Six Flags Fiesta Texas (SFFT) Discussion Thread

[UrbanLegend]

When I first glanced at the picture I thought that the shadow from the lift hill was actually more coaster track.

But then I realized that I'm an idiot.

[A.J.]

This new hybrid coaster uses Iron Horse steel track on the wooden superstructure...

Really? Really? Six Flags messes it up on their own marketing too?!?

 

Is going to www.rockymtnconstruction.com and looking straight on the front page really that difficult?

 

This is beginning to frustrate me more than my never-dying "Wing Coasters are two credits" argument...

[jray21]

Glad to finally see the graphic as well! Really looks like a great layout. I'm so glad that terrible never ending boring helix at the top is gone.

[GayCoasterGuy]

This new hybrid coaster uses Iron Horse steel track on the wooden superstructure...

Really? Really? Six Flags messes it up on their own marketing too?!?

 

They kinda sorta get kudos for using the word "hybrid" before any of us have really discussed the hybrid category. You know, steel, wood, hybrid. To most of us, it's clearly a steel coaster.

 

El Toro, on the other hand, is a hybrid with it's large steel track joints and nylon wheels (Just stirring the pot a bit; we're all here to have fun.) To me, it's getting to the point of "if it makes it a good ride - it doesn't matter what we call it." Are the topper tracked coasters like Outlaw Run hybrid? It's more of a woodie, but...

 

American Eagle was the first real hybrid I knew of. It was the first woodie to get metal I-beams (from half way down the first drop to the top of the big helix). Colossus then had them put on all over - along with some other steel weirdness. Texas Giant was built with I-beams on the first drop.

 

Is going to www.rockymtnconstruction.com and looking straight on the front page really that difficult?

 

^I think I might be missing your point here...

 

This is beginning to frustrate me more than my never-dying "Wing Coasters are two credits" argument...

 

Geez, are people really doing that? Anyone remember when Intamin first generation free falls were being counted as coaster credits? I had a funny thought recently... The Wonder Wheel has those cars that ride on a track - so aren't those each a different coaster? So Wonder Wheel has 16 different credits available! And a Zipper is one long coaster train with free spinning 4D cars - so there is another credit! (I'm not being serious, just having fun.) The only person that really cares how many coasters I have ridden is me. And maybe my mom And my friends who don't know anything about coasters.

[A.J.]

It flew right over your head, dude.

 

Everyone calls the steel track that Texas Giant and Rattler use "Iron Horse", when Rocky Mountain calls it "I-Box" on their website and in their marketing material, and for that reason it drives me crazy whenever someone says "iron horse". Kind of like how people call B&M Wing Coasters "wing riders".

 

I could care less about the hybrid coaster debate. I have less-important things to argue about!

[GayCoasterGuy]

I still don't get it, but it doesn't matter.

 

What does it matter what they call the RM track steel I-beams, iron horse, metal, iron, kinda shaped like a woodie but made of steel track? No one cares. Except a few coaster nerds.

[boardwalkbullet91507]

I just call it "the-steel-track-that-replaced-the-wood-track" because I'm the only coaster do attic in my family, and if I ever user the word I-box, they would think I was referring to a calculator, or an 'idiot box'.

 

I've heard both ways, the official term is I-box, but the slang term I guess you could say is iron horse, and I could have sworn that I've heard it said with some interviews with RMC. As for wingrides... Um, no. Wing Coaster.

[WFChris]

Whatever it is, I think it looks like an awesome ride experience...I really think these new coasters are going to blow people away.

Edited January 29, 2013 by WFChris

[australianalex]

Where did the Iron Horse term originate then out of curiosity?

Also, I only recently learned that B&M uses the term "Wing Coaster" and that "Wingrider" is an Intamin term. Gonna take me a while to stop saying wingrider.

[netdvn]

"Iron Horse" was the original name of the iBox track. At least that's what I remember in some of those older IAAPA interviews and from press releases, info, etc when Texas Giant was being converted.

