ytterbiumanalyst Posted September 7, 2016 Posted September 7, 2016 Oh I'm not questioning them, just pointing out the hilarity of that operating schedule. You can't deny that it's a clusterf**k. I do not deny that.
Guy T. Koepp Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Oh I'm not questioning them, just pointing out the hilarity of that operating schedule. You can't deny that it's a clusterf**k. I do not deny that. I deny everything!
dstephe9 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Another note though, it is a walk-on.. just rode three times in a row Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk For the love of everything holy they're still not assisting seats with it being a walk on are they?? Yup they are and won't even let you choose Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Vonni Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 I'm so glad to hear that the bugs seem to be worked out with LR! There is s possibility that I may get to go to DW next year. That will be my first visit in 15 years! Thunderhead, Mystery Mine, Wild Eagle, Firechaser, and LR will all be new credits for me!
mordecai-75 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 ^ I wouldn't consider the "bugs worked out" until they can open and close the park with both trains running without blocking off any rows and without having several bouts of down time daily for an extended period of time. Then we know the bugs are gone. Lightning Rod aside, if you haven't been to the park in that long, you are in for a fantastic trip. The collection of coasters Dollywood has accumulated since your last visit are all unique and excellent rides in my opinion. They always seem to use the terrain to their advantage when building their coasters, which gives them a little extra flair provided by nature that you don't get at alot of parks. You'll have a great time even if Lightning Rod's bugs are crawling, i get the effect from them often and i live here. I hope by the time you visit it's running the way this beast of a ride was planned to. But if not, the rest of Dollywood that you haven't experienced yet will be a trip worth taking for you.
dstephe9 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 (edited) ^ I wouldn't consider the "bugs worked out" until they can open and close the park with both trains running without blocking off any rows and without having several bouts of down time daily for an extended period of time. Then we know the bugs are gone. Lightning Rod aside, if you haven't been to the park in that long, you are in for a fantastic trip. The collection of coasters Dollywood has accumulated since your last visit are all unique and excellent rides in my opinion. They always seem to use the terrain to their advantage when building their coasters, which gives them a little extra flair provided by nature that you don't get at alot of parks. You'll have a great time even if Lightning Rod's bugs are crawling, i get the effect from them often and i live here. I hope by the time you visit it's running the way this beast of a ride was planned to. But if not, the rest of Dollywood that you haven't experienced yet will be a trip worth taking for you. Exactly I wouldn't consider bugs all worked out just yet.. yesterday was weird, they would put ONE single rider in the very back seat but that was it.. second row to back row always seemed empty, at least the three times I rode it.. while it was a walk on, there where always enough people to fill and entire train. If there where no single riders, the back two rows where left empty.. The middle two rows where also blocked. I never went back to it later in the day to see if they every fully opened the back seats or not. Also there where about 3 workers in the main bay working on the second train while I was there.. mainly working on wheels it looked like.. they would pull a wheel off, bring it to the table and do stuff with it then take it back to the train.. Seems like the trains leak a lot of oil from the front!! So much so, they have put a metal pan down of front with cat litter!! Anyone know why there is even oil in the front of the trians? Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk Edited September 8, 2016 by dstephe9
dstephe9 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 ^ Theming? I thought the same at first ha-ha but no you could actually see it drip oil from the front it looked so fresh lol.. also, in the fake air intakes on the front, one of them has what looks like some oil sensor in it or something.. I don't even know why there would be oil in the front.. It could all be theming but the oil is very fresh and like I said, you could always see fresh oil drops lol. So if it is theming it looks very real haha Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
kickflipbacktail Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Oh goodness, what aspect of the train even needs oil? I guess besides maybe the wheel bearings? Also I'll be returning to Dollywood not this coming weekend but the following for two days. I'm moving away so I need to get as much Lightning Rod in as I can.
ytterbiumanalyst Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Oh goodness, what aspect of the train even needs oil? The motor. That's how roller coasters go uphill.
