How can 500ft be broken?

I am not an advocate of bigger coasters, but there is a way to go higher with a smaller footprint: a vertical lift. A larger elevator structure could, in theory, lift an entire trainload of passengers to the apex and release it down a track. You'd still need a lot of run out room but the lift structure would require several football fields of length.

you forgot Shivering Timbers

No I didn't. My one visit to MiA last season delivered pretty forceless mid-afternoon rides. I didn't get back there this season, but am looking forward to giving it another try next year. However, for the moment, I'm in the minority that doesn't "get" ST.

One way to build a space saving 500 foot lift hill is to break it up into sections. Have a 100 foot lift followed by a 180 degree turn going into the next 100 foot lift followed by another 180 degree turn, etc.

This would also allow for a fairly slow lift that would, especially when combined with the turns, raise the "scare" factor.

Jason Hammond said:
You asked how you could do it without building a skyscraper in the middle of the park. Well, if you want to get to the 500' mark, then you need something that is 500' tall. So to awnser your question, you can't do it. All you can hope for is that it doesn't take up a lot of space. Imagine if the MF hill were 75% bigger, that would take up a lot of space. We don't want another rocket coaster like with TTD. So here's my sugestion. A powered lift hill that corkscrews its way to the top. You'd get a nice opportunity to view the park and it would reduce the ammount of space the ride consumed. *** Edited 10/17/2004 3:23:02 PM UTC by Jason Hammond***

That would be great, like a 500' version of Jumbo Jet

There is always the option of Vekoma's thrill lift.

Lost Coaster at Indiana Beach has an elevator lift that works pretty well. I am sure that you could do an elevator lift hill.

Although I tend to agree with a lot of other people on this board in saying that Cedar Point needs to stop concentrating on building the tallest rollercoaster and try working on making the best rollercoaster. A smaller more dynamic (wooden) rollercoaster may do the trick. *** Edited 10/20/2004 3:32:08 AM UTC by Delbert***

A vertical lift hill is something can be and has been done. Take Typhoon for example. It's got a 90 degree lift hill and a 97 degree drop. Maybe a 97 degree drop wouldn't work for a 500 footer but an 80 or 90 degree angle would.

Pete said:
One way to build a space saving 500 foot lift hill is to break it up into sections. Have a 100 foot lift followed by a 180 degree turn going into the next 100 foot lift followed by another 180 degree turn, etc.

Remember:

Multiple Lifthiles = Multiple Cables/Chains

I mean, its not possible with a chain, but maybe with a cable due to Pulleys *** Edited 10/20/2004 2:42:15 PM UTC by cedarpointlover***

Of course it's possible, if there is a downward slope between lifts. After all, CCMR has two lift hills, both with chains.

Brian, there wouldn't even need to be a downward slope, as long as the first chain provides enough speed for the train to catch the next chain (say that 3 times fast) it should be ok. Another option would be a lift like that on WE. I wonder if that would allow them to do a spiral lift using the wheels instead of a cable/chain. No cable fraying, no chain-dog breaking, no too small pulleys, no waiting for a lift-hill reset.

FrontierDale said:
A vertical lift hill is something can be and has been done. Take Typhoon for example. It's got a 90 degree lift hill and a 97 degree drop. Maybe a 97 degree drop wouldn't work for a 500 footer but an 80 or 90 degree angle would.

Well look at the size of the train it's small. Where talking about at least I think a size of a train like MF. The cable would snap every month and then the amount of power it would take too, is a problum.

And I'm sure you've done all the physics calculations to back up these obviously factual statements?

And no matter what angle you raise something to 500 feet, it is going to take the same amount of energy, so that's not really a concern with whether you go with an angled or vertical lift. A system of pulleys would also greatly reduced the amount of power output required from the motor that winds the drum.

I also don't see how this would cause a cable to snap as often as you claim. The amount of weight needed to be lifted by a cable would not cause it to snap at any given time frame. The cable can be engineered to work with a vertical system.

This myth is BUSTED.

Jugga thats my opion if you don't like I don't care. I never said it was fact it is my opion. Sorry if it sounded like I knew it all the fact is I don't.

train to catch the next chain (say that 3 times fast)

train to catch the next train...chain to catch chain, nevermind.

-Eagle