 

You could say its sorta like a project codename (kinda like what software companies use for future projects).

[ernierocker]

Iron Horse sounds cooler. Sounds like an 80's metal hair band.

[GayCoasterGuy]

Iron Horse sounds cooler. Sounds like an 80's metal hair band.

 

Anvil brings you the new Iron Maiden track system.

[mark549]

I like how the headline says "ultra smooth." The Rattler must have been well named (and not inspired by snakes). I cannot remember seeing an ad for a coaster that prominently highlighted it is "smooth" -- the old version must really have been bad. (I haven't been to SFFT.)

 

Have you been on NTAG? After my first ride on it, my first words were "that was so smooth". The iron horse treatment will make it very smooth compared to the old ride. So I don't blame them for advertising that it will be smooth.

 

 

 

 

No, the only Rocky Mountain ride I've ridden is Tremors, at Silverwood. RMC has topper track on the curvy parts (the big spiral plus the turn around at the far side). It's like a small version of Voyage with the tunnels. It's smooth and intense. I think RMC originally built Tremors (they are practically next door to Silverwood) but they didn't do the design work. The only way I could tell the transition between regular and topper track was to watch from the front seat, carefully.

[aLFREd_25]

In my opinion, the "Iron Horse" treatment, or whatever you want to call it, takes away the aspects of the wooden coaster, minus the support structure. It's really not too much different than riding a completely steel coaster. With that being said, it is an awesome ride experience. I never got to experience the original Texas Giant, but new NTAG is AMAZING. I was really excited to see The Rattler getting this treatment. It's going to be a beast of a ride...or serpent, Whichever.

[ernierocker]

^But that is exactly the idea. Take a wooden coaster that is rough and boring, and pretty much outlived it's useful life, and replace it with amazing new coaster experience. I don't see how this is not a Win-Win for everyone.

[aLFREd_25]

^But that is exactly the idea. Take a wooden coaster that is rough and boring, and pretty much outlived it's useful life, and replace it with amazing new coaster experience. I don't see how this is not a Win-Win for everyone.

 

Reading my post, I should have worded it differently. I agree with you 100%, It's an ingenious idea. Huge win the parks, designers, public!

[historyfreak92]

Well, I think that it's a good thing that Rattler is getting better! Back then when I rode The Rattler in 2000, some parts were really slow, but I didn't hate it at all! But trust me this will be great when it opens, also The New Texas Giant is Super Texas Awesome!

[acq10uaz]

Really? Really? Six Flags messes it up on their own marketing too?!? Is going to www.rockymtnconstruction.com and looking straight on the front page really that difficult?

[jray21]

^Good to know!

 

I'm all for them doing these makeovers. Probably ends up being cheaper, and you get a much better version than the original!

[A.J.]

There really isn't a debate to be had because the exact name of the track system is trivial and unimportant in the long run and I'm just looking for unimportant things to complain about, but I appreciate you going out and getting the information from Rocky Mountain themselves.

 

Which brings me to something else I don't remember correctly - Iron Rattler - Gerstlauer or Rocky Mountain trains?

[3Mutts]

^ In the video a couple pages back it said that the Iron Rattler would be using trains from Gerstlauer just like NTAG but without the windows.

[boardwalkbullet91507]

Oh, I am so excited for those Gerstlauer trains. The ones on NTAG are so comfortable, and the ones on Iron Rattler will be roomy too! And plus, that rattler head on the front looks awesome.

[acq10uaz]

There really isn't a debate to be had because the exact name of the track system is trivial.

It's been something I've been meaning to ask. Other forums have debated it heavily and your post reminded me to end it once and for all by asking RMC.

[jzoole]

The only person that really cares how many coasters I have ridden is me. And maybe my mom And my friends who don't know anything about coasters.

 

This

[ArizonaGuy]

So yeh anyways..... Uhmmm any new pictures???