Behind the Rides: TTD

Finaly, T&T have posted Behind the Rides for Top Thrill Dragster. (Part 1 at least) Very Cool. Here's a link for those who have been a cave:

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/index.cfm

you beat me to it! i was just gonna start a post! ive been waiting so long for this! it was very intresting!

I'm glad they finally got around to showing us.... very cool! :)

I never realized how complicated the whole ride was. Now it's easy to understand why it had so many problems in the first few years. What I don't understand is with the whole braking system. Wouldn't having the magnets repel against the train speed it up? Wouldn't it make more sense to have the magnets pull on the train to slow it down?

I wonder what parts of the ride they can't photograph... Possibly the hydraulic room...

I can't understand that, as there are plenty of pics out there of the motor and such...

It's about flippin time!!:)
That's a good question josh. I was thinking the hydraulic room as well but there's tons of media out there that shows the hydraulic room. Not only on Dragster but on other launch coasters. Maybe they just cant take photos of certian things in the room.

And Matt, the magnets are putting a forward resistance to the train. Just like putting 2 magnets together, what do they do?, they repel eachother.

Ah, ok. It was hard for me to understand at first. Now I get it. Thanks.

Matt, since the magnets are opposite polarity they repel each other which creates kind of a magnetic friction lets say, and causes the train to slow down but it does not completely stop it.

Next time you are waiting in line for TTD and are next to the return track watch as the train comes in. The train slows down due to the fins but is finally stoped by the kicker wheels that move the trains around the station.

My favorite part of TTD: behind the scenes part 1 is "And time to meet Mr. Catch Car". Don't know why I found this funny but I did

They actually can completely stop the train. The reason they cant on Dragster is the simple fact that both the launch and brake run are on a slight tilt or incline which causes a constant movement of the trains due to their weight.
Given a long enough amount of flat track and enough magnetic brakes, the trains could come to a complete and full stop without moving.

But you are right about the kicker wheels. They do (though not always) play part in the full stop at the end of the brake run.

Just reading that kinda puts your mind in the mood just before the launch!! Very cool! Bring on part 2!!

David Sagert said:
Matt, since the magnets are opposite polarity they repel each other which creates kind of a magnetic friction lets say, and causes the train to slow down but it does not completely stop it.

Actually, same polarities repel. Remember, opposites attract.

And now i look like a moron thanks.

Just kiddin turbo, minor malfunction in the recalling of basic physics, my fault.

I actually thought it's been discussed here before that the trains will not ever come to a full and complete stop in the magnetic breaking sections, thats why they have the kicker wheels?

Yeah, magnetic brakes can't ever completely stop the trains since the braking force created by magnets is proportional to speed. MF works the same way in that it is the drive wheels that bring it to a final stop.

Maybe, the part they are not allowed to photograph, is the electrical/computer room? I myself, have never seen any pictures of it, but always wanted too.

Oh sure they wont stop the train so long as they’re on an inclined track section. Don’t forget that both the brake runs on MF and Dragster are on an incline. MF's brake run is allot shorter though but the length of the trains is enough to where they're slowed enough to engage the kicker wheels at a safe speed.
And why do you think the launch and brake are inclined on Dragster? So the trains can keep some kind of movement so that it wont get stuck mid brake section right before the kicker wheels can move them into the next section.
Just so I’m clear, I am agreeing with you guys.

And I have a quick question. Did Dragster have a longer stretch of brake fins on the brake run than it does now? For some time now, I’ve noticed that there are empty fin placements that extend past the "FINISH" sign.

*** Edited 6/13/2006 3:21:59 AM UTC by TTD 120mph***

TTD 120mph,

Yes, fins were removed from the brake run prior to the start of the 2003 season.

Also, is there anybody out there who knows why, given the pictures shown, this response from T&T is incorrect?

Timothy, the blinking red light indicates that the system has encountered an error and needs to be checked.

It disturbs me a little that after three years I can still take one look at the control panel and immediately assess the condition of the ride.

TTD 120mph said:
And I have a quick question. Did Dragster have a longer stretch of brake fins on the brake run than it does now? For some time now, I’ve noticed that there are empty fin placements that extend past the "FINISH" sign.

*** Edited 6/13/2006 3:21:59 AM UTC by TTD 120mph***

I've always thought they should make that last stretch of speed longer and make more brakes closer together for a faster slowdown.

TTD - You are dead wrong.

It does not have anything to do with the brake runs being on an incline. A magnetic brake simply cannot hold a train.

It can bring it all the way down to almost 0, which could technically count as a dead stop, but it will keep creeping forward until it is held in place by something that isn't magnetic.

Quoted directly from the Magnetar(tm) homepage:

Can the brakes bring a vehicle to a complete stop? Yes! Soft Stop brakes can be designed to stop the largest and fastest vehicles. Although the vehicle can be stopped, the brake cannot hold the vehicle in place.

It's a cool site - poke around it for a bunch of good info

http://www.magnetarcorp.com/faq.html

For clarity's sake, that Vince isn't me, I liked the Mr. Catchcar comment. You see, you know it's me if I ask questions wrongly and get a sarcastic response ;).