Steel Dragon 2000 could be scrapped!!!

[viking86]

According to Justin Garvanovic, founder of ECC, Steel Dragon 2000 could be scrapped. There has been a small discussion about this on the ECC mailing list and when asked why they didnt just change the wheel assemblies this is what he replied:

 

"It is really complicated.

 

A few points:

 

1) The park does not own the ride - a trading company does.

 

2) For legal reasons it may be better to scrap it. There is a lot of

steel in that ride.

 

3) I spoke to the designers at IAAPA, and they themselves don't know

what will happen to it.

 

4) They have new wheel designs, but are not holding their breath waiting

for anything to happen."

 

 

It would be such a shame to see the worlds most expensive coasters scrapped as it looks like a very good ride and it shouldnt be very hard to fix it. Although I will probably never visit Japan I find this very frustrating.

[TheStig]

Well, it did it's job of beating MF as tallest and fastest! I seriously think that it's a bummer that they spent all this money to build a gigantic coaster then destroy it. If it were up to me (which it isnt of course) I would give the new wheel assembly a chance, then if it doesnt work, scrap it.

 

Colin"Or just put in a Intamin rokit coaster!"C

 

EDIT: 200th post yay!

[PKIDelirium]

Maybe if SD2K goes, we'll get lucky, and another 2000-model coaster will go bye bye...

 

*Points at a certain worthless hunk of wood.

[pianojohn]

As soneone who actually rode Steel Dragon twice in 2001, I was very under-whelmed by it. It looked big, but it was very bulky, the cars were high, and you felt as if you were riding in a big Edsel or equally HUGE old car. I don't remember any air time or even that big of a thrill going down the first drop.

 

While it would be a shame to see it go, I can certainly understand the legal aspects of it. The other thing it seems is when a coaster in Japan has an accident, (ie Birdman at Fuji Q), they tend to close it for many years until the public forgets about it. But it is kind of hard to hide a 300 foot tall coaster from the public.

[robbalvey]

I have said all along that I would be more shocked to see this ride re-open than to see it scrapped. When we were there last year, the ride looked abandoned. Like some old building just waiting for the wrecking ball.

 

Fences were up all around the entrance, weeds were starting to grow in, and there was absolutely no sign of 'life'

 

--Robb

[mboy81]

Does anyone know where I can find video footage of the ride? I've seen plenty of pictures of the ride, but no video...

[PKIDelirium]

Discovery Channel's Making of a Coaster show.

 

They might still offer VHS tapes of it for sale on Discovery.com, althought it's an old show. It first aired in June 2001.

[YoshiFan]

I wish they would just re-locate it outside of Japan if they don't plan to have it running in Japan ever again.

[haux]

Does anyone know where I can find video footage of the ride? I've seen plenty of pictures of the ride, but no video...

I've got on-ride footage. Somewhere.

 

I tried the Web site I got it from, but it's a dead link now. I've got it backed up on a CD somewhere. I hope. It's a really good video. Super quality.

[PKIDelirium]

If you find it, you can email it to me and I'll host it if needed.

 

donald@extremepki.com

[Twister II]

The only reason I think its been down for a long time is the fact that this is actually the rides/park fault.

 

Most deaths on coasters happen threw the human body, heart attacks etc., but not in this case.

 

And besides when it opens again, the head lines are going to read, "Japan's Tallest Coaster that killed 5 people is now back open! Ride it today!"

[GoldRusheROCKS]

Ummm. yeah, no. It's Japan. They don't want to open it back up because it's bad luck. They are VERY superstitious.

 

ie MGM Grand....

[Carnage]

I'm sure I have a video of it somewhere.

 

I'll see if I can find it.

 

Edit: I found it, however it's like 25 megs, so too big to email. Found the site that I got it from and it's a dead link as well.

[Jeezus Juice]

^put it up on yousendit.com or megauploads.com, they'll host it for free.

 

I like the Morgan hypers so I'm sure it was a good ride, but I don't see how it was worth the price tag.

 

Also, two lift chains? Strange. IMO Morgan should just stick with mine trains. Quicksilver rocks!

 

Don "Whould've liked to ride it, but not all butthurt if it gets scrapped" Garrison

[Thrillrider15]

I don't want to see this ride go! But it might turn out to be for the best if they scrap the thing. And set it up in my backyard!

[MagnumForce]

It's two chains on one lift.

 

Also I wasn't aware that anyone was killed when it lost the wheel, anyone care to refresh my memory?

[robbalvey]

There wasn't a death on it. Twister II is mis-informed. There was an injury and the reason why it's not open is because that's how the culture in Japan is.

 

It has nothing to do with it being or not being the parks/rides fault.

 

--Robb

[Carnage]

^put it up on yousendit.com or megauploads.com, they'll host it for free.

 

Good point. PKIDelirium check your email.

[PKIDelirium]

Here's the vid!

 

http://donald.extremepki.com/movie/sd2k_wide.mov

[Canobie Fan]

I dont know about you guys.... But the site you all got the video from works for me...

http://www.asovini.com/screamer/e/

 

 

Edit... Oh I guess the Dls dont work.. lol

[Twister II]

There wasn't a death on it. Twister II is mis-informed.

 

I heard a wheel flew off, hit some guy in the back of the head at a swim in bar and killed him. And a everyone on the train was injured. Then another train ran into it.

 

Well at least thats what the news said

[robbalvey]

^ That's actually not even close to what the news said. You are mis-informed.

 

--Robb

[robbalvey]

And just for future reference, here is the news article:

 

Steel Dragon 2000 derails, 2 injured

(Saturday, August 23, 2003) - At Nagashima Spaland in Nagashima, Japan, two people were left seriously injured after the front car of a roller coaster's train lost several of its wheels and derailed.

 

The accident happened on the Steel Dragon 2000 roller coaster. The wheels disengaged from the right side of the front car shortly after the ride had opened for the day.

 

One rider suffered a broken hip. A man who was in a nearby swimming pool was also injured when one of the wheels which had disengaged from the vehicle struck him.

 

Park officials say that no problems were found with the ride during routine inspections earlier in the morning.

 

"We are sorry for those who got injured in the accident. We examine the roller coaster every morning. No problem was found when we checked the vehicle on that morning. We are determined to prevent a recurrence."

 

The ride was manufactured by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing of California. It opened three years ago. It is currently the world's longest roller coaster and one of the fastest, reaching top speeds of 95 miles per hour.

 

Police are investigating.

 

I have found several other articles, all saying similar things. There was NEVER a mention of:

 

1. Any deaths.

2. The man being at a 'swim up' bar.

3. Everyone on the train was injured.

4. Another train running into it.

 

--Robb

[Wes]

I heard the wheel flew off, and then the wheel grew legs and a mouth, and then the wheel ate five children, and then Godzilla came and breathed fire onto the broken train, and everyone was burned alive, but then Ultra-Man came, and threw the train into the ocean, but the Loch Ness Monster was in there, so he ate everybody. Then Godzilla, the Loch Ness Monster, and the wheel had a civil union marriage, and moved to Prague, where they run an internet fan site for Diet Dr. Pepper.

 

Well at least thats what the news said

[SonOfBeastSucks]

^ Yeah, that is what I heard too.