cfc Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I'm hoping to ride Switchback later this year. It's a pretty intriguing project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Wow that's a really tight turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 WOW! I had no idea how tight that turn would be. This is project is going to be interesting to follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 It's amazing that Timberliners can make turns that tight, those are probably the most flexible train on the market other than X-Car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbatboy Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 Can't wait to see how this one turns out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thesman Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 am i the only one wondering how they are going to get that forklift out of there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myself Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 ^In the second picture, there appears to be a gap in the fence behind the building. There also appear to be no mounting brackets on the adjacent footings yet. This coaster is probably the one I'm most interested to see built this year...mainly due to its surroundings. The folks at ZDT really are creative to figure out how to make an amusement park out of their former industrial site. This is going to be one park to keep an eye on even after Switchback is finished...they're going to have to be clever to figure out how to add much more in the years ahead, but I know they'll find a way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted April 16, 2015 Share Posted April 16, 2015 am i the only one wondering how they are going to get that forklift out of there Theming? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 8, 2015 Share Posted May 8, 2015 (edited) ZDT's Amusement Park has provided another construction update! Hello! In the past few weeks, Switchback has seen some pretty big changes! We've uploaded a few pictures at the following link so you can see what we've been up to: Switchback Construction Photos. In Zone 1, the structure of the ride is nearing completion! This is the area where Switchback will take it's sharpest overbanked turn at 104°. As you can see in the pictures, the last part of the structure to go up will be the supports for the overbanked turn. We expect these supports to be fastened in over the next few weeks. As we finish up in Zone 1, we've also begun working on Zone 3! This will be the section of the ride that contains the train station and lift hill. Currently we are building and stacking up bents, which are the structural elements you see in the pictures provided. After stockpiling these bents, we will bring in a crane to hoist them up into the air one-by-one and fasten them into place. This will occur at a fairly rapid pace, with large portions of the structure being erected each day! The first crane should be brought in sometime in the next couple of weeks. Also in Zone 3, we have begun erecting the structure in areas where the track will be lower to the ground. These first few supports that have been put into place make up the exit from the train station, where the train will begin approaching the initial lift. We would like to thank you all for your continued support of Switchback, and your interest in its progress! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Thanks, Zac Donhauser ZDT's Amusement Park Edited May 8, 2015 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveydo5172 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 That fly thru the building is just so close and tight...cant wait to ride this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 I think it's a very interesting, "under-the-radar" project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 I think it's a very interesting, "under-the-radar" project. I agree. I feel like this is one of the most over looked new projects for 2015. I can't wait to see how this progresses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 Forget all those dark rides, and "coaster" loops, and new steel/wooden coasters opening. THIS is what I would really want to ride this season. If I could. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlines Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Is there a projected opening? We are going to Texas but are afraid this won't be ready in time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlittle Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 ^From what I am hearing, the ride won't be open till mid July. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 And with all of the rain, and more rain on the way, that might get pushed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlittle Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 ZDT's added a Twitter (@ZDTamusement) account recently and will keep it updated with construction updates. Here's hoping for a few weeks of good weather so they can get this thing built. Lift hill going up Lift hill going up That turn looks great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PVA62 Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 This is such an interesting ride, really can't wait to see how it turns out. It has such an interesting setting too, going through that building is going to be wild! Would love to see something like this turn up at Kennywood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Very curious to see how this turns out. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJLehto Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 WOW this is indeed under the radar! Had no idea. So what exactly is going on with this thing? It has a reverse point but also a lift, does it like, switch track and take a different way back? I'd imagine at that flat part. All we need now is a launched wooden! It seems the next step for wooden coasters to take. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrlittle Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 From ZDT's Facebook. Topping off the lift hill of #Switchback! This flag officially marks the highest point of the lift hill, and puts us one step closer to opening day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Looks like a nice height for a family coaster. Can't wait to see this ride progress! I sure feel like this is one of the most over looked coasters of 2015, and it might just be one of the most unique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaster1227 Posted June 2, 2015 Share Posted June 2, 2015 ZDT's Amusement Park has sent us a great batch of photos showing off the latest progress on construction of Switchback! Switchback has come a long way in the past few weeks! The biggest changes have been in Zone 3 with the initial lift hill and drop. This section now stands at its full height of 63.5 feet. This will be the second highest part of the ride, after the spike at the tail end of the ride in Zone 2. The structure in Zone 1 is near completion, and should start receiving track in a few weeks. The overbanked turn looks to make for an exciting ride! Zone 2 will be final area in which we will be erecting the ride's structure. This zone is made up of the area where the track goes underneath the awning of the building, and also the zone that contains the final spike at the end of the ride. The foundation in the zone was completed recently, and looking at the concrete network you can imagine where the track will be running through based on the pattern in the picture. We should start seeing more progress in Zone 2 in the next couple of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 My thanks to the park for the photos. I'm really intrigued by this ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Great new photos. Thanks for sharing. I can't help but to wonder if the "spike" is actually going to be twisted like it shows, or if that was just poor use of No Limits? From TPRs YouTube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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