Gemini running with one side backwards?

I'm not sure if I'd be in favor for this or not, but would it be possible to run one side of Gemini backwards? I don't necessarily mean switch it so one side runs backwards all the time. I think that it would be cool if one side was reversed say for halloweekends or something. What are your thoughts? Should Gemini ever run one sides backwards, or is that just a sin to even think about?

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http://sapman.homestead.com --- My stupid website

I think it would be a great idea, they should doit during a non-new-coaster year for something new.

The question is, can Arrow mine trains run backward? Dave?

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Futuristic bow-wow... do the dog catcher!

If they can, they should. That would be fun.

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Too much of a good thing...is wonderful.
--Mae West

I have always liked that idea. Would or could they just reverse the dogs under the train. I guess it would take more than just that. Brake plates and sensors would have to be moved as well. It would be tripped out.

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:) "Did you know this goes up-side down" :) *** This post was edited by Freaky on 4/17/2001. ***

I think the answer to this will be the same as 'can you run a blue train on the red side?' question. The manual lap bar releases are on the outside of the train. To do it right, you'll not only have to reverse the train, but run red on blue and vice versa.

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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

That would be sweet! CP if you read this I suggest that u look into it! WOOOOOOO!!!

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Take it to da house!

Wouldn't the "clackety-clacks" (forgot the real term for the moment) have to be taken off the train and replace facing the oposite direction. Costing mucho dinero, I don't think CP would want to do that.

Later

I heard Ron Toomer asked this very question several years ago. He said that he personally didn't like the idea and that, more importantly, it wouldn't be easy. The exact quote was something like "you gotta remember those aren't PTC trains -- you can't just turn them around." He didn't offer any further explanation.

It would only make a great ride better to do this. The Racer at PKI has one side running backward, and it's fun as heck, but the Gemini is so much better than the Racer that if they flipped one around it may make a person's head explode just because it's so much darn fun. I suggest that a couple of us go over to CP at night with our wrenches and drills and cranes (because I know we all have these) and customize that sucker. Who's with me?!?!?!? I know what you're all thinking. I'm not crazy!!!!

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Leave me alone...

Well, it *would* be possible, with some minor modifications (lap bar release) to reverse Car #3 of the train. Here's the restrictions you have to deal with:

Car #1: Only has a hitch on one end.
Car #2: Has a set of dogs
Car #3: Could be reversed
Car #4: Has a set of dogs
Car #5: Only has a hitch at one end.

I suppose you could also swap the positions of Car #1 and Car #5, but one hazard there is that there is an energy-absorbing bumper on the back of Car #5 and not on the front of Car #1.

I guess that on Thunderation at Silver Dollar City they reversed cars #3 and #5, but they are running a 6-car train.

A more important issue, though, is one of ride dynamics. The train is engineered to go in one direction. The ride is profiled based on that engineering. If you go reversing the trains, the dynamics of the ride change, meaning a possible safety compromise. For instance, what happens if the train sets up on the trim brake uptrack of the station while going backwards? What happens when you catapult a rider backwards over the seat back? When you go down the first drop, do the ride forces then drag the rider away from the seat when going backwards? Things like that need to be addressed before making this kind of change. And in today's society, I'd imagine that Arrow would take the approach of, "We don't recommend it" and if something goes wrong would say, "We told you not to do it."

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Would the anti-roll backs work the same way, if you were to just turn the train backwards?

i am used to the twin coaster going only 1 way

Superstew, if Cedar Point ran car three backwards the anti-roll backs would not be a problem because there is no anti-roll backs on car three.

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Andrew
http://www.experiencethepoint.com

But if CP puts one side backwards they could be sneaky like PKI and count Gemini as two coasters. Then CP would be tied for the coaster record with SFMM.

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MF Count: 11
First CP Rollercoaster: Corkscrew

Didn't PKI stop counting it as two? I don't think they could reverse it because of lap bar issues(like Dave said!)

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A bad day at CP is better than a good day at work.

Yeah, PKI isn't counting them as two. It was a last resort plan that they figured would backfire on them eventually if they actually ever DO get the most coasters. I doubt CP will ever do this, but it would be really keen if they did.

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hehe...I said keen...

Keen was a good game...

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Crayons!

I think that that Gemini would be fun backwards, but I wouldnt want it to stay that way.

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MF Count: 11
First CP Rollercoaster: Corkscrew

Speaking of Arrow's run backwards, Viper at SFMM was run backwards for a short time a long time ago. B&M wooden trains can also be run backwards as they have been run that way on both wooden coasters at SFMM. It's because of this I think it's possible to change around Gemini, but it wouldn't be that easiy.

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Adventuredome Ride Op
MGM Grand Adventures Ride Op
Future CP Ride Op