2016 announcement time

Rideman, I just want to start off by saying I respect your opinion here. I can see where TTD6262 is coming from. The way the old arrow trains are designed compared to today's era, they're much easier to get in and out of. I don't mind a little bumpiness either. That's what I like about the new trains on the newer rides. So I guess I'm the opposite here of Morgan vs. Arrow. I like Morgan better. However If you were to change the trains on Magnum now, ACE would remove the landmark for historical rides that sits outside the main entrance of Magnum. I would much rather say that I like Steel Force more than Magnum rather then the possibility of messing up the history of an already great ride.

Regardless of whether or not they change Magnum's trains, they at least need to better organize the queues in the station. They were a mess when I went last year.

Shawn Meyer said:

However If you were to change the trains on Magnum now, ACE would remove the landmark for historical rides that sits outside the main entrance of Magnum.

You raise an interesting point. The guidelines for coasters designated as ACE Coaster Classics are fairly strict: it has to be a wood coaster; it must have traditional rather than ratcheting individual lap bars; riders must be able to slide from side to side; the ride can't have headrests; riders must be able to choose their seats.

The guidelines for ACE Coaster Landmarks were deliberately designed to be, well, vague, allowing ACE to extend the honor to a broad variety of wood and steel coasters that don't meet the criteria above.

It's possible that new trains would not result in Magnum losing its Landmark status.

Shawn Meyer said:

ACE would remove the landmark for historical rides that sits outside the main entrance of Magnum.

And absolutely no one would care or lose any sleep over it.

Yeah, I actually forgot that sign was there until you mentioned it.

If that signs not up, I'm not riding. It's only thing that gets me in line. Well, that and those "terrible" trains.

Hey! I'm young and I personally think the roughness detracts very little from the ride! I just meant that it would make the ride smoother, but I admit I wasn't clear enough about the fact that I don't necessarily think it would make it better nor do I think it is within the realm of possibility! However, like Pete mentioned, people are undoubtedly more picky about smoothness currently than they were 20 years ago, and an update could spike the popularity from the comparatively low place where it is (compared to hyper coasters at most parks). But I agree with the poster who said we should stop talking about it. This thread is supposed to be about 2016's new ride, and I got it offtrack, for which I apologize.

Jeff said:

And absolutely no one would care or lose any sleep over it.

There are people who would care. ACErs, each and every one, but they would care, and discuss it at length.

I love and respect the history of coasters. That being said, I for one would be upset if Magnum lost its Landmark status.

^^^^^^ Maybe you wouldn't care.

As wouldn't the 99.9% of the park visitors that don't even know what ACE is.

noggin said:
There are people who would care. ACErs, each and every one, but they would care, and discuss it at length.

Well let me rephrase... no one else would care and the popularity of the ride and the park would be completely unaffected.

No argument there!

I made that comment with tongue firmly in cheek. I'm in ACE, know lots of great people, but ye gods: such minutiae can be debated at such length sometimes....

Gatekeeper2013 said:

It is one of those rides you will ride, say that it was rough, and get back on 5 minutes later for round two.

The only time I ride Magnum these days is if someone else wants to go on it. Otherwise I'll spend my time on something I actually enjoy. Everyone is different though and keeping Magnum "as-is" would be fine with me. I think it is an important part of the park's history and a lot of riders enjoy its characteristics.

I'd much rather see them build a new coaster from scratch (without tearing down Magnum) and not be hindered by the existing track design.

DSShives said:

Currently, B&M trains are not designed to run on a track design like Magnum's.

Not exactly the same, but B&M has custom designed trains for a Morgan ride.

The guild wheels on Steel Dragon run on the outside so there probably wasn't any major re-fabrication done at B&M. Yes, they could probably do something on Magnum if the track would take it, but the expense to do something totally different would be cost prohibitive in just my opinion. What's next, someone proposing a total retrack of Magnum?

The ride that needs new trains is Mine Ride, not Magnum. Heck, we even know CP was thinking about putting Gemini trains on it a few years ago.

From a maintenance perspective, the park has 7 Arrow mine trains. I'm not sure if they still have the 2 unused Gemini trains or not. I have not looked for them in the Mean Streak infield for a long time.

One of them is in Town Hall Museum. And I agree Mine Ride needs new trains. That ride is pretty much unridable for me due to the lap bars.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if Steel Dragon 2000's speed changed with the addition of the new trains, or how the weight/capacity of the B&M trains compare to the old ones?

Given the constant nature of gravity and the unchanged height of the ride, no.