Intamin Track Style Switch Question

[Mochtroid]

Could you please give me a sideview or a description of how an Intamin track switches from its different rail configurations? I know that there are 3 kinds: 2rails for low-G areas and I believe stations, 3 rails for the high-stress areas, and 4 rails for the very high stress areas like the uphill sections and top-hat on accelerators. Once again, what does a switch from the configurations look like? This is a small curiosity of mine. Thanks in advance!

[jason10]

Basically, it changes instantly. I wondered this myself and when I saw how it did it in NoLimits, I was sure it was wrong as it didn't look right. But, then I saw that the track style really does change from one to the other instantly without a transition other than two rails leading into the next track type. Take a look at this picture as it explains it better.

 

I hope this answers your question!

As you can see, two rails leading from the bi-rail to the tri-rail is all that happens!

[Eric_Smith]

I circled another way that Intamin also transitions from 3-Rail to 4-Rail.

 

I know there is a better picture out there, I just can't seem to find it at the moment.

Credit - Coastergallery.com

[Mochtroid]

That isn't what I expected; I expected the rails splitting off from eachother. Well, if all the Intamins in the world are still standing with this support method it works. Thank you!

[Carnage]

From what I understand the 4-rail box track is more used for areas where the track needs to have longer spacing between support collumns. ie you tend to see 4-rail track on longer hills,etc where there is a long space between support collumns.

[hyyyper]

Strenght has little to do with it, as long as you support it properly. It's not that 2-rail track will break down if a train goes over it pulling 5 G's. The reason why Intamin uses different styles is because they can save money that way.

 

4-rails in the strongest, but also the most expensive. So if you need to build really high support on a hill, and you use the box-track, you'll need fewer supports, because the track is that strong. And because high supports cost the most, you'll save money because you need fewer of those.

 

If you're low to the ground, small supports don't cost as much and you use 2-rail, because the cheap track prize compensates for the many supports.

[BuschSchoe]

I've been wondering this for awhile too... thanks for sharing.

[Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess]

I thought it was just for asthetic reasons or strength reasons at first... Anyone else thought that? Especially the asthetic one.

[ebl]

One interesting note is that this type of track is also used on the Schwarzkopf-designed Shock Wave (SFOT) and Mindbenber (SFOG) rides. I believe those are the only two Schwarzkopf rides to use that track. But if you look at the track, supports are placed rather far apart; the track serves not only to guide the train, but acts as an additional support structure as well.

 

In a way, given the terrain at SFMM, I'm surprised that it didn't use that track style, but it was built in 1976---before the other two rides were.

 

Eric

[themeparkman25]

Thanks for asking this question! Ive been asking myself that same exact question for some time now and its great to finally have an answer!