Lightning Train Question

So one of the thoughts that crossed my mind with the new lightning trains and the TT2 announcement...Since they are lighter with less welds/parts, could they be used for other Cedar Point applications? Hear me out... Remember the true reason why Maverick's hearline roll was removed? It was not that the roll was too intense on the body, it was that it put too much stress on the trains which would have resulted in extensive maintenance and costs. With these new lightning trains, I wonder they could be used on Maverick with a reinstalled heartline roll. Don't get me wrong, Maverick is a fine roller coaster, but I'm sure we all wonder what that heartline roll would have been like. I'd imagine if it was restored, it could give Velocicoaster's mosasaurus roll a run for its money.

Also, if I remember correctly, when replacing Magnum's trains has come up in conversation here, the fact that the existing "Mine train style" trains on Magnum are so light, there were doubts that new trains could be light enough for the existing structure. I wonder if lighting trains could be an option there too. (Of course, they would have to be custom due to the placement of the wheels on Magnum)

EDIT: Fixed a typo

Last edited by C Hertling,

1) I still don't buy the "wear and tear on trains" company line.

2) Don't mess with Magnum!!

GL2CP's avatar

Mavericks vest restraints are awesome, the only problem I have is the bar likes to clamp down during the launch, so if they could solve that problem maverick trains for me would be excellent. Magnum trains don’t bother me since I tighten the belt and cross my legs, but I know most gp people will walk right Into her trap. If they could fix those trains I’d be down for that. But restraints only not the outer shell.


First ride; Magnum 1994

If they were going to replace trains, I'd prefer they focus on Corkscrew and Rougarou. Just my personal opinion, but those 2 are the only coasters I don't ride anymore because of the trains, or the restraints specifically. I don't have any of the issues with Maverick or Magnum that other people seem to.

And as long as I'm ranting, Mine Ride's lap bar and Millennium's seat belts could be a little more forgiving.

Magnum is not a fun roller coaster to me anymore. It is painful on the return trip over the bunny hills. A re-track or new lap bars at least would be welcome. I do not see the draw a lot of people seem to have with it other than nostalgia.

^Agreed. Do a complete retrack and modern trains in the exact same layout. It would be a Top 5 in the park for me if I could bare to ride anything else the rest of the day after riding it!

Last edited by SpeedDemon,

No. Get outta here with that.

djDaemon's avatar

I, for one, hope SpeedDemon never bares anything to ride a roller coaster. Pretty sure that's against park policies anyway.

The idea that Ride X having characteristics you don't like justifies modifying the ride to suit your tastes is patently insane in any case, and is especially egregious for an iconic, historic ride like Magnum. I can't handle spinning rides, therefore I don't ride them. The calculus isn't more complicated than that.


Brandon

djDaemon:

The idea that Ride X having characteristics you don't like justifies modifying the ride to suit your tastes is patently insane in any case, and is especially egregious for an iconic, historic ride like Magnum.

Amen! It's like asking Margot Robbie to spend a few months chowing down on Big Macs simply because you happen to like fat chicks.

DRE420's avatar

As far as Magnum goes, people who complain about how painful it is just don't know where to sit to avoid the ouchies. In each car, both the front and rear seats sit over top of the wheel housings, the middle does not. Sit in that middle row next time, and enjoy the ride! Same with any arrow with that train configuration. I hope Magnum hangs around for the long haul, still one of my favorite coasters out there.

heric's avatar

There are thing you can do to minimize the pain on Magnum because yes - it’s a painful ride for most. I know all the tricks and it still bruises my wife’s thighs and it’s a skip for my older father in recent years.

Look at how much the change to soft straps helped Maverick. Why would you not want that for Magnum if possible?

From my anecdotal experience rider comfort is heavily linked to how much a ride is enjoyed for the non-enthusiast.

Nothing against Margot, but I think most of us have a much better chance to ride Magnum.

