Headrests on trains

The MF trains have headrests on the seats. The good news is that they're less significant than your typical Volvo headrest. I don't think they'll obstruct your view, and they aren't that high (compared to S:ROS seats).

So this begs the question... what good are they? Why does Cedar Point put headrests on all of the coasters? If they have some safety benefit, it completely escapes me. These strike me as a solution to a problem that doesn't exist, and that they're installed just because that's the protocol.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point

Maybe they are to keep some little girls hair out of your face while on the ride.

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-Vince Albertson
http://home.att.net/~v.albertson/index.htm

That's the one thing it might accomplish. That, and it will probably serve as a decent handhold for getting into and out of the train.

Interesting that you bring that up, Jeff; I was going to mention it, but I wanted to find a good picture of the Superman train first to make sure it wasn't part of that design.

The Superman seats have exceptionally low backs on them, so the headrest on Millennium Force may be little different from the way the seat back is done on Magnum (vs. say, Mine Ride). One other benefit to the headrest might be for the trip up the lift hill...remember, that's awfully **** steep. In which case it would be a comfort issue. My hope is that it is positioned far enough back that you don't bang your head into it at other points on the ride (such as going down the first drop) because in that case there would be major DIScomfort issues with it, kind of like on Blue Streak (anybody else bang his head into the headrest on that one coming down the first drop?).

Note that Woodstock Express, Disaster Transport, Magnum XL-200, Gemini, and Cedar Creek Mine Ride all run without headrests.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Since it's Halloweekends, I figured I'd bring something back up from the dead.

What dose everyone think now? I only use them to get in and out of the train. If I lean my head against them on the lift I almost look backwards and is a little uncomfey. I don't mind them I guess, they just seem kind of pointless.

I say sell them and turn the profits into new lap bars. Ones that don't just protect or hurt the amdomen and crotch. Then sell the old lapbars to football players for protection. ;).

cpboy said:
Maybe they are to keep some little girls hair out of your face while on the ride.
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-Vince Albertson
http://home.att.net/~v.albertson/index.htm

Umm, no I don't think thats the reason..HeHe

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This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!
Gemini 100
Its Dan K's fault

As long as Joe is bringing back stuff from the dead, let me remind you of something that came up back in the off-season of 1998-1999. I've been looking for the photo, but can't seem to find it. Dan, you have that shot someplace? I'm referring to the photo of the Magnum XL-200 lead car sitting in the Breakers parking lot on a frame so that it was elevated to a 45-degree angle.

I have a strange feeling that it was then that the decision to put headrests on Millennium Force was made.

It would have been even more telling if the second Magnum lead car were positioned nose-down at an 80-degree angle. :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

To build on what Dave said, quite possibly it's so that if the train stops on the lift there's somewhere to rest your head on so your neck doesn't get way overly tired and then fall off or something.

Just MHO

Ahh, then they should have them then. I guess since it's an Intamin they were planning on it being stoped on the lift alot ;). I have seen it stoped many a time and my neck would just get tired looking at at, so I can imagine what it would be like if I was up there.

The most I have been stoped on the lift is for about 20 seconds. I can assure you you don't need them on the brake run becuase I have been stoped there probably more minutes this year than on the course itself :).

The picture you speak of is on Mr. Spartan's site. Here's a direct link:

http://www.msu.edu/~levydust/magnumlaunch.gif

The magnum car being up like that definitely had something to do with MF... :)

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

Sorry Dave, not me. I remeber seeing that though but I was out of film. Isn't it funny how the park drops sublte clues all over the place. :)
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MF: 180
Magnum: 2100

*** This post was edited by Dan on 9/26/2001. ***

Hmmmm, well in that case Dan, we'll all probably be laughing at ourselves later on from not noticing any subtle clues right now about anything new at the park

And the first time I rode MF the headrests were there so I have nothing to compare with really. But on the first drop they had no problem with blocking my view down... I had bug eyes going down!! 8-D

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http://coolforce.cjb.net - The Most Important Internet Web Site... is down the street and to the left.
"This class is like sticking your finger in an electrical socket and not learning a thing."

*** This post was edited by MiLLeNNiuMRiDeR on 9/26/2001. ***

Hey Hooper what is your favorite flavor of hair when you ride?
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MF: 180
Magnum: 2100

I remember having a conversation about the Maggie car sitting 45 degrees a long while ago. This means that you regulars should keep you eyes out for any little thing our of place.

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MF count: 20

What about the the blue fake wood patterns in the ground around the Giant Wheel?
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MF: 180
Magnum: 2100

Could the infamous, elusive boardwalk project finally materialize? I guess we'll find out within a month...

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MF count: 20

Long straight Beach Blonde....Yummy
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This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!
Gemini 100
Its Dan K's fault

And in second curly Brunette's...oh have mercy
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This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!
Gemini 100
Its Dan K's fault

dude your not right
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MF: 180
Magnum: 2100

Let's keep our eyes out for CP running the railroad train at 110 mph :)...

is that the steam engine i hear or compressed air?

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http://coolforce.cjb.net - The Most Important Internet Web Site... EVER.
"The doctor said if I took my finger out my nose would stop bleeding."