Jump to content
  TPR Home | Parks | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram 

Dollywood Discussion Thread

P. 796 - Ride closing 10/30 to remove launch and install chain lift!
crispy
 Share

Recommended Posts

bluestreak Mentor

bluestreak

Posted
Posted

I think that if it is a problem with the launch system they should rip the existing system out and call up premier, or any company with reliable launch systems of this type, and have them install a new system. It might cost more at one time but in the long run it'll save them money and headaches and get the ride open again.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 19.9k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

coasterbill
coasterbill

Did I call this or what? Anyway, I did better side-by-side comparison for you.

coasterbill
coasterbill

Luckily any day now Lightning Rod is probably due to launch a wheel into a mountain or spontaneously combust or something so we can stop talking about covid...

prospekt88
prospekt88

^Lets be real...if you really wanna follow those guidelines you wouldn’t even be going to amusement parks. 

Posted Images

STDog Community Regular

STDog

Posted
Posted
I think that if it is a problem with the launch system they should rip the existing system out and call up premier, or any company with reliable launch systems of this type, and have them install a new system. It might cost more at one time but in the long run it'll save them money and headaches and get the ride open again.

 

That assumes it can reasonably be done.

 

If they are relying on the capacitor bank power source from Velocity Magnetics to make it a viable (due to power system constraints of small town in the mountains) changing may not be an option.

 

How much space would be needed for an alternative storage system? Does DW have a place to put such a system?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tykunkel1031 Enthusiast

tykunkel1031

Posted
Posted
^ They still have one as a backup, but the flywheels usually work fine.

 

I was out of the loop during construction of Thunderbird. What system does it use for its launch?

LSM powered by a flywheel. It would've been drawing too much power at once, so they decided to use the flywheels to just be able to slowly charge up for the launch. They have one big generator (last year it was 2 further down the hill) there as back up systems in case the flywheels were to fail. I think this is mainly because it's the star attraction. They can't really afford for it to go down, or they'll have plenty of angry guests in the park, since it's the only steel coaster there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
defrocker Community Regular

defrocker

Posted
Posted
^ They still have one as a backup, but the flywheels usually work fine.

 

I was out of the loop during construction of Thunderbird. What system does it use for its launch?

LSM powered by a flywheel. It would've been drawing too much power at once, so they decided to use the flywheels to just be able to slowly charge up for the launch. They have one big generator (last year it was 2 further down the hill) there as back up systems in case the flywheels were to fail. I think this is mainly because it's the star attraction. They can't really afford for it to go down, or they'll have plenty of angry guests in the park, since it's the only steel coaster there.

 

Dang. When B&M builds something, they overbuild it. lol. Interesting. I assume it's been effective as I haven't heard much about downtime.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DirkFunk Veteran

DirkFunk

Posted
Posted
^ They still have one as a backup, but the flywheels usually work fine.

 

I was out of the loop during construction of Thunderbird. What system does it use for its launch?

LSM powered by a flywheel. It would've been drawing too much power at once, so they decided to use the flywheels to just be able to slowly charge up for the launch. They have one big generator (last year it was 2 further down the hill) there as back up systems in case the flywheels were to fail. I think this is mainly because it's the star attraction. They can't really afford for it to go down, or they'll have plenty of angry guests in the park, since it's the only steel coaster there.

 

Backup systems don't constantly run and emit smoke like that. They were using it as a primary draw last year. You could see the engines belch smoke when the trains would take off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Sphantom91 Apprentice

Sphantom91

Posted
Posted
I think that if it is a problem with the launch system they should rip the existing system out and call up premier, or any company with reliable launch systems of this type, and have them install a new system. It might cost more at one time but in the long run it'll save them money and headaches and get the ride open again.

 

Premier doesn't design their own launch system either. All of their coasters' launches since Sky Rocket have been designed by Intrasys and they use flywheels. I'm not sure if an expensive new German launch system is financially viable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bluestreak Mentor

bluestreak

Posted
Posted
Lightning Rod is open today! Waiting in line now for my 2nd ride. Still not sure where to rank it besides saying it's up there. Great ride!

 

Come on you know we need all the details. How many trains? Exactly how long has it been running? Has it broken down yet? How long is the line?

 

Just kidding of course... I'm glad to hear it's running, even though I'm not there to ride it. I guess we might have to make a return trip to the park to get on this damn ride.

Have fun!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SFOGdude25 Mentor

SFOGdude25

Posted
Posted

Good grief man I was just there Monday haha. I think I may try to find a random day to go within the next two weeks as hopefully it'll stay open LOL. Sheesh, trying to get a ride on this thing this season has been a complete crapshoot for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kickflipbacktail Community Regular

kickflipbacktail

Posted
Posted
Good grief man I was just there Monday haha. I think I may try to find a random day to go within the next two weeks as hopefully it'll stay open LOL. Sheesh, trying to get a ride on this thing this season has been a complete crapshoot for me.

 

Are you actually from the Atlanta Georgia area? If the ride is actually open I would like to go with other coaster enthusiasts if anyone is down for a meetup!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
BBparks57 Collaborator

BBparks57

Posted
Posted
^Haha it's all good.

 

Nashville park meet up....oh yeah. Some day? Polercoaster? Oprywalk? Anything? Williamson county fair this weekend haha.

 

I have my DW trip planned for next weekend, hoping I waited late enough in the season. Either way I'll have a great time, I love that park. Glad to see it's running. Nashville is just far enough away to make a day trip difficult. I've done it plenty of times, but it's not my favorite.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hriscay Contributor

Hriscay

Posted
Posted
Lightning Rod is open today! Waiting in line now for my 2nd ride. Still not sure where to rank it besides saying it's up there. Great ride!

 

Come on you know we need all the details. How many trains? Exactly how long has it been running? Has it broken down yet? How long is the line?

 

Just kidding of course... I'm glad to hear it's running, even though I'm not there to ride it. I guess we might have to make a return trip to the park to get on this damn ride.

Have fun!

 

2PM here now... Still running! 2 trains are going... The 2nd train stacks almost every time but it only waits a minute or 2. I'd say 3-4 minute dispatches. 3 rides so far. Front twice and back once. The pacing of the ride is just awesome. The quad-down provides a lot of airtime. IMO, I 'd place it 2nd among RMC's, nicely between NTAG and Outlaw Run.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
simaticable Mentor

simaticable

Posted
Posted
Good grief man I was just there Monday haha. I think I may try to find a random day to go within the next two weeks as hopefully it'll stay open LOL. Sheesh, trying to get a ride on this thing this season has been a complete crapshoot for me.

 

Are you actually from the Atlanta Georgia area? If the ride is actually open I would like to go with other coaster enthusiasts if anyone is down for a meetup!

I'm from the Atlanta area and definitely down for a meet up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kickflipbacktail Community Regular

kickflipbacktail

Posted
Posted
Good grief man I was just there Monday haha. I think I may try to find a random day to go within the next two weeks as hopefully it'll stay open LOL. Sheesh, trying to get a ride on this thing this season has been a complete crapshoot for me.

 

Are you actually from the Atlanta Georgia area? If the ride is actually open I would like to go with other coaster enthusiasts if anyone is down for a meetup!

I'm from the Atlanta area and definitely down for a meet up.

 

If it makes it into next week I'll likely go next weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use https://themeparkreview.com/forum/topic/116-terms-of-service-please-read/

  I accept