Dragster cable snaps

Pete said:

...If it was a cut air hose, it's comforting to note that the brakes stayed up even though air was venting...

Actually, the brake fins require air pressure to go down (that's why they hiss when they lower), so if a total loss of air pressure occured, the brake fins would automatically pop up.

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Pete said:

...They cleaned up some of the cable, and started to free the train from the push car. After the train was clear, they started to manually move the push car in the directon of the station. Why isn't clear to me.

That makes perfect sense. The dog on the bottom of the train is pinned into place by the back of the push car. If the brakes came up even a split second before the push car stopped moving, the push car would still be jammed up against the back of the launch dog. That would prevent the launch dog from disengaging and thus would prevent the train from moving backwards down the launch track.

I just hope the gentlemen in question were not standing behind the train when they disengaged the launch car, as once disengaged the train will start to roll, albeit slowly, even with the brake fins up.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

New Orleans Rider said:
Hey guys, read the article in the sandusky newspaper today on www.virtualmidway.com , it says the ride may reopen as soon as today!! I definitly should be opened when i get there in a week!! Thank God
Steven

Thank God indeed. I'm going up there in exactly three weeks from tomorrow, and I can't wait to see TTD in all of its glory.

From what I've read and seen, it sounds like it seperated at some connection point rather that snapped (as in broke) at some midpoint of the cable.

The cable didn't break, but a connector holding it to something gave way and the cable flew out.

my thoughts...

Another thing Dave mentioned on CoasterBuzz, worth repeating here, is that if a component is going to fail, it will likely do so shortly after being put into service. In this case, the cable have been used under load for probably about a month or so.

Also, I love how people (here and on CoasterBuzz) attribute the cables to being some magic Intamin cables. Does anyone have common sense anymore? While the trains and the steel all came from Switzerland, do you think there's some special cable (or concrete, or lights, or prox switches... whatever) that comes only from Switzerland? My God, there are probably dozens of vendors in Northern Ohio who could get you that kind of cable post-haste, assuming the park doesn't already have it in reserve.

I'm glad Dan brought up my chain break on SFA's Superman. Talk about dumb luck, they had two chain breaks in the first month of operation back in 2000 (I got the walk-down on the second one :)). There were similar conversations about magic Intamin chains and how much they suck.

I'll say it here too... the only reason anyone cares or makes this out to be a big deal is because 1) It's Cedar Point and 2) It's Dragster.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

update: i was looking at the webcam from cedarpoint, and all of the trains are on the matience track, this is depressing,cp is the greatest park and i also have full confiedence that the problem will be fixed and people will have there 120 mph rush =)

If I'm not mistaken, the same things that are being said on here about TTD this year were said about Wicked Twister last year. All you heard was..."Wicked Twister has major problems!" "CP needs to do this....CP needs to do that.!" If you love the place as much as you say then shut the hell up. I'm like Jeff, I don't think that they would market a ride as much as they did those two only to shut them down. It takes a while to get the bugs out.
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My Top 5 at CP: 1)Maggie 2)Millie 3)WT 4)Raptor 5)Mantis

You know who I feel most sorry for? The hotel employees. Those guests are going to be moaning and groaning about TTD not working and will be asking for refunds or discounts on their rooms because of it.

Of course, they won't think about the 67 other rides that are operating including a little thing called Millennium Force. If you are staying at the Holiday Inn you won't get a discount b/c TTD is not operating. Why should the folks at Breakers be any different?

Sound ridiculous? I guarantee you that this is happening even as we speak.

Jeff said:

Also, I love how people (here and on CoasterBuzz) attribute the cables to being some magic Intamin cables. Does anyone have common sense anymore? While the trains and the steel all came from Switzerland, do you think there's some special cable (or concrete, or lights, or prox switches... whatever) that comes only from Switzerland? My God, there are probably dozens of vendors in Northern Ohio who could get you that kind of cable post-haste, assuming the park doesn't already have it in reserve.

I don't understand why people do this either, Jeff. The funny thing is, some of these same people have probably used the same type of cable before.. a cable is a cable...

by the way, yet again, the simple answer is the correct. Not to sound like im sucking up, but if something is going to fail, it'll do so in the first month, definitely first year.. or it'll just get worn out after 10-20-30 whatever years(in which case it will probably be addressed and replaced in regular maintenence)

I bet by this time next season, Dragster is just as reliable as good ol Millennium Force :)

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2003 Stats - Visits: 2
TTD:2 MF:3 Mag:3 WT:2 MS:5 Raptor:2 Mantis:0 Gemini:6 DT:1 CCMR:2 CS:1 ID:1 WC:1 BS:1

On the bright side of all this, it looks like the down time is giving them a chance to put up some more countdown lights on the tower. Check the web cam. Looks like there are six in place.

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May is here, the sun is out and Cedar Point is rolling again!

Jeff said:

Also, I love how people (here and on CoasterBuzz) attribute the cables to being some magic Intamin cables. Does anyone have common sense anymore? While the trains and the steel all came from Switzerland, do you think there's some special cable (or concrete, or lights, or prox switches... whatever) that comes only from Switzerland?

That is so right. I quick search of Cleveland area businesses found 15 companies in Cleveland alone that sell and/or make wire rope of all sizes. It's pretty common stuff. Think elevators people. Something all cities have.

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Florida may have Disney World and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!

lpth5 said:
and i also have full confiedence that the problem will be fixed and people will have there 120 mph rush =)

True, but how long it will take is another issue. I'm still praying that it'll be fixed by the time I go out there three weeks from tomorrow.
*** This post was edited by V Dogg 5/27/2003 1:25:54 PM ***

It should not even take close to three weeks...it took a week for M.F. and that did damage on the way down...this is just a simple cable replacement by the sound of it

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If you're scared of heights, you won't be after Cedar Point

I have my fingers crossed. I haven't been to CP in almost two years (I was pregnant last summer) and I am going June 3. I agree - they have 67 other rides, so don't complain if one is down, but I can't help praying. . . . arranging babysitters for four kids between my sister and I takes a while. I don't want to reschedule. If I can't ride TTD this time, who knows when I will be back?!?!

V Dogg,

You have nothing to worry about. It will definately be fixed by the time you go. I'm pretty confident it will be done by the time I go, tomorrow!

I was at the park last night from open to close and was lucky enough to get on Dragster about an hour before the cable snapped. We saw them working on it while in line for PT.

Dragster will not be open today at all. . .and who knows about tomorrow. Earlier today it was "Dragster may open at 7:00 PM at the earliest," but now it is for sure closed all day.

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Ross: Do you have a minute? I’d like to talk to you about something I’m, I’m really uncomfortable talking about.

Joey: Sure. What? About uh, you showering with your mom?

Ross: I actually had a topic in mind!

Yeah, I'll confirm that. Today is a no-go, though they worked all night trying to open today. The park won't comment on tomorrow, but I get kind of an optimistic feeling.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

From the pics that ShiveringTim posted, in the last one you can see part of the yellow train for anyone wanting a pic of it since it was back.

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2003 Statistics
Top Thrill Dragster: 3
Millennium Force: 8
Wicked Twister: 7

It appears that two of the four trains on the transfer tracks have been moved. Are they ready to test the repairs?