Backwards Gemini?

So as long as management signs off, the insurers sign off, state agencies sign off- all is well and nothing can go wrong?

That describes every ride at every licensed amusement park.

I enjoyed Racer backwards. I'm not sure Gemini would give me the same appeal.

XS NightClub said:

So as long as management signs off, the insurers sign off, state agencies sign off- all is well and nothing can go wrong?

Well... it doesn't mean that nothing can go wrong. It does mean that the involved authorities and agencies looked at the proposed change and, to the best of their assorted abilities, determined that there was an acceptable level of risk.

And looking at Kings Island's Racer, running trains backwards for 26 years, they were, apparently, correct in their determinations.

Which is fine, but that doesn't mean management doesn't reassess what prior management has seen as acceptable, or learn from other incidents around the globe and then reset what may be a potential problem. As they do when they readjust height requirements or lap bars or safety belts, etc...

All I said was that maybe management didn't want the risk.

No argument there.

I never thought the Racer backwards was unsafe, I just didn'think it was much fun.

Steeplechase at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

If you think a backwards coaster is an insurance nightmare... i can only imagine trying to build one of these things stateside. XD

Didn't Knott's have one of those at one time?

Yep, they were called the Wacky Soap Box Racers. The only one of its kind other than Steeplechase.

Sollybeast said:

If you think a backwards coaster is an insurance nightmare...

But if the insurance company/companies involved didn't think it was a nightmare... why should we?

I think it does come down to liability. To my knowledge, it was after PTC told them that they did not recommend it they turned them back forward.

As for Batman, B&M built the chassis specifically for running backwards. Then the park would just swap out the parts from other trains. I rode a couple of times and loved it. Very intense! I would never have thought in a million years that I would ride a B&M invert backwards. Crazy!

Gemini would be fun until the final helix.

^ Agreed. I think backwards Gemini is very doable (in a rider's perspective) except for the helix ending. It can be a bit jarring even for riders who can see it coming.

Agreeing. Gemini backwards would probably be fun, until the helix.

Wondering: I'm assuming the backwards Batman train has finished its rounds of the Six Flags chain. Will they bring it back again in a few years?

The backwards Batman train is still making the rounds, it's at La Ronde this year...

I've enjoyed Matterhorn rides backwards at the county fair but I'm not sure I want to try Gemini like that.

Running rides like The Racer & Gemini backwards is costly for the parks. When the park is slow, both sides would need to be open as they are different experiences. At Cedar Point, Gemini will not operate with both sides early in the season or if the weather is bad (they don't have enough guests to fill both trains and the chances of the trains not making it full circuit becomes an issue with high winds and colder temperatures!). The parks save money on staff and maintenance of each ride by alternating which sides are open, instead of having both run at the same time!

Running only one side also lowers the overall ridership due since some people, including myself, will not ride a racing coaster unless it is racing.

Maybe they'll turn Wicked Twister backwards for next year.

jscll said:

Running only one side also lowers the overall ridership due since some people, including myself, will not ride a racing coaster unless it is racing.

Agreed. I won't even get in line for Gemini if I only see one side running.