robbalvey Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Hey everyone! To follow up from our report from a couple of weeks ago, Theme Park Review was invited today to come take an up close look at X2's new trains. Since I know you guys are here to drool over the photos and watch the video over and over, I'm not going to type that much. The following photos and video were shot today in the transfer shed of X2. So far 2 rows of cars have been delivered. The paint job or the "X change operation" is nearing completion and the park is anticipating a Spring 2008 re-opening. Check out both the photos and video below for a more in-depth explanation of many changes that were made to the trains. Enjoy! --Robb EDIT! TPR Members! Now you can download the high res versions of these photos along with a DVD Image of the video in our Members Only forum: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=7 Yup. When it opens it's going to launch at 85MPH! Didn't you hear about that part? Ok, ok, I'm just kidding! Hopefully we'll see a lot of TPR members at the ride's opening in the Spring! Special thanks to Tim and Neal for putting up with me today! Master! The X Change Operation is almost complete! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Ok, I lied...there is a SMIDGEN of pink! (Dude, I can't believe it...I hit spell check and I actually spelled 'smidgen' correctly!) Look ma! No more pink! So there they are...the new X2 trains. Excited? You better be! New train.....old train! Ok, ok...we ALSO have a photo for you trash bag enthusiasts out there!!! Yay!!! Here some steel! Wasn't that fun? Here's some bolts. Personally, I never really thought they looked THAT much like an "X" anyway. And hey, if it helps make the ride smoother, that's great! I for one aren't looking at the fiberglass parts while I'm riding anyway. And because I know you're all facinated with bolts and steel, next up is the "bolts and steel" portion of the update. Gone are the fiberglass "X" coverings in another effort to cut back on the weight of the train. The "Elephant Ear" on the old train. (Any one else getting hungry reading through this report???) As Tim explains in the video, the only piece that is currently missing is the "Elephant Ear" (which is not just a tasty fried dough treat, it's also the highly technical term of a protective piece that keeps your arm from becoming shredded beef!) You can see here where many changes were made to help lighten up the trains. All those holes used to be solid on the old trains. ..rather than jumping up and down on pedals that never seemed to work quite right on the old trains. This should make any load/unload issues in the station quicker to help increase capacity. The manual restraints will now open and close pneumatically by the push of a button... ...Whereas on the old trains there were a lot more welds and bolts that held it together. The wheels...while yes they are still round...note that the assembly is one solid piece on the new train... ...that used to be solid steel on the old trains. In fact reducing weight was a primary goal for the new trains. You'll see holes punched into the steel framework on the new trains... The new "Pickle Spoon" is one giant piece, and while lighter than the old pickle fork, should be more stable and make for a smoother ride. Here you can see the old "Pickle Forks" that the seats rest on... So Tim Burkhart, SFMM General Manager explained that one of the main differences was converting the old "Pickle Forks" into "Pickle Spoons." (The actual technical term. We're not making this up! Someone went through YEARS of engineering school for this so please don't make fun of their names!) Oh. *blush* I see. There really IS a train under there! Wait a second! That's a trash bag with a wheel sticking out! You can't fool me!!! Well, we were promised a look at the X2 trains, so let's follow the new signs to the ride! If you look REAL close, you can still see some yellow left. From outside the park you can see that almost all the track is now red. The "X Change Operation" which will take X from being girly pink & yellow to manly red & black is almost done! x2_trains.zip x2_trains.wmv SFMM's Tim Burkhart explains all the new hottness of X2's trains! (downloadable version of this video is below) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRACHEN_FIRE_FAN-BOY Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 you think they will still have that cool chameleon paint thing for the new "elephant ears" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 BUT THE PROMO ART SHOWED FIBERGLASS PIECES!!! HOW COULD SIX FLAGS LIE TO US??!?! Seriously though, the trains are looking great! I was thinking the other day how much higher I'd rank X if it was consistently smooth and running kick ass, now it looks like its close to reality. Yeah the trains are a little more industrial, but I don't care what they look like, as long as they are making X a better ride. Plus this will definitely make the internet know-it-alls shut the hell up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFNEFan123 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Those new trains are very sexy! It's awesome that the modifications of the trains will give X a smoother ride. EDIT: X2 a smoother ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 ^^Sadly, as I'm sure you know, internet know-it-alls never shut the hell up, no matter how much evidence is shown to them. Trains look cool. Curious to see how the ride runs when it opens back up. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Peck Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Someone over at C-Buzz mentioned that all those holes may make for interesting dynamics, I take it all that engineeering has been worked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 Someone over at C-Buzz mentioned that all those holes may make for interesting dynamics, I take it all that engineeering has been worked out. We all know that everyong at C-Buzz thinks they are the "internet know-it-alls!" Yes, I'm sure they have worked out the engineering over the many years they have spent working on the new trains. Either that or Tim is right now on the other side of the screen smacking his head "DOH!!! We didn't even think about that!" --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCFreak Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 OOO mabye it'll whistle! On board sound after all? Awesome update and I can't wait to ride X2! (I was a huge fan of X even in it's "rough" state) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Thrill Dragster Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 