Magnum Set Up Question

I was on Magnum yesterday and we had a set up. Following the cycle, our train came out of the third tunnel and came to a complete stop in the safety brakes as there was still as a train on the transfer table. The train leaving the station had just left, and a few seconds later the train on the transfer table went into the station. I figured within a second or two we would head to the transfer table, but instead we sat on the safety brakes as the other train was well on its way up the lift. Although I knew the safety systems would kick it, it was a bit un-nerving sitting on the safety brakes as the other train continued to climb the lift. The train stopped on top of the lift just as the safety brakes finally released and we made our way around to the transfer table. As soon as we left the safety brake area, the lift started and everything was back to normal.

What caught my eye was as soon as we came to a stop on the safety brakes, a ride-op ran out of the station, down the walkway and up to the base of the lift. She didn't look to be in a panic, but she was definitely in a hurry.

My question is - why would we have set-up in such a way where we weren't released from the safety brakes as soon as the other two trains advanced? And why did the ride-op need to race out of the station? While I have never once felt unsafe, it is clear that running three trains on Magnum is more complex than the other coasters because of the lack of a mid-course block brake. I am just curious as to why we had a set up in this situation, and why the ride op had to run to the base of the lift.

I'm sure one of the Magnum crew can give a better explanation than me, but I believe the Arrow coasters require someone to run out to manually reset the blocks. I believe on Magnum this is located under the lift?

I worked on Magnum...there was a set up because when you run 3 trains, the train in the station needs to be out by the time the train in front crests the second hill( with two trains you wait till the train makes the way back). So, since you got back and the train had just left, the ride needed to be reset so it can be timed correctly. The ride op ran to the lift to make sure the guests on the hill didn't panic, and in case someone was they can call back down to the booth to let them know. I may be off a little in some of this, it's a been a while since I worked it, but this is what I can recall.

The top of the second hill is actually not the set up point, but rather the proper dispatch point. When everything is going perfectly with three trains, trains are leaving the station one after the other as the previous one crests the second hill. There is a bit of a grace period after that, but if you wait too long, the ride will set up with a train stopping outside the tunnel because the ready brakes outside the station are not clear. The "point of no return" isn't exact and depends on how fast the trains are running, but in general, if the previous train enters the second tunnel and you haven't sent the one out of the station, you're going to have a set up.

If a train is stopped in a set of brakes, the control system on Magnum does not advance the trains automatically once the block ahead is clear. Even trains stopped on the ready brakes outside the station are brought in by lifting up a button once about a car and a half of the leaving train have left the station.

To release the safety brakes located outside the third tunnel, simultaneous lifting of a button in controls and the turning of a key out under the safeties is required. This is why you saw an op running down to the area under the lift. In our day, in the event of a set up, we were instructed to stop the train low on the lift, rather than letting it go all the way up and have the safety system stop it. We also had to wait to have a supervisor call us back to start the ride back up. Now, they are allowed to start it up on their own and they usually just let the train keep going up the lift and hustle out there to release the safeties. In most cases, they can get there and get the safeties release so the lift does not need to stop. In this case, they simply didn't make it in time.

Why they designed it like this I don't really know, but we always figured it was because set ups are to be avoided. :) When I worked the ride, a "bad" day had two or three set ups. Many days we wouldn't have any. Things have changed a little with the loose article bins and set ups seem to happen more often now. They've changed procedures to allow for quicker "recovery" after a set up, but the crew still tries to avoid them. because it's a pain in the nut to run out there and it hurts their numbers and they probably want to beat Craptor. :)

If we want to talk about setups, talk to last year's Iron Dragon crew about opening day! ;)

I can't imagine it would be too hard for Magnum to beat Raptor, considering Blue Streak is up more than Raptor. And I'll stop before the employees start going back and forth about our numbers. :)

At least Raptor's crew this year has at least SOME clue of what the word interval means, unlike the last couple years. :)

That was probably one of the best things about being on Magnum...the rivalry with Raptor...not to mention having the best view standing on top of Magnum's hill.

The TL at Raptor this year is pretty awesome. ;)

For all the time that I've spent in the park over the last several years, I can honestly say I have only seen Magnum setup once, which says something about how consistently good the crews are.

This happened to me on my ride on Magnum on the 4th of July.(Think I used "on" enough times?). It was