Cedar Point 2013

Thanks for the pics Wheelgun! I have a random question. Will they construct the keyhole towers before the track is erected or will the build the towers after? My guess is they will build the towers first. I'm not an engineer by any means, this is just my guess. Thoughts?

The towers will most likely be built after. Remember, the track goes in first, then the scenery/theming. It's much easier to put track into place, rather than having to work around a tower. Also, the coaster's supports are inside the structure. The towers are only there for aesthetic purposes. They don't actually supporting anything other than themselves.

"the coaster's supports are inside the structure"
"they don't actually supporting anything other than themselves"

So which is it, Mr. Contradiction?

The "Towers" don't support anything but themselves.

I just noticed that the keyhole tower for X Flight was constructed after the track was complete after looking at some construction photos on rcdb.

PyroKinesis said:
"the coaster's supports are inside the structure"
"they don't actually supporting anything other than themselves"

So which is it, Mr. Contradiction?

Well, I guess I should have worded that better. Seems a few people had trouble comprehending that.

What I meant was that the towers seems to be a facade over the actual coasters supports.

http://0.tqn.com/d/themeparks/1/0/F/F/1/GateKeeper-Cedar-Point-Keyhole.jpg
Notice how the left tower has supports jutting out the back-side. This leads me to believe that there will be supports running through the center of the towers.

However this is just my perception on what could be the situation here.

ON TOPIC:
BRcoastrpsycho34, that's exactly why I think the keyhole towers will be constructed afterwards. It would make the entire process more efficient.

Cedar King, good eye on noticing the support running through the tower in the artist rendering of the towers. I didn't even notice that until you brought it up.

G double O D E Y E!!! Goodeye Goodeye! Oh, the days of little league baseball chants!

The supports are inside the towers. More than likely, where the support "meets" the tower exterior, you'll have space around the support (or flexible material) so they can flex without damaging the towers.

Just wondering, but from looking at the rendering and videos (and I know those are never conpletely accurate), could it be possible that the towers are just formed concrete? Like a giant above ground footer and that the track through the keyhole is bolted straight to the tower structure. The support Cedar King mentioned "jutting out the back" are for the return after the turnaround....it looks like they could be bolted to the side of the tower as well.

If this is true, those would need to be built and cured before those pieces of track are put in place.....

I don't think I've ever seen a support that high made of concrete. It would likely be a danger to people below from swaying and the possibility of pieces chipping off.

I'd wager those towers are hollow.

New for 2013... Gatekeeper!!! The world's tallest and strongest concrete footers!!!!

Tennessee_CP_Fan said:
If this is true, those would need to be built and cured before those pieces of track are put in place.....

Concrete curing is sort of like half life decay. It never really ends, but rather gets closer to a completely cured state over time.

After a couple weeks, concrete is cured enough to handle damn near anything.

Guide_Wheel said:
I don't think I've ever seen a support that high made of concrete. It would likely be a danger to people below from swaying and the possibility of pieces chipping off.

Concrete can actually be pretty flexible. Ever stand on a suspension bridge as traffic travels over it? Or, better yet, walk across a bridge with a lot of other pedestrians?

I had the "pleasure" of sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Mackinac Bridge during some sort of walk. The amount of bouncing going on was pretty incredible, and I didn't witness any concrete falling into the lake.

Well, yes. I was just pointing out that aside from coasters like Superman at Darien Lake, I don't think I've ever seen one that high.

I still don't think they'd do it.

I have a feeling that the towers will made of a steel structure. And pre-fabricated sections of a concrete-like material will be attached. Just my 2c.

Track has arrived...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151088641711463

Direct image link:
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/976_10151088641711463_447457425_n.jpg

Also, it looks like the webcams are down, so we wont be able to catch the track arriving on the time lapse :(

Hmmm, just a coincidence they are down.....hmmmm I wonder...

Oh, that sexy B&M track. How I love you so.

They should have stacked at least 20 pieces of track on that truck bed... B&M Jenga!

Miss_Maverick07 said:
Hmmm, just a coincidence they are down.....hmmmm I wonder...

that's because they are secretly building 2 coasters and don't want us to see the track for the other one arrive.

;) That's a wink in case anyone thinks I'm serious

After taking a closer look at the POV video it does seems as though the track is going to just be bolted to the inside of the keyhole elements. Concrete is pretty strong and if they can make bridges out of it, I guess it's good enough for GateKeeper. The two towers look massive, but compared to what has already been made out of concrete this should be no problem. Does anyone know when the webcams are going to be back up? Anticipation is killing me!