for the next one considering they have everything B&M offers except a flyer.