The trains look great! Will the part of the butter fly restraints, that makes contact with your shoulders have extra padding? Thats one BIG complaint that I have always had with X, after a few rides my shoulders would be bruised or VERY sore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WFChris Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Drachen Fire Fan Boy, According to what the Picture Set said, they are doing away with the whole X fin fiberglass thing anyway, so to answer your question about the chameleon paint scheme, I guess it would be 'no' as there will be nowhere to put it Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65skylark Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 ^^^ Same here, Hector. I have always liked X and this should make it even that much better. I am really excited about all the changes taking place at SFMM. Looking forward to my next visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jhcbiinoc Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Thanks for the update/pics/video! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
24 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 *drools on keyboard* Imagine how long the line is going to be when it opens. Lets see if it can beat old X's 7 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darklingscribe Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Looking good. I personally think the new industrial looking trains fit X(2)'s military theming much better than the original trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterlover420 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 ^^I certainly hope that the capacity goes up with this change. Didn't someone say something about changing the station configuration too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonkeyBreath Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Thanks for the update, that bloodly red paint job is seriously kick ass. The trains look to me like the trains the ride should have opened with in the first place, beefy, industrial, naked cold steel, imtimidating alien looking monsters. I can't wait to try these new monsters out P.S. Rob ,Elissa please please please try to drop as many sutlte INTAMIN hints as you can. I don't care if the next coaster is 10 years off I want intamin drilled into there heads lol el toro el toro, T express, T express, Piraten super sized. Intamin gyro swings, gryo towers, mega flats, intamin also has dark/sim rides turn this into an intamin park and they'll have to fight the customers off lol... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manic Monte Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 ^ LOL! I was waiting for the Intamin thing to come up. HAHA Anyway thanks Robb, that was great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterking2981 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 LOVE THE NEW TRAINS AND TRACK!! Thanks for the update. Can u get in a pic of the new tunnel? man X2 looks great. good move on repainting the tracks and supports and adding new stuff on SFMM's part. Now if they could just add more flat rides, dark rides, or other non-roller coaster rides, and then they'll have a perfect balance of family and thrill rides. I also hope they'll update Collosus-make it less rough but maintain what makes it a classic wooden coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Six Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 ^ Remember no physical work has been done involving any sort of tunnels yet. -Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xingfu Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 hmm new toys are nice. splat! oops one more kink to work out but good times, good times. looking forward to see how the tunnels fair out but regardless smoother is better. no not that im talk bout the ride. sheesh its like im playing with a monkey... cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 TPR Members! Now you can download the high res versions of these photos along with a DVD Image of the video in our Members Only forum: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PURE Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Drachen Fire Fan Boy, According to what the Picture Set said, they are doing away with the whole X fin fiberglass thing anyway, so to answer your question about the chameleon paint scheme, I guess it would be 'no' as there will be nowhere to put it Chris. If you watch the video Tim says one thing very clearly. "The train as you see it is missing one piece of plastic that is not installed right now and its what we call the elephant ear...so you can't get your hands into anything that might pinch them." There will be no coverings over the rack and pinion like the original (the parts that said Magic Mountain), but from what it sounds like there will be a cover over the X gear rod (the piece sticking up with the teeth on them). So, I wonder what they'll look like? I vote camouflage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montezooma Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Robb- You mentioned in one of your photo captions: "So Tim Burkhart, SFMM General Manager explained that one of the main differences was converting the old "Pickle Forks" into "Pickle Spoons." (The actual technical term. We're not making this up! Someone went through YEARS of engineering school for this so please don't make fun of their names!)" Is Tim Burkhart now the General Manager? (Tim used to be my area supervisor when I worked on the Sarajevo Bobsleds.) I thought it was Jay Thomas? Has there been a change, is this a mistake or have I been under the wrong assumption the whole time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théo the little french Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Thanks Robb for your report! It was very interesting and you explained very well (even to me it was quite easy to understand). That's really amasing to see all the things the have made to loose weight! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZipityDoDog Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 After watching, my impression was only the elephant ear (the piece of fiberglass between the inside seat and the train) was going installed. I did not hear anything about covering the gear rod. Maybe a cover might be added after they see how the train handles the elements. But, I think it has been said before...I am sure MM has taken all of this into consideration. But, I am definitely looking forward the new X2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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