Magnum Issues

MDOmnis said:

They've also done away with the ridiculous procedure to wait until the platform is clear before locking the lapbars (they were doing this to start the season).

Haven't been up to the park in about a month. Is this the case just on Magnum or have they quit this stupid procedure on everything else as well? It was absolutely killing GateKeeper's capacity early in the season.

I didn't ride GK this trip, but based on observing dispatch intervals at GK from the midway here and there, I'm guessing they did away with it there as well. I noticed last trip they had either done away with it at Raptor or were ignoring the "rule" because they were fairly close to efficient.

I think they did away with the procedure entirely. I didn't notice too much stacking on Gatekeeper last time I was there and I don't see much stacking of all 3 trains on Rougarou.

Do you think cp would ever think about getting rid of Magnum?

Not anytime in the forseeable future.

Or ever.

gskins17 said:

Do you think cp would ever think about getting rid of Magnum?

I wouldn't say ever. All rides have a finate lifespan. Even steel coasters. However, not any time soon.

With that said, I would actually love to see Magnum replaced. I know I'm in the very small population of Magnum haters but I just don't enjoy the ride anymore.

I would be be heartbroken. Magnum is one of my favorite rides.

It's weird to think about when they would ever take MF out. It's pretty much the number one attraction but in the next 20 or so years, will it still be as popular? (and no I am not saying MF is going anywhere in 20 years, but just a thought)

I do love Magnum, a fun ride and usually no lines. But boy it sure has gotten rough lately!

I don't think Magnum will get removed anytime soon, but if they were to change anything my vote would be for updated trains. Those bad boys are a pain to get in and out of and the back rests don't do any favors for me in the pretzel. The look of them is still very cool, but the feeling not so much.

I would actually like to see magnum re-tracked. Same basic layout with smoother modern track and trains.

Besides cost, and many other factors that make that idea virtually impossible, I think the biggest obstacle would be the fact that the company that built it is out of business.

Magnum being retracked would honestly upset me.

Personally I prefer Magnum over say Diamondback. I think that coaster is too iconic for CP to let it go anytime soon. But there is no denying that even on a busy day that line is short.

Eventually, all of the coasters we enjoy now at Cedar Point will be removed.

The Cedar Point Cyclone, High Frolics, Super Coaster and Broadway Trip are all long gone....

RideMan said:

A prox switch is still just a switch. Get a metal target close enough to it, and it closes or opens.

Thanks Dave, I never knew that. I just assumed a prox switch just signaled a computer by going high or low but didn't actually act like a mechanical switch.

Gatekeeper2013 said:

Besides cost, and many other factors that make that idea virtually impossible, I think the biggest obstacle would be the fact that the company that built it is out of business.

https://www.chancerides.com/ would be up to the task. it's certainly not impossible, they've done it before.

Pete: a prox does signal a computer by going high or low. But if you look at a PLC, the digital input cards are typically rigged to take a contact closure. The prox switches are designed to provide that. Unlike a mechanical switch, the proxes need power to drive the induction loop, but electrically they work more or less the same way.

Oh, and I have learned that Corkscrew does have an updated PLC running it. :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

^I was about to talk about that haha.

It didn't have a PLC to start, it was originally all relay logic & hard wiring Later one was brought in and limit switches and photo eyes were eventually removed. Then photoeyes were added in later for extra block safety checks. Then a second safety PLC was added.

It still has a pedal counter, and is tested daily on all trains cycling for the day.

The ride does control itself. Other than us releasing brakes and moving things when needed as dictated by SOP, it does it all while we watch and make sure it safely runs.