Gemini can't keep it up...

i was at the Point yesterday, getting season pass processed and what not. well, we circled around to Lighthouse Point to see what we could see. Gemini was testing, both trains at the samee time, and as they fell down the first hill, blue couldn't make it up the next hill, and for the next 7 or so minutes, the train rolled back and forth. i dont know if this is exactly a big problem, its just there were no cranes around at the time. i hope this isnt a problem.

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"it's like eating in the kitchen of a delightful italian stereotype!"
***This post was edited by rogue kielbasa 5/4/2003 10:02:47 AM***

i was there yesturday and noticed the blue train was at the bottom of the hill too. i dont know what they would do to get it out of there

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TTD- A TOY THAT MILLIONS CAN PLAY WITH...

"i like to post many posts just so i can see my name"

This is not unusual, particularly at the beginning of the season.

is it a big problem? or just a minor problem?

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"it's like eating in the kitchen of a delightful italian stereotype!"
***This post was edited by rogue kielbasa 5/4/2003 10:02:47 AM***

If Chief Wahoo says it's not unusual for this to happen at the beginning of the season, then I would take that to mean that it's not a big problem.

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Attitude: A little thing that makes a big difference!

If there is a rollback, they typically remove the upstop wheels and simply take the train back to the transfer track, as I'm sure is the case with Gemini. Gemini rolls back pretty frequently, I saw it happen while I was there last May.

Also, they will sometimes pull the train back to the station with a winch, which is what they did when MF rolled back last year.

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-Chris Woodard
"If you're standing in an uncomfortable position, that means you are in the right position because you are riding Mantis!" - Mantis ride op doing spiels on closing day.

Gemini rolls back a lot, it's not a huge deal. That's why they make us put so many sand bags in the train every morning.

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Brent Haley
Gemini Crew '02 & '03

And to think that I get to work on this beast this summer :X... *rushes to the gym* Gotta get pumped up so I can lift all those sandbags! I've established that seeing a roll back is one of my top goals to accomplish this summer while at work :)! Let's just hope it doesn't happen as much as people say it does this season... Two weeks left until I process in! *squeals* The anxiety!!

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2003 - Gemini Crew

The weight isn't so bad, but you might want to bring a set of work gloves for sandbagging. I went over and helped them a few times in 2001 and the weight isn't bad - you can take a few at a time in each hand, but the straps start to dig into your hands after a while so gloves would probably be helpful.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew
2003 Magnum Crew

Yeah i heard that when it was built they figured it would work without using computers or anything so it didnt work so they had to lower the second hill so that it would make it over.

--brennan

Without using computers? I'm failry sure that it uses computers in some sort of blocking system, even if it is from the stone age. I'll be able to find out myself when I process in. And I don't recall from reading up on the Gemini that reconstruction had to be done to lower the second hill... My guess is these are two more uneeded rumors.

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2003 - Gemini Crew

Lol , from the tital of this thread I was thinking all that gemini neede was some viagra.

Brennan may be thinking of Blue Streak. It ran manually until I think the late 80's.

But computers have nothing to do with a train making it over a hill; that would be gravity.
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Without upstops, airtime would have a whole new meaning!

very true chain dog very true.. it gravity not computers that make most coasters work

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TTD- A TOY THAT MILLIONS CAN PLAY WITH...

"i like to post many posts just so i can see my name"

I may be wrong but I believe he was stating that during the design they calculated all forces by hand. Not that the rollercoaster was run without a computer...

That's how I was interpertating it Luke. But I'm pretty sure that's a BS rumor anyway. Even Figuring it out by hand I'm sure that's one of those "minor" things they would have concentrated on. It's not like playing a game of RCT, they can't just go around building things then tearing them down because it doesn't work right.

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Joe Cool's Merch 2002
Macaroni's 2003

They used to build coaster and tear them down because they didn't work right. One of the first looping coasters snapped people's necks, so they had to tear it down and redesign.

Just my $0.02 worth. The last time I recall, the Gemini, as well as the C.C. Mine Ride don't use upstop wheels on the track underside. They both use a metal bar to keep the car attached to the track.

As far as the old style looping coasters snapping people's necks, this had more to do with the shape of the loop. round loops were hurting people. Loops that are spherical in shape (tear droop) don't tend to do so.

some of these circular loop coasters, like the Centrifugal Railway and the Flip Flap actually had more of an audience to watch the ride then they had to ride the ride! the park operators had to post signs that said "watch for pickpockets" on the fences that surrounded the ride!

and Raptor0137, i'm pretty sure youre right in saying Gemini uses a metal bar instead of the standard upstop wheel.

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"it's like eating in the kitchen of a delightful italian stereotype!"
***This post was edited by rogue kielbasa 5/4/2003 10:02:47 AM***

As far as I know there are metal bars instead of upstop wheels on both Gemini and CCMR. Corkskrew actually uses upstop wheels.

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Blue people fly sideways when it rains....