Six Flags Great America (SFGAm) Discussion Thread

[ilrider]

^^^DVR is set. Thanks, Marcus!

[glouthan]

Just watched the episode. The park seems very confident about May 29th.

[coasterbill]

Just watched the episode. The park seems very confident about May 29th.

 

There is no way in hell this ride will be open on May 29th. That's only 2 weeks away and track work isn't even finished yet. They still need to install the barrel roll and the top of the lift (and possibly more track not visible on the webcam, though it does seem pretty much complete besides those elements) and finish installing al of the electrical components and the queue line and have time to test the ride (which is a pretty innovative ride so it will probably require a decent amount of testing).

 

I don't want to sound pessimistic, the ride looks amazing and I can't wait to ride it... but there's no way this ride will be ready in 2 weeks.

 

Edit: And I know you never claimed it would be, you're just stating that the park is very confident about it.

[Goooose]

Unless most of that work has been completed already and we are just waiting on the track, the chain lift, and the electrical on that unfinished lift structure. Popping the track into place is the easiest and quickest process in this construction site. Its all lined up ready to go and they can install several hundred feet of track a day. Getting everything else ready is what takes longer. Theyve already done work on the break run, the station, the transfer track, and they can load trains into the station whenever. Six flags Great America likes to pour cement for queue lines and finish landscaping the day before. I grew up in gurnee since 2000 and I remember being at v2's opening, superman's, and hurricane harbor's and it is always the case.

[Diamondbacker27]

Just watched the episode. The park seems very confident about May 29th.

 

There is no way in hell this ride will be open on May 29th. That's only 2 weeks away and track work isn't even finished yet. They still need to install the barrel roll and the top of the lift (and possibly more track not visible on the webcam, though it does seem pretty much complete besides those elements) and finish installing al of the electrical components and the queue line and have time to test the ride (which is a pretty innovative ride so it will probably require a decent amount of testing).

 

I don't want to sound pessimistic, the ride looks amazing and I can't wait to ride it... but there's no way this ride will be ready in 2 weeks.

 

Edit: And I know you never claimed it would be, you're just stating that the park is very confident about it.

Not only that. The ride hasn't been over seen by the state. Weeks of testing haven't been put in. Electrical work still needs done. IMO it won't be done then..

[BDG]

Could someone maybe photoshop the rest of the lift on to the instagram photo? For a good perspective on what the complete lift will look like?

[thefatman22]

They have been working on the electrical for the last 2 weeks it not like they have to dig anymore for all we could know the electrical could be done already. Don't jump to conclusion thinking they don't have certain things done they could have them done and we just done (expect the obvious Topping of the hill and track, and the track for the Zero G stall).

[thefatman22]

Just checked the webcam they are installing ore of the lift hill right now

[Diamondbacker27]

Could someone maybe photoshop the rest of the lift on to the instagram photo? For a good perspective on what the complete lift will look like?

Very nice photo shops!

[Goooose]

Holy smokes, BDG. You are everything.

It looks like we will see the real thing by end of day today! Just one piece to go!

[Goooose]

WGN morning news report with Marcus Leshock! http://morningnews.wgntv.com/2014/05/14/construction-tour-of-new-coaster-goliath-at-great-america/

[B&MGuy35]

After years of just reading....finally decided to join up and log in!

I can not wait for the 29th!

[supkarma]

I'd say it's still possible to finish by the 29th...

 

That's not to say it'll be easy... but very possible.

 

I would be very surprised if they have not already installed the majority of the electrical components. The operations of the ride are not that far off from others.. simple block system. It's no 6 train Maverick.

 

I also don't know that it takes weeks of testing... I suppose that there is some sort of minimum of successful runs, but once it gets cleared by the state it's good to go.

 

If i remember right, when I worked at CP we had state clearing rides on the morning of opening day in 2007!

[Goooose]

When the park set the may 29th date, Im sure they scheduled a visit for state inspectors on or around the 28th. Whether or not they are a few days behind schedule doesnt matter as long as that appointment is scheduled and they do tue necessary number or runs/hours of runs beforehand.

[DJeXeL]

^^Believe or not, a lot of parks are getting state approvals and work done on a ride just before and during its opening day. I've opened a ride where the state was signing off on the ride as the park was opening! HaHa

[Goooose]

Theyre moving those boards up from where they attached the drop yesterday so that the crew up there will have somewhere to stand while the fasten the structure together. Should be any minute now. Certianly by 5 theyll top it off.

[jmfoxfire]

i had a dream today about Goliath.

when they finish the track it all crumbled down like a domino effect it was a big mess i don't know why i dreamed about that

[prozach626]

Wow. I wasn't aware there were so many construction supervisors and engineers on this site to let us all know the coaster won't be finished on time....

[Goooose]

Wow. I wasn't aware there were so many construction supervisors and engineers on this site to let us all know the coaster won't be finished on time....

 

And to let us know that it WILL be finished on time. Myself included.

[coasterbill]

Wow. I wasn't aware there were so many construction supervisors and engineers on this site to let us all know the coaster won't be finished on time....

