Six Flags Over Texas (SFOT) Discussion Thread

[texcoaster 0]

Looking at this shot on Screamscape today

http://www.screamscape.com/html/sfot_3.htm

It appears that the additional support for the overbanked turns might not be buttresses on the outside of the turn, but rather ties back into the center of the turn. This is the same technique used on the Boardwalk Bullet to be able to push the track right to the edge of the lot without having structure go out into the bay or into the road (or the Starbucks!)

Looking at the steel supports for the overbanked portion, it looks like the track could end up being enclosed inside the structure kinda like the flying carpet used to be. That would be beyond awesome.

[rcfreak417 0]

http://www.guidetosfot.com/features/giantreinvented/

 

The last picture on the October 2nd update makes me think that there may still be a double helix. The trip reports from Lone Star Coasterthon indicated the first loop of the helix would be a dive into a low to the ground turn. That looks like the 2nd leg of the helix (the outer leg), which would be awesome. Any thoughts?

[Guy T. Koepp 0]

^Your link doesn't work.

[KCForce 0]

^ It did just work for me. Try it again and see.

[texcoaster 0]

http://www.guidetosfot.com/features/giantreinvented/

 

The last picture on the October 2nd update makes me think that there may still be a double helix. The trip reports from Lone Star Coasterthon indicated the first loop of the helix would be a dive into a low to the ground turn. That looks like the 2nd leg of the helix (the outer leg), which would be awesome. Any thoughts?

 

I'm pretty sure those supports are for the first helix. At LCST, you could tell that the track will dive through the lift structure to a low-level turn, but then rise up dramatically in order to fly over the lift hill. I think that's what you're seeing in that picture.

 

I looked as best I could for any evidence of a second helix looparound, but didn't see one. When one of the folks asked the maintenance guy if the layout would be different, he said, "Yes." When asked if the finale would remain as it was before, he said, "no comment." He also gave the NC response to questions about whether the track would be shorter than the original layout, what the trains looked like, and pretty much every other question he was asked.

 

One of the few answers he gave was in response to "how much does that magnetic brake (that he had on display) cost?" to which he replied, "a LOT."

[Coaster Mike 0]

Am I the only one drooling at every one of those construction shots? Wow, this is going to be terrific! I can't wait to see if other parks jump onboard and renovate coasters with this technique... *that's your turn Cedar Point!*

 

The track is painted (rust protection there). And the ledgers appear to be galvanized or have some kind of anti-corrosion coating (rust protection there).

I believe the ledgers are treated the same way that coasters like The Voyage are (supportwise).

[RandallDuell 0]

I believe I have read most of this thread, but am curious if this is truly the first ever attempt at this sort of retrofit/upgrade? Has any other old wood coaster been upgraded in this manner?

 

I'm guessing not, but what a unique way to breathe life back into an old structure -- although it does seem like quite a bit of money/planning/effort must have gone into utilizing the existing structure vs starting with a blank slate. Perhaps that additional cost is offset by the marketing/PR possibilities made possible by it being a redesign of a "Texas Classic"?

 

Looks almost fake, when you look through all of the pictures - here's to hoping that there aren't a ton of growing pains once it opens!

[jedimaster1227 101]

^The closest thing I can think of is the conversion of wood to steel of Seabreeze's Bobsleds coaster.

 

[texcoaster 0]

^ good call, I had forgotten about that. Let's hope that the Giant reno turns out a bit smoother than the Bobsled did!

[Coaster Mike 0]

I'm interested to see who will be the next one to adopt this style of renovation. Another one of the SF chain? Cedar Fair? I'd really like to see some other coasters redone this way, namely Son of Beast. How about reinstalling that loop!

[LcHg5265 0]

Some pictures of the new trains have been posted to Ride Entertainment Group of Companies' facebook page!

 

Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ride-Entertainment-Group-of-Companies/105309932838317#!/pages/Ride-Entertainment-Group-of-Companies/105309932838317?v=wall

[KCForce 0]

^Okay, I admit it, I really like it. When we heard of this, those who commented were afraid it'd look tacky. It does, but in a cool way. Definitely the most unique trains on a coaster in the world. Anyone else notice the saddle horn on the restraints? (Saddle horn is oval shaped and black, yeah just like you'd find on a horse saddle).

Edited October 6, 2010 by KCForce

[CD 0]

Cool! What's with the weird sheets of fiberglass next to the seats on the sides of the train?

[Lady Gaga 0]

Cool! What's with the weird sheets of fiberglass next to the seats on the sides of the train?

 

I'm pretty sure that's so you don't get back to the station with a broken arm.

In other words.. a guard.

[BigDipper 80 0]

Holy crap. That is quite possibly the greatest wooden coaster train I have ever seen !!!! It's so incredibly Texan!

[nagro5 0]

Seeing the trains kind of makes me want to yell YEEHAWWW. Not sure why.

[rcfreak417 0]

The caption on the photo is

 

Everything's bigger on the Texas Giant, Six Flags over Texas media event

 

Any news if they released anything else about the ride? Maybe a layout or something at this event?

 

Edit: Nvm. Six Flags is apparently posting more pictures on Facebook in the Texas Giant album. Here's the one they posted as the profile picture.

[coasterkarl 0]

Oh man do these trains look incredible..i was just about to post some pics when someone beat me to it...but otherwise i think its going to be a welcome addition to the 2011 lineup of newbies!

[CD 0]

Cool! What's with the weird sheets of fiberglass next to the seats on the sides of the train?

 

I'm pretty sure that's so you don't get back to the station with a broken arm.

In other words.. a guard.

 

Ya, but what's the benefit of adding them on the trains? I can't think of any other coasters that have them. They may be necessary due to the proximity of the catwalks to the track during the overbanks? I just think they seem strange.

[DarkStitch626 0]

CD actually El Toro has stuff like that at GADV for during the "over bank turn" just without the plastic guards it is more a shoulder height or maybe a little lower guard. http://rcdb.com/3183.htm?p=25538 As Seen here.

[Skycoastin Steve 0]

Timberliners are also going to have similar side guards.

 

[CD 0]

Hmm, well I guess they are common. Though the Timberliner side guards look good aesthetically, instead of being just a large piece of rectangular fiberglass. The ones on the TG trains just seem so out of place to me. In fact, I would love the trains if it weren't for those giant fiberglass side guards!

[nagro5 0]

I think they're cool. They look like the windows on the car.

[SFOGdude25 0]

Those trains remind me of RCT2 Wacky Worlds. They look way better than I thought they would! Those seats look rather comfy as well!

[alpengeist04 0]

Love the train design!!! Actually, I'm loving everything about this project.