Gravity Group Announces "Timberliner" Trains

[DenDen]

I dunno, I think a launched woodie is a cool concept. Replacing a wood-hungry lift hill with a steel straight-away that launches you into the chaos that only a wood coaster brings would be quite exciting.

[CoasterComet]

I would hold my opinion until I get a ride on these suckers.

 

Look at the new Intamin trains (Superman, Millenium Force, etc.) The trains look cool, and those are great rides, etc. They feel very 'open' and you basically don't feel the track, wheels, etc. You feel like you are 'flying.'

 

Personally, I MUCH prefer a ride on the Mindbender or Shockwave. Like PTC's, they are basically a 'box' - but they feel like you are riding a ROLLERCOASTER... and you get REAL airtime, not just 'uplift' forces.

 

I think each ride has it's place. Comparing the new Intamins with the old isn't fair for now - they are totally different experiences. My worry is that we would get a new coaster like Mindbender (hope hope) but with the 'new' trains that limit the experience, IMO.

 

It's basically an exchange... you feel (and it looks) more 'free' but in reality you are more constrained...

 

And as for VIPER getting new trains at Great America - those trains are special - they have return springs to keep the lap bars up. Only that ride and the American Eagle are the only PTC trains I can think of that you actually have 'pull' the lapbar down - it doesn't come down during the ride.

 

Viper runs pretty damn hot - and has an INCREDIBLE 'Herbert P. Schmeck moment of torque seat' if you ask me I wouldn't touch it...

[hansa]

Just found out that a launched woodie was considered in the 1960's:

 

In the late 1960s, Allen proposed building a roller coaster at Dorney Park in Allentown, Pa. that would use a catapult system. Though the ride was never built, it foreshadowed today’s launch coasters.

 

 

I assume that PTC trains are also "launch ready"

 

gr. Hans /-//-\

[bspellx5]

 

And as for VIPER getting new trains at Great America - those trains are special - they have return springs to keep the lap bars up. Only that ride and the American Eagle are the only PTC trains I can think of that you actually have 'pull' the lapbar down - it doesn't come down during the ride.

 

Viper runs pretty damn hot - and has an INCREDIBLE 'Herbert P. Schmeck moment of torque seat' if you ask me I wouldn't touch it...

 

Im not quite sure what you meant, but if you mean you have to pull the lap bar down your self instead of the lap bars falling on you, then Cyclone at SFNE does that, Comet at TGE..the only coaster I've been on where they fall on you is Predator. Ew.

[DBru]

^Ever been on a GCI?

[CoasterComet]

 

And as for VIPER getting new trains at Great America - those trains are special - they have return springs to keep the lap bars up. Only that ride and the American Eagle are the only PTC trains I can think of that you actually have 'pull' the lapbar down - it doesn't come down during the ride.

 

Viper runs pretty damn hot - and has an INCREDIBLE 'Herbert P. Schmeck moment of torque seat' if you ask me I wouldn't touch it...

 

Im not quite sure what you meant, but if you mean you have to pull the lap bar down your self instead of the lap bars falling on you, then Cyclone at SFNE does that, Comet at TGE..the only coaster I've been on where they fall on you is Predator. Ew.

 

I'm pretty sure Viper has the only 'special' (in-house or special, one time PTC thing) shocks that keep the bars from falling down.

 

Here's a picture:

 

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=55285927&albumID=1340301&imageID=20360158

 

Most other PTC 'ratchet' bars have fallen down on me. Loose springs, etc., they seem to all fall. Even when Hades and Voyage were brand new, the bars (if you didn't hold them 'up') fell down. You would be 'pinned' by the end of the ride.

[bspellx5]

^Ever been on a GCI?

 

Yeah plenty, I was just reffering to PTC trains there.

[spaceace12]

Trains in Action.

 

http://www.holidayworld.com/holiblog/2009/04/train-of-different-color.html

 

[Quicksilver04440]

wow interesting, although I have mixed emotions about the new trains.

[netdvn]

I'm not a really big fan of the way the trains look. Especially compared to the GCI, PTC, and Intamin trains. They seem to look very Kiddie coaster-ish.

[Quicksilver04440]

exact same interpertation i had.. Ive been on GCI, PTC etc, with GCI Millenium Flyer trains being the favorite.. Idk about the timberliners.

[jmicha]

I think one of the biggest problems was that the train was very...cute due to its length. And the front car appeared to be missing, with just a set of wheels in its place. I have a feeling a full length train would look significantly better.

[linearinduction]

Looks like the Test Train was "Bare" with only the Chassis and Seats.

 

- Sid

[rawrtotheargh]

^ I agree. It would be nicer to see the whole entire train the way its meant to be seen. But I think it looked alright. I wouldn't say better than Intamin, PTC, or GCI trains but with light on it and the full set up it may look better.

[netdvn]

^ I really hope you're right about this.

 

I think GG should've gone the GCI route and based the design of their trains on an older type wooden coaster train or maybe modified the look of the PTC trains.

[ghost007jas]

Launch system capable?

 

I love you, Gravity Group!

[Quicksilver04440]

sure cant wait for that 205 foot WOODEN 157 foot launch coaster 0-82 mph in 2.3 seconds.

[robbalvey]

I'm not a really big fan of the way the trains look. Especially compared to the GCI, PTC, and Intamin trains. They seem to look very Kiddie coaster-ish.

Keep in mind, I'm assuming this is also a prototype version. You never know the look of the trains may change by the time they go into production.

 

And really...does it matter THAT much what the trains look like as long as they ride good?

 

If a new train turned a POS coaster into something kick ass, they could look ilke cardboard boxes with flowers on them as far as I care.

 

--Robb

[coastermoosh]

Considering the train was only a few rows long and the weather was most likely still pretty cold it looks to me like that little train is hightailing it around Raven. I can only imagine how a full-length train in warmer weather would perform!

[Worra315]

Trains in Action.

 

http://www.holidayworld.com/holiblog/2009/04/train-of-different-color.html

 

 

That was, by far, the craziest sound I've EVER heard come from a wooden coaster.

 

:EDIT: As far as the look of the trains go, can't really judge that seeing that it's not the final design. IMO I don't think that any coaster train can compete with Millennium Flyers or Intamin trains.

[John Peck]

I haven't been following this thread, but it's pretty cool they they got to do a test run on the Raven.

 

It will be neat to see how these trains act as far as maintenance, because I know those PTC's are pretty brutal on the track.

[ebl]

There's nothing wrong with coaster manufacturers having a new choice in trains. Millennium Flyers are good trains; perhaps these will be as well.

 

Sometime back, I remember seeing a picture of a prototype single-bench PTC car, most likely taken at a trade show.

 

About the look of these Timberliners...I'm sure this was a prototype and the real thing will look far better.

 

Eric

[Tbcoasterfan]

Oh man that thing was cruising! I'm most excited about the launch capabilities and the alleged ability to absorb some of the roughness. Let's get a few of these on Son of Beast pronto as that coaster kicks my @$$!

[ScoastinGS]

I don't know if anything can help Son of Beast. They have already changed the trains and took the loop out.

[traincrossin]

A couple more pics can be found over at Gravitycast

http://thegravitygroup.com/gravitycast/index.php

 

As for the trains, I really can't say much about them. The Gravity Group is saying they are WAY better than any other coaster train out there, so we'll just have to wait to see which coaster will be the first to get them. And as Robb said, the look of the trains doesn't really matter as long as it rides well.