Redesigned trains in the works for X

[Scaparri]

^ Actually, with a lighter train, it'll mean slightly faster ride. Take Eejanaika for instance...its trains have less cars than X does, yet it maintains good speed due in part to lighter coaches. You'll also notice in a similar instance on Superman The Escape that if a car is launched with no riders, the car climbs up the tower coming close to the very top, as opposed to a fully loaded car, the car barely goes over 3/4 of the way up.

 

Yeah, that makes no sense whatsoever. As one person already pointed out, the S:TE argument doesn't apply because it's launched. It's easier to launch a lighter car, therefore it picks up a considerably higher speed.

 

Lighter cars on X will not make it faster. This could be a potential issue. A heavy train isn't going to be affected by wind resistance as much as a lighter train. Therefore, the heavier train will carry more momentum throughout the entire ride. A lighter train will be more affected by wind resistance, so if this is what they want, they'll need to get it so it's still heavy enough to carry momentum all the way through the ride.

 

This is why you see water dummies on lots of rides when they are testing, and why certain rides aren't dispatched unless they have a certain number of people in the train. Without that extra weight, the train won't have enough momentum to make it all the way around the circuit.

[Jhcbiinoc]

I think this is great news! I'm impressed, another good decision from SFMM. I have been a bit skeptical of Shapiro's direction with the company, and had my concerns about the new management, but it seems that in the case of SFMM they know what they're doing, and it also offers some evidence that in their pursuing a wider demographic that thrill seekers are not being forgotten. Improvements to the park and taking steps to make sure the star attractions are running at their best certainly makes a lot more sense than a new major addition would have for this or next season.

 

X is in my opinion potentially one of the biggest draws coaster wise that SFMM has (and in my opinion, one of the star attractions, if not the star attraction of the park) and if they were to have it in top condition and running to the best of its ability/capacity, it would drastically improve the park experience/reputation. Here's hoping they follow through on everything.

 

Between this, finally doing something about Psyclone and Flashback, possibly getting a Johnny Rockets (admittedly, it's not the best dining experience a park could have, but IMHO it's better than SFMM's current food offerings), a train type transport ride, and the as of yet unconfirmed rumor of landscaping the area around Scream, I think they are off to a heck of a start.

 

As much as I hope X stays open and consistently running two trains all season this year, I also would not mind if they took the time to get new trains in and possibly make modifications to the station (a lot of the breakdowns I have seen while in line for X has had to do with the mechanism that rotates the seats in the station, so they might do the dropping floor as well) and get it up and running to capacity and more smoothly. I also hope they opt for the padding for the lower part of the cars rather than the ankle restraints; part of why I love X is the minimalist yet very secure restraints.

 

I think if they were to get whatever necessary modifications to X made to eliminate downtime/excessive roughness and increase capacity while also making sure that the other 14 coasters are running to capacity, combined with the other improvements being made around the park, and working to balance the park to offer more for all members of the family, SFMM could make a huge turnaround. If they follow through on all of this stuff, then I don't care if it's another 4-5 years before they see another new coaster.

[Gav]

This is why you see water dummies on lots of rides when they are testing, and why certain rides aren't dispatched unless they have a certain number of people in the train. Without that extra weight, the train won't have enough momentum to make it all the way around the circuit.

 

So what happens when they are doing the morning checks on these coasters? Surely they dont have this huge stock of water dummies they have to physically lift into place every morning. Every coaster would be capable of running empty for this reason.

I think the reason parks wait for a minimum number of people is not to ensure it can make it through the circut, but merley to avoid running it excessivley with only a couple of people in it, instead waiting for a larger load, thus saving power and reducing unessesary wear and tear.

[Scaparri]

So what happens when they are doing the morning checks on these coasters? Surely they dont have this huge stock of water dummies they have to physically lift into place every morning. Every coaster would be capable of running empty for this reason.

I think the reason parks wait for a minimum number of people is not to ensure it can make it through the circut, but merley to avoid running it excessivley with only a couple of people in it, instead waiting for a larger load, thus saving power and reducing unessesary wear and tear.

 

Yep, they sure do. I did it almost everyday when I worked on MF at CP. Generally (but not always), maintenance would put them in for us over night and once we were done doing our morning testing, we had to rip them out right about the time the hotel and season pass holders got there. It was not a fun process. One morning we came dangerously close to valleying MF because we took them out too soon.

 

Yeah, some parks probably wait to fill their train for capacity, but I assure you, some parks do it because they have to.

[carolinacaniac]

I wonder if lowering the number of cars to 5 would really be a good idea or not. If you take out the other two cars, that is 8 people less per cycle. Over the span of an hour that could be a hundred or two more than with 5 cars. I know that it doesn't have a good capacity now as it is, but it may be possible that with only 5 cars, the capacity could sit about where it is now, unless the ride attendents picked it up a step.

[deano]

^ Your not wrong! the hours i've spent in X's queue, surely a reduced number of cars would only mean more hours in the sun waiting in line for the neck injury that is to follow a ride on X.

