Password121 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 ^I actually see a valid argument for the first-gen free falls as being coasters. It's essentially Magic Mountain's Superman with a lift instead of a launch (obviously there are mechanical differences and the free fall has separate load/unload procedures, but the principle is the same). And yes I agree with the OP--it is an innovative, however unnecessary, system. As for other innovations, somebody mentioned the plug-n-play wooden coaster. I'll add topper track to that idea, as well the basic idea of I-box refurbs. Creating an entirely new coaster wth almost no new structure, saving the cost of demolition, and the nostalgia factor for probably half the price of what would be the final product is really amazing. I'll add in tilting drop towers, the cable lift hill, and +1 to the idea behind the arch system for a lift hill, seen on I-305, Skyrush, Goliath, Leviathan and Fury 325. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Trackless Vehicles. They're getting more innovative with every new attraction announced. Efteling's new dark ride (apparently) will have TVs that tilt back and/or forth, which is new, to me. And Disney is constantly innovating it's TVs with great results, i.e. Mystic Manor and Ratatouille. (Edit) And I am so hoping that either something in Shanghai, or a new TV happens in either Tokyo park (Alice or Frozen, yes?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WillMontu Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 What comes to mind are those weird supports on Mindbender at SFOG Odd, but Anton probably knew what he was doing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paradox Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 [youtu_be] [/youtu_be] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmor Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Dueling dragons . . . not dragons challenge . . . dueling dragons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapfordakids Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Dueling dragons . . . not dragons challenge . . . dueling dragons. Yes! the whole ride was well thought out, engineered/designed/themed perfectly. Also didn't the lift hill weigh the trains so they could duel correctly? Shame it doesn't duel anymore. le sigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I think Falcons Fury is pretty innovative. The way the seats pull you back into the face down position, and then swing back upright near the bottom of the tower is pretty awesome. I know people dislike the ride because it takes away the real feeling of freefalling... but I still think it's innovative. . . And terrifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rctneil Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 I know it's a feature coasters have had for a long time but switch tracks. Definitely overlooked parts of a lot of rides. Rides that have switch tracks as part of their layouts are becoming faster and faster (examples are Th1teen and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars) Both those two rides use switch track elements during the ride and both are very reliable and change super quickly so most people just don't realised the track has moved until they are travelling a different part of track! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 ^ Expedition: Everest in WDW's Animal Kingdom is a great example of that, too. And wasn't it one of the very first coasters to do that? Switch to reverse, then change again, to forward? Grizzly Gulch is definitely a second generation of this concept. Early construction photo of E:E with the first transfer track section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiemac02 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Thunderhead at Dollywood was innovative because it was the first coaster with a station fly through. I love the headchopper element of it and the fact it gets riders amped up for the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intimidated305 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 Thunderhead at Dollywood was innovative because it was the first coaster with a station fly through. I love the headchopper element of it and the fact it gets riders amped up for the ride. I remember my first time riding it (the station was EMPTY, so me and my cousin chose back row), when that train came flying through I nearly fell backwards. I totally forgot about the station fly-through and I paid dearly for it. Nonetheless, it was still a great coaster and remains my favorite woodie today. Thanks GCI and Dollywood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirMBTB Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 What comes to mind are those weird supports on Mindbender at SFOG Bingo! Anton built rides that were the perfect hybrid between super smooth steel and wild woodies. Those ball and socket joints allow the track to mock (at least partially) the movement of a wood coaster track; it sways. And those trains/seats are perfect too; you get great *REAL* lateral and vertical movement from the seat while still being safe and comfortable. Those old coasters ride great - you can feel the track yet it's very smooth. Schwarzkopf coasters are some of my favorites. In terms of personality, comfort and freedom (to move around in your seat) they have never been matched. So much stuff is done to the extreme these days (with required super tight restraints and bucket seats) - and it's good we have that stuff, but there is sweet spot with the Anton designs. Very special rides! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM3988 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 I've always thought the technology on the boomerang coasters are pretty innovative. The way the breaks lock while the train is climbing the second hill, but open up before the train releases. Even with this innovative technology back when the boomerangs were first introduced, it's insane how far coaster technology has come. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbatboy Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 The S&S compressed air towers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanks4me05 Posted December 24, 2015 Share Posted December 24, 2015 What comes to mind are those weird supports on Mindbender at SFOG Looks like a 3 dimensional roller support. This was likely done to both allow for more flexing (and maybe thermal expansion) and so that the bolts wouldn't have to resist any moments, thus requiring way fewer bolts at that connection. I can't say that with complete confidence, though; there was only enough time to cover axial and shear resisting bolted connections in Steel Design last semester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted December 26, 2015 Author Share Posted December 26, 2015 How about Anton's supports for vertical loop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottm13 Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 What comes to mind are those weird supports on Mindbender at SFOG Older B&M's used to use a similar type of support as well (regarding the ball & socket): [attachment=0]13884.jpg[/attachment] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timetrial3141592 Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 On the subject of Anton's supports, how about his "cone-plug" system that enabled rapid assembly and dismantling of huge transportable rides? From his patent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brassinthegrass Posted December 28, 2015 Share Posted December 28, 2015 Not only that, but this was preGPS... They needed some sort of leeway in construction... Loving this thread! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted December 29, 2015 Author Share Posted December 29, 2015 Premier's skid brakes are really clever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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