 

I normally agree with this sentiment when people post things about safety or structural integrity of a ride but I don't think there's anything wrong with coming to the reasonable conclusion that a record breaking permanent coaster can't go from the state it's in now (the lift hill isn't done, most of the first drop isn't there and the signature barrel roll element isn't there) to being open with riders in 2 weeks.

 

It's sister coaster (Outlaw Run) started testing around February 9th and didn't open until March 15th. This ride isn't even at that point yet because it doesn't have a lift hill, first drop or barrel roll. Is it possible that Outlaw Run was just built quickly and they had a lot of extra time to test it? Of course. Was Outlaw run more of a prototype than Goliath? Yes. Can they shorten the testing phase? I'm no expert on that, but my gut says probably.. but even if they cut it in half it still wouldn't be open on time, and that's even if all of the track work was done today and it's not.

[anewman35]

Just looking at the situation, it doesn't look likely. HOWEVER, the park (which, unlike us, knows the schedule) seems really confident that it'll open on time. They're either right or just really incompetent. I'm hoping they're right.

[DanTheBooker]

Wow. I wasn't aware there were so many construction supervisors and engineers on this site to let us all know the coaster won't be finished on time....

 

I normally agree with this sentiment when people post things about safety or structural integrity of a ride but I don't think there's anything wrong with coming to the reasonable conclusion that a record breaking permanent coaster can't go from the state it's in now (the lift hill isn't done, most of the first drop isn't there and the signature barrel roll element isn't there) to being open with riders in 2 weeks.

 

We've all seen coasters progress greatly in just a day. I think this thing could be completely tracked by the weekend. Testing mid week next week. A week or so of testing... This is assuming they have everything done. It's safe to assume that trains will be put on any day now,if they haven't been already But I think we would have seen that. Unless I missed it. The chain could be coiled at the bottom and ready to be fed up. The sensors, brakes, etc could all be done and all that's left is the grunt work of topping off and finishing track work. I think the park would have already announced that this coaster won't be ready by medi day if they thought that was the case. They'd want to give members of the press ample time to not only cancel their travel arrangements but also to reschedule for a new date. The fact that they haven't, makes me believe this coaster is still on schedule to open as originally scheduled.

 

"Believe in Fred and Hank"

[yay101]

i had a dream today about Goliath.

when they finish the track it all crumbled down like a domino effect it was a big mess i don't know why i dreamed about that

 

DON'T JINX IT!

[Rollercoaster Rider]

Wow. I wasn't aware there were so many construction supervisors and engineers on this site to let us all know the coaster won't be finished on time....

 

I normally agree with this sentiment when people post things about safety or structural integrity of a ride but I don't think there's anything wrong with coming to the reasonable conclusion that a record breaking permanent coaster can't go from the state it's in now (the lift hill isn't done, most of the first drop isn't there and the signature barrel roll element isn't there) to being open with riders in 2 weeks.

 

We've all seen coasters progress greatly in just a day. I think this thing could be completely tracked by the weekend. Testing mid week next week. A week or so of testing... This is assuming they have everything done. It's safe to assume that trains will be put on any day now,if they haven't been already But I think we would have seen that. Unless I missed it. The chain could be coiled at the bottom and ready to be fed up. The sensors, brakes, etc could all be done and all that's left is the grunt work of topping off and finishing track work. I think the park would have already announced that this coaster won't be ready by medi day if they thought that was the case. They'd want to give members of the press ample time to not only cancel their travel arrangements but also to reschedule for a new date. The fact that they haven't, makes me believe this coaster is still on schedule to open as originally scheduled.

 

"Believe in Fred and Hank"

 

 

Falcon's Fury? Granted that is from a different manufacturer and different theme park chain but they were supposed to open 14 days ago.

[DanTheBooker]

Wow. I wasn't aware there were so many construction supervisors and engineers on this site to let us all know the coaster won't be finished on time....

 

I normally agree with this sentiment when people post things about safety or structural integrity of a ride but I don't think there's anything wrong with coming to the reasonable conclusion that a record breaking permanent coaster can't go from the state it's in now (the lift hill isn't done, most of the first drop isn't there and the signature barrel roll element isn't there) to being open with riders in 2 weeks.

 

We've all seen coasters progress greatly in just a day. I think this thing could be completely tracked by the weekend. Testing mid week next week. A week or so of testing... This is assuming they have everything done. It's safe to assume that trains will be put on any day now,if they haven't been already But I think we would have seen that. Unless I missed it. The chain could be coiled at the bottom and ready to be fed up. The sensors, brakes, etc could all be done and all that's left is the grunt work of topping off and finishing track work. I think the park would have already announced that this coaster won't be ready by medi day if they thought that was the case. They'd want to give members of the press ample time to not only cancel their travel arrangements but also to reschedule for a new date. The fact that they haven't, makes me believe this coaster is still on schedule to open as originally scheduled.

 

"Believe in Fred and Hank"

 

 

Falcon's Fury? Granted that is from a different manufacturer and different theme park chain but they were supposed to open 14 days ago.

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't BGT acknowledged that? And didn't they prior to the original opening day? And you're right. Different ride type too. A prototype as well.