Disaster Transport trims

I just visited CP and was extremely dissapoint in my DT ride experience. DT use to have a good pace and the exciting part of the ride was the constant pick up of speed throughout the ride. Now it has trim brake everywhere making the ride less exciting then the Jr. Gemini. I really feel that CP should eliminate the trims so that DT can resume its previous excitement status.

There are two block brakes on Disaster Transport. Both show up as guide rails to straighten out the sled, then a single motor-driven tire to push the sled through the brake. Generally, the tire is running at about the speed the sled is expected to be moving when it reaches the brake (unless it is necessary to block-stop the sled).

Both block brakes have been there since Avalanche Run opened in 1985.

Any current or former crew people care to confirm or deny? Remember, I have no professional connection with the ride whatsoever.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

yes, the trims are there, they make sure the train is centered and not going excessively fast, (it drops to a heavily banked turn into the large helix room) they really dont slow the train down much if at all.

I rode DT on sunday and although the line was close to 30 mins, i still enjoyed my ride... although i would say it wasnt exactly worth the wait, it is still a good ride, and the trims are always there :)

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TTD: 4 (Rollbacks seen: 24)
MF: 18
WT: 8
"C'mon, get off the rails guys, listen to the guy with the Disaster Transport uniform on!"

RideMan you are correct, the tires are part of the block system when the ride was built as Avalanche Run. They are not meant to be a trim brake - only for stopping purposes if a block set-up occurs. (I was an Area Manager of that part of the park in '86)
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CP Employee 81-88
CP Freak forever

I think the brakes only come on when the a train is slow to load or unload.

The brakes don't seem to slow down the sled equally everytime.

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http://said.uc.edu/students/oakleysd/cp/CP.jpg
Now tell me Cedar Point is running out of space.

ya, i think it was running full capacity so i guess that is why my ride was slower than i remember previous ones being.

Yep, and the trims/brakes are made of rubber. They have to be replaced quite often also.

Dawson said:
I just visited CP and was extremely dissapoint in my DT ride experience. DT use to have a good pace and the exciting part of the ride was the constant pick up of speed throughout the ride. Now it has trim brake everywhere making the ride less exciting then the Jr. Gemini. I really feel that CP should eliminate the trims so that DT can resume its previous excitement status.

These are not 'trims' these are blocks. They are needed for when a slower guest with either a physical ailment or excessive size attempts to ride and takes a little longer to get seated. Trim breaks are what is on Mantis on the first hill. Trims slow, but have no control over whether or not the train keeps going or not... They 'trim' the speed of the trains so they are not traveling too fast. Blocks, like in DT, stop the train completely, if needed, or let it slide through and yes to the person that explained the info about the ride, they have been in DT since it's been DT, and most likely have been there since Avalanch Run.