 

By the way, i am so confused now about whether or not heavier trains go faster/ carry more momentum/ have less wind resistance etc etc.

 

After hearing some of the intereresting points raised, i'm now leaning towards my initial thoughts that a lighter train will carry less momentum and travel at slower speeds.

[Tmcdllr]

To tilt the seats backward, a pneumatic system lifts or lowers the third and fourth rails on the track in the loading platform (the extra set of rails is what's responsible for spinning the seats)

 

Actually to be more precise, the inside (yellow) rails support the train, the outside (purple) rails are responsible for seat rotation. As seen here:

[speedracer]

I wonder if lowering the number of cars to 5 would really be a good idea or not. If you take out the other two cars, that is 8 people less per cycle. Over the span of an hour that could be a hundred or two more than with 5 cars.

 

Keep in mind X was always meant for 3 train operation, most likely they'll purchase 3 new trains which in theory would actually increase capacity (60 people on the ride at once vs. 56, or actually more like 28 since it seemed in the past they could only keep 1 of the problem plagued trains running a majority of the time). I say in theory because that would also require the attendents to hussle to avoid stacking instead of chatting on their cell phones.

[arrowfanman]

^ From what I have always heard, X really cant support 3 train operation, even though it was "designed" for it. Not only mechanically, due to the need to always have a train in refurb, but electronically--the ride control just crashes too frequently.

 

-Jahan

[GMAN962]

Quin Checketts of S&S Power (son of company founder, Stan) confirmed that Six Flags has approached S&S to redesign X's vehicles to make them lighter (like the trains in operation on Eejanaika) in hopes to increase operational efficiency.

Now, note that it has not been confirmed that they are getting new trains, just yet. While it is very possible, We'll have to wait and see for sure.

 

Anyway, I'd love to get new trains for X. Preferable ones just like Eejanika. I haven't ridden X, but anything that would make the ride smoother would be good.

 

-Mike

[kraxleRIDAH]

^ Sorry, I worded it wrong. It's a done deal. In the article, it says this:

 

After S&S bought Arrow, the combined company built another "fourth dimension" coaster. Eejanaika opened last year at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Japan. The ride is a new and improved version of X, with lighter trains and a smoother ride, Checketts said.

 

Meanwhile, Six Flags has hired S&S to redesign the trains on X, to lighten them and to limit down time, Checketts said.

 

--------------------------

 

To tilt the seats backward, a pneumatic system lifts or lowers the third and fourth rails on the track in the loading platform (the extra set of rails is what's responsible for spinning the seats)

 

Actually to be more precise, the inside (yellow) rails support the train, the outside (purple) rails are responsible for seat rotation. As seen here:

 

Uh. That's exactly what I meant. I'll assume you misinterpreted my post. The first and second rails are always stationary, like on every coaster operating right now. The third and fourth rails control the seat spins (no other coasters besides X and Eejanaika have third and fourth rails). However, in the unload and loading platforms, these set of extra rails are lowered or raised pneumatically to recline the seats or bring them upright.

[carolinacaniac]

I wonder if lowering the number of cars to 5 would really be a good idea or not. If you take out the other two cars, that is 8 people less per cycle. Over the span of an hour that could be a hundred or two more than with 5 cars.

 

Keep in mind X was always meant for 3 train operation, most likely they'll purchase 3 new trains which in theory would actually increase capacity (60 people on the ride at once vs. 56, or actually more like 28 since it seemed in the past they could only keep 1 of the problem plagued trains running a majority of the time). I say in theory because that would also require the attendents to hussle to avoid stacking instead of chatting on their cell phones.

 

I never knew it was ment for three train, I always thought it was two. I suppose your theory could be true though too because if there are less seats to check, then that could be a little quicker too. I still think though that if they were to do two train op it would be better to stick with the regular length they have had. Not to mention that if Momentum is as big a factor, lighter trains with less cars would have much less momentum

[Tmcdllr]

To tilt the seats backward, a pneumatic system lifts or lowers the third and fourth rails on the track in the loading platform (the extra set of rails is what's responsible for spinning the seats)

 

Actually to be more precise, the inside (yellow) rails support the train, the outside (purple) rails are responsible for seat rotation. As seen here:

 

Uh. That's exactly what I meant. I'll assume you misinterpreted my post. The first and second rails are always stationary, like on every coaster operating right now. The third and fourth rails control the seat spins (no other coasters besides X and Eejanaika have third and fourth rails). However, in the unload and loading platforms, these set of extra rails are lowered or raised pneumatically to recline the seats or bring them upright.

 

Your post was not misinterpreted, but saying 'third and fourth' rails can be confusing to some. But if you said inside or outside there is no confusion and the reader of the post would know exactly what you were talking about. That's all I was saying, I was just taking what you said and making it clear and concise and ANYONE who read my post then looked at the picture would know exactly what I was talking about.

[coasterjunkie91350]

I understand the whole thing dude heck i watched them build the thing on my lunch hours when i worked there my sup even took me up there to check it out before it was finished