Cousin Eddy's avatar

Over the years Magnum has gotten rougher for me over the years. It's those bunny hops that kill my legs. Wish there was a way they could smooth out the bunny hop, the peaks seem sharper than they could be.

Still love the ride, classic in my book.

As long as it doesn't sink into lake Erie. lol.......


That there Clark is an RV.....

Middle and rear row seats are not comfortable for those of us who have longer legs as our knees get bumped up from the seat back in front of us. If you have to have a trick or ride a ride a certain way, it’s worth skipping for me. But I do not think it is out of the question to suggest a once great ride be improved to be better by simply adding better lap bars. It’s an iconic ride no doubt. I would just like to be able to enjoy it again one day.

djDaemon's avatar

TwistedWicker77:

Middle and rear row seats are not comfortable for those of us...

I do not think it is out of the question to suggest a once great ride be improved to be better by simply adding better lap bars.

"Spinning rides are not comfortable for those of us who throw up afterwards.

I do not think it is out of the question to suggest a spinning ride no longer spin so I can ride it."

Unless it's deteriorated tremendously since last year, Magnum is fine. Yes, I am less-equipped to handle the ride than I was at 10, but that's a me problem, not a Magnum problem.


Brandon

heric's avatar

Dj that logic doesn't make sense here. We are talking about simply improving the comfort of the ride, not alternating the way it works (like stop spinning when designed to spin). There has been over 30 years of innovation since those original lapbars.

Of course they do not NEED to do anything with Magnum and I do not have the expectation for them to change it in anyway either. But if they found a way to make the ride more comfortable that would make it more enjoyable.

Bringing back the Maverick soft shoulders for a second - this made an already amazing ride even better. If they could achieve that with magnum trains or even new lap bars that would again make an already amazing ride even better.

Last edited by heric,
djDaemon's avatar

More enjoyable for who?

I find Magnum perfectly enjoyable as-is, and unless something has changed recently, so too do millions of others. Others don't, and that's fine, but the idea that a popular ride should be modified to make it "more enjoyable" for a vocal minority is every bit as absurd as suggesting altering a spinning ride to make it not spin so as to make it "more enjoyable" for a vocal minority that can't handle spinning rides.


Brandon

djDaemon:

"Spinning rides are not comfortable for those of us who throw up afterwards.

I do not think it is out of the question to suggest a spinning ride no longer spin so I can ride it."

Unless it's deteriorated tremendously since last year, Magnum is fine. Yes, I am less-equipped to handle the ride than I was at 10, but that's a me problem, not a Magnum problem.

That was like comparing apples to oranges vs. what I am suggesting because a spinning ride is built to, ya know, spin. You know before going on that it spins and you make the decision whether you are going to ride it or not based on whether you can handle the spinning. Whereas Magnum at one time provided a somewhat comfortable and thrilling ride for me, but it no longer does and I think this thread is proving I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Just because it is fine for YOU, does not mean it is fine for someone who finds it to be uncomfortable and unenjoyable. Straight up, my last ride on it sucked, and I would welcome any changes that would improve the ride experience such as better lap bars. I’m not suggesting it be removed for goodness sake. I think a lot of you are holding on to the fact that it is iconic rather than acknowledging that it doesn’t give the same ride it did when you were 10. The materials that make up Magnum aged just like we all did since we were 10.

Edited to add: Maverick is a great ride to me. The original restraints never gave me issues. But they decided to replace them with better restraints for a more comfortable ride for everyone. It is not absurd to suggest a good ride could be better. Rather, it’s absurd you would find that absurd.

Last edited by TwistedWicker77,
heric's avatar

More enjoyable for everyone.

Never said it SHOULD be modified if you reread my statement and this isn’t even going into the financial analysis of making of a change like this.

Simply saying magnum is a painful ride that could benefit from new restraints just like Maverick did.

You must be logged in to post

POP Forums app ©2024, POP World Media, LLC - Terms of Service