kickflipbacktail Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Oh goodness, what aspect of the train even needs oil? The motor. That's how roller coasters go uphill. It took me slightly longer than I'd like to admit to realize this was a joke.
dkeith Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 (edited) Deleted Edited September 8, 2016 by dkeith
dstephe9 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Sweet very interesting! Guess they had a spill and that's why I noticed it lol. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Guy T. Koepp Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Could be some sort of hydraulic leak to the restraints? That may be why they have to close off different seats during the day. They may have to check the pressure on a whole train a couple of times a day. That might be why they have to remove a train and then put it back, swap out trains, and check the pressure on the second train. As an arrogant douchbag coaster enthusiast who knows nothing about engineering, specifically hydraulics, I'm stating that as fact that that is the cause. Guy "The only way I could make that last statement more indignant is if I was 15yo know it all."Koepp
kickflipbacktail Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Lightning Rod itself has a self-lubrication system in the front of the trains to slick up the track and reduce friction on the rails. Same way grease and oil is spread around manually on wooden rollercoasters like Thunderhead accept this one has a reservoir in the front bogie and valves underneath above the tracks that the maintenance crew opens up in the morning to let the oil soak down the rails and wheels. It is a pretty simple system and a genius one at that. Not that this isn't plausible, but is there a source for this information?
jynx242 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 ^ I'm under the impression that he works there.
dstephe9 Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Yup pretty sure he does and his description is exactly what I was seeing so Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
kickflipbacktail Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Well, that's pretty freakin awesome. A clever solution to an annoying problem.
Keetz Posted September 8, 2016 Posted September 8, 2016 Well, that's pretty freakin awesome. A clever solution to an annoying problem. I mean when in doubt.... more lube
Jccoasterfan Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 I'm at the park today. LR opened with one train just a few minutes after the park opened. The entire park is mostly empty today. Everything is pretty much a walk on, except LR and Firechaser. I managed to get three rides on LR this morning and waited no longer than 5 minutes each time. Two rides towards the middle, and one towards the very back. It is incredible! I plan to get one more ride or two in later before we leave. *Edit: I did notice that little "bump" towards the bottom of the main drop on LR. Nothing really to take away from the experience, but still very noticeable. You do feel it more if sitting on a wheel seat, which happened to be two of my three rides on the coaster. Other than that, this coaster is easily one of the best I've ever been on!
dstephe9 Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 It being Friday and the Rod Run being this weekend and next week I wouldn't expect it to be empty very long today.. on Wednesday, even LR was a walk on. I'd expect crowds to pick up later this afternoon The one thing that might help with crowds a little is that the TN Valley Fair also starts tonight so that might keep a few people away Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
beenagins87 Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 It being Friday and the Rod Run being this weekend and next week I wouldn't expect it to be empty very long today.. on Wednesday, even LR was a walk on. I'd expect crowds to pick up later this afternoon The one thing that might help with crowds a little is that the TN Valley Fair also starts tonight so that might keep a few people away Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk The UT game at Bristol is this weekend as well, UT football seems to be pretty big in East TN, so that could cyphen some of the crowds that might go to Dollywood on a weekend normally.
Jccoasterfan Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 It being Friday and the Rod Run being this weekend and next week I wouldn't expect it to be empty very long today.. on Wednesday, even LR was a walk on. I'd expect crowds to pick up later this afternoon The one thing that might help with crowds a little is that the TN Valley Fair also starts tonight so that might keep a few people away Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk I agree, especially tomorrow since tomorrow will be Saturday and we all know Saturdays can get pretty crowded. As of now, crowds have picked up a little but still on the light side. LR's wait has gone up as well.
beenagins87 Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 How often does Dollywood update the wait times on the app??
Jccoasterfan Posted September 9, 2016 Posted September 9, 2016 (edited) Currently standing in front of LR and watched a train roll back. Riders are currently being evacuated. Kinda a cool sight seeing it roll back, but not good that it's broken down. Hope they get things up and running again soon! Edit: LR just opened back up about 10 minutes ago and was able to get another ride in! Edited September 9, 2016 by Jccoasterfan
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now