B&M Pre-drop

[BDG]

Not to mention, it could make some hills have airtime that is too powerful. (Call in the trims as they would say!!!)

 

/sigh

 

I know. That's what I said. You can't (and nobody ever said that in this thread) modify a ride to have a higher drop withou altering the rest of the course.

If you want a higher drop, instead of a Batman, build an Alpengeist.

[raptorcrew2002]

I always thought that the pre-drop was there to stop the train if the train ahead of it didn't make it to the next set of brakes; you know, instead of having the train stopping on the lift hill causing wear and tear to the trains and lift hill. I don't know, maybe someone should mail B&M and ask them about it.

 

Typical blocks for standard coasters.

(Where the train can be stopped)

L - lift

B - block

M - main

T - transfer

S - station.

 

All chain lifts are blocks for the most part. Trains starting and stopping on a lift are not as stressful as you might think, depending on the design. Some older ones are kind of harsh.

 

BUT. Lift stopping a ride at base of lift could be a problem at startup. And can and very rarely will have a maintenance guy choosing a few choice words

Reason most lift stops occur right after the whole train has entered onto the lift.

 

I also have to ad my two cents into the jar for the remark of evac, and use of the pre drop. Once the train crests with the pre drop you can not evac rows 1, and or possibly 2. If row 3 is crested most likely the train should pull over, but it not the train is still to far to evac even the 3rd row, depending on actual resting position. “These things sometimes surprise you”

The cat walks are too low at this position on most B&M’s and would not be safe at all in getting guests off the ride. This one is from experience. Not happening safely without a cherry picker or pushing the train over crest while loaded.

[PURE]

From Wikipedia:

 

"One feature of Bolliger and Mabillard coasters that is almost universal throughout their product line, and almost exclusive to B&M, is an element known as a "pre-drop" (which is known in the industry as a "Kicker"). This is a short drop after the top of the lift hill and before the start of the first drop, designed to reduce tension on the lift chain. The flat section between the pre-drop and the first drop serves as a shelf to carry the weight of the train, reducing related stresses on the chain. By comparison, on most coasters without a pre-drop, the weight of the train as it begins its descent tends to pull on the lift chain, as the latter half of the train is still being lifted by the chain at this point. More recently, the pre-drop is only used on coasters with curved drops, where as coaster with straight drops, such as Goliath at Six Flags over Georgia, Hydra at Dorney Park, and Led Zeppelin: The Ride at Hard Rock Park do not have a pre-drop."

 

Click here for the entire page.

[kraxleRIDAH]

You are aware that Wikipedia is a user-written public encyclopedia right? Meaning ANYBODY can edit the articles at will.

[Billy Shears]

You are aware that Wikipedia is a user-written public encyclopedia right? Meaning ANYBODY can edit the articles at will.

 

You are aware Wikipedia is staffed by thousands of administrations and millions of people with no lives who will change the page as soon as any vandalism happens and any facts with no source will be tagged as such, right? Meaning ANYBODY can edit the articles with false information and get their edits removed immediately.

[kraxleRIDAH]

Yeah, I'm sure there are admins that will notice a theory posted as fact regarding B&M pre-drops and have that removed.