Kicker Wheels vs Gravity

I was wondering if someone could explain why some coasters use wheels and others use gravity to get the trains’ in/out of the station. Are there specific advantages to both methods?

Thanks

I would think that strong kickers would be advantageous because the movement is quicker, perhaps shaving a few seconds off of the dispatch interval.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"

Kicker wheels allow you to have a level station platform, for one thing, also if you want to run the trains backwards (as for transferring them through a switch) the kicker wheels give you a good way to do it. B&M use kicker wheels because it allows for driving the train to exactly the load position (unless the tires are wet); I think the PLC program is a little simpler than you need to park with gravity. Schwarzkopf used kicker wheels on the Wildcat because it is a portable coaster and the platform is so low that there isn't any drop to the lift. Plus, it is easier to set up the ride if the platform is *level* rather than pointing downhill "n" degrees. Intamin use kicker wheels in conjunction with the magnetic brakes so that they have a means for actually stopping the train and for starting it again once the brakes are pulled back.

Personally, I think gravity is a more elegant solution, particularly since gravity is more reliable than kicker wheels any day...But that is just my opinion.

--Dave Althoff, Jr. *** This post was edited by RideMan on 3/24/2000. ***

Well i guess they don't call you the "ride man" for nothing.

i must say that i always tend toward the elegant solution when facing a problem.

(Actually, "they" don't; I picked the username... :) )

--Dave Althoff, Jr., more frequently referred to as "DAAAAAAAVE!!!!!!" by his co-workers...

...or THE Dave Althoff Jr. or "that guy with the small tape measure" or Public Enemy #1 in the CP Park Ops office ("Do not accept complaint/suggestion forms from this man") or... :)

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Scott W. Short
sshort@mediaone.net
http://welcome.to/midwestcoastercentral

Oh, they *accept* my comments. Occasionally, they even, coincidentally, experiment with things I happen to suggest (such as the front-line redesign at the Burger Patio a couple of years ago). Generallly I chalk it up as mere coincidence, as CP has some pretty sharp people working for them. I just figure there's a poster someplace with photos of me, Jeff, Dan and Walt on it that says, "DO NOT TALK TO THESE MEN!". Either that, or it's my face on Mr. Miears' dart board... :)

Hey... I think the marketing staff likes us, heck, even likes this site. For every inane question that gets asked here, that's one less they have to answer! :)

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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"