Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW BGE) Discussion Thread

[Wes]

Thanks for clearing that up!

[Hercules]

Great pics.

 

I can vouch that it looks much better in person.

[ECZenith]

Wooo, glad to hear it will still have that new coaster shine! I figured it was just the lens or something. After just riding SheiKra again a couple weeks ago it's hard to imagine the awesomeness of the floorless trains and airtime added to it.

[pkdcoaster]

Another photo update from 10-20-06

not much going on since last week just more footer prep, but I took some better pics from different angles with my brand new camera

 

Enjoy, JEFF

hopefully more track will be up before next week......but I doubt it

More station footers up and more steel for the train shed is up

Aerial shot!

new footer

more brakes

They are standing in the trench the 1st drop will go into.

Must be a record for rusted bolts =(

Not Everybody is as excited as we are

[NitroRider]

That loading station looks pretty small. I hope this is as good as I think it will be. I can't wait to ride this next year!

[pkdcoaster]

I agree especially compared to Sheikra's station and train shed.

http://www.coastersandmore.com/pic/sheikrabaustelle/sheikra13g.jpg

 

JEFF

[CP_RULES]

Thanks for the update! You're making me really excited for Griffon, even when I wasnt at all before. However, I have a question. I have noticed that B&M's dive machines use a different style of track, instead of having little indents in the ties, they just go straight across. Why is this? Anyways, thanks for the pics, the second to last one really shows the "new coaster shine".

[pkdcoaster]

I believe the indents on the ties on "normal" B&Ms are for the brake bar clearance. But Dive machines sit higher on the track so there is more clearance. that is my best guess, or maybe it is for more strength due to the rails being much farther apart.

 

JEFF

[jedimaster1227]

I don't get Busch Gardens. Why do they build pretty much exactly the same rides at both parks? Notice how much less attention this ride is getting on here because of Sheikra.

 

I think the fact that both drops have an Immelman after them is lame.

 

I do like the light blue color though.

I have a feeling that they were slightly forced into using it.

 

Because Busch likes to be at the top of the popular coaster chain when it comes to theme parks. They almost always test a new ride system or type at BGA (Tampa) and if it is successful, an updated (and normally better) version is placed in BGE (Williamsburg). Apollo's Chariot and Gwazi and Curse of DarKastle are exceptions to this case. BGA hasn't set aside space for an out and back hyper coaster, though the space is there-they have to go outside of the park area, but I really can't say much more than that... Gwazi is considered one of Busch's only truly unsuccessful investments, playing as a huge factor for why BGE never gotten a wooden (or dueling wooden) coaster. DarKastle basically is BGE's version of Gwazi in the sense that it is their new ride for that year. We got Gwazi, but you didn't get anything until DarKastle.

 

Basically we started with Python and then you got Nessie.

Next we got Kumba and you got Drachen Fire.

After that, we got Montu and then you got Alpengeist.

Now, after we have gotten Sheikra, you are getting Griffon. So the cycle continues...

[NitroRider]

^I never noticed that. Well they're all good coasters to me...

[chaos]

I always thought Sheikra was made because of the success of Apollo's Chariot, until this came along.

[Gnome]

Next we got Kumba and you got Drachen Fire.

Or those 2 even comparable?

[jedimaster1227]

Next we got Kumba and you got Drachen Fire.

Or those 2 even comparable?

 

Not in popularity (but remember Drachen Fire came after Kumba and Kumba is still incredibly popular), but in coaster/ride type, yes.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^ Drachen Fire came out in 1992 and Kumba came out in 1993.

[jedimaster1227]

^ Drachen Fire came out in 1992 and Kumba came out in 1993.

 

That could be it too!

[Johnny Upsidedown]

New construction photos are up on my site at www.johnnyupsidedown.com

I was out at Busch yesterday for some photos of the construction. Not much new has been done. It was a beautiful day for photos here are a couple and the rest can be seen here

http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/new2007gf.html

[pkdcoaster]

Found these cool pics on other sites

 

Close up Pics of track and supports in the parking lot

http://buschadventure.com/?page=BGEC-280906-p1

 

Awesome Aerial pics taken of Alp and Griffon construction

http://www.bgescape.com/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=21

 

Hopefully they can take more flights over BGE during the winter, since it seems that BGE doesn't update the official site too often.

 

JEFF

[alpengeist04]

Thanks for the heads-up on the cool pics. It really shows how close Griffon, Alpengeist, and Loch Ness are to each other.

[cfc]

The Newport News Daily Press has launched a regular update site for Griffon at http://www.dailypress.com/griffon. Today's article mentions that the ride is due to open on Memorial Day and features an interview with the BGE's VP of design and engineering.

[ECZenith]

Wow, great aerial photos, thanks for the link!

[alpengeist04]

Thanks for the link, Chuck. It's kind of a bummer that they're opening Griffon so late next year, oh well at least I'll be riding Sheikra in early May.

[jarmor]

or not...

 

jarvis "floorless" trains rumors are fun!

[Satoshi]

real great we gonna have floorless when divin' down from

over 200 feet tall yeah! floorless gonna make more scream

out loud feelin' with ya feet floatin' up like Six Flags Medusa!

[niiicolaaah]

I can't wait to ride this. I've never ridden Shiekra so I won't have anything to compare it to. Oblivion just isn't similar enough. I'm sure I'll love this coaster!

[pkdcoaster]

For those that are interested, I went by BGE on the train on Sun (11-26-06)

and could see that there were 3 cranes raised and the lift had track up to about the 70ft level. Next time I go by on the train I will bring my camera.

 

JEFF