Cedar Point coasters valleying?

Hey everyone, long time reader, second time poster... I've heard vague stories about various coasters at CP valleying, such as Raptor, Magnum, Mean Streak, and Gemini. I've always been curious about this, and was wondering if anyone out there has any first-hand knowledge of this occuring; or better yet, any pictures? Thanks!

IT happens every once in a while, and generally it's not too big of a deal; more of an inconvenience.

Raptor rolled back on Closing Day of 2006...
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10304
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10303
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10305
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10306

Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "Closed due to current weather conditions." ;)

I've seen pics of Mean Streak valleyed right after the ride photo camera. But, I can't seem to find that photo. I'm sure someone else has it.

Maverick valleyed too, but I'm sure no photos of that exist.

^I'm guessing Maverick valleyed in the middle portion of the twisted horseshoe roll.

To my knowledge in the past five years I can remember hearing about Millennium Force, Mean Streak, Mantis, Raptor, Gemini, and Maverick valleying.

Of course, Top Thrill Dragster does it a lot and Wicked Twister doesn't do much else. :)

Blue Streak has actually valleyed before the lift, believe it or not. It didn't happen this year, but it has before. If its cold, there's basically no graph-coat on the track, and the train is empty there's a possibility of it not making the lift. There was one morning this summer where trains were coming close to not making the lift, and the latch grabbing the chain sounded like a pile-up on the highway, not to mention that wonderfully annoying squeal it makes when there's no graph-coat on the track.

In its opening year, 1978, Gemini valleyed in the second dip after the first hill (just after the small bunny hill). I watched it from my position in the tower control of Shoot-the-Rapids. The ride was in testing, so no guests were on it. Took about a day to get the train out.

I believe Gemini's second hill was reproflied either before it opened or the year later.

BlueStreak64 said:
Blue Streak has actually valleyed before the lift, believe it or not. It didn't happen this year, but it has before. If its cold, there's basically no graph-coat on the track, and the train is empty there's a possibility of it not making the lift. There was one morning this summer where trains were coming close to not making the lift, and the latch grabbing the chain sounded like a pile-up on the highway, not to mention that wonderfully annoying squeal it makes when there's no graph-coat on the track.

Could you explain this graph coat thing? I've always wondered what made that squeal.

I believe he's talking about the graphite they use on the steel "tracks" of the coaster to reduce friction and prevent the "squeal" it makes on corners.

Yes, that's right. Its a "liquid graphite" that acts as a lubricant for the wheels and track on the wooden coasters. You may notice that, similar to steel coasters, there's a visible path that the wheels take, and the build-up on either side of that tracking is excess graph-coat. It washes off pretty quickly in rain, though, which is why you'll usually hear Mean Streak and Blue Streak making that wretched sound after it rains.

DBCP said:

Raptor rolled back on Closing Day of 2006...
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10304
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10303
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10305
http://www.gallery.pointpixels.com/details.php?image_id=10306

Obviously theres no guests on the ride in the pictures, but do you know if guests were on it when it happened?

No, those kind of things don't just happen. Each ride (especially those sensitive to wind) is watched very closely when it is windy. When a coaster valley, there is likely a person gave the all clear when it shouldn't have been given.

I'm not sure on other coasters, but Magnum is timed every hour to see if the ride is running faster or slower than normal.

They will keep an eye on the conditions to prevent valley. Last summer, on a trip with my cousin, they couldn't have more than 1 or 2 seats open on Raptor because of the wind.

And i'm sure a majority of coasters have/will valley in there lifetime. You can predict the physics, but you cant predict outside forces. Just prepare for them.

I'm never heard of a coaster valleying at CP with people ever.

^ But it has happened. Magnum valleyed in the pretzel loop with people on it way back in the day. They had to evac with a cherry picker or fire truck (I forget which). But, I remember seeing it in the paper.

Thanks for all the info. That Raptor train looks so forlorn sitting there on the tracks... How do they get the trains back to the station after a stall? Seems like it would be a major pain.

When the Magnum was valleyed around that area it was the Norwalk's Firetrucks.

They either remove each car one by one (which happened on MF about 2 -3 years ago), or they winch the whole train to the next highest point and hope for the best.

If the next hill is high enough the train could gain enough potential energy to make it back home again.

I thought there was people on the raptor train when it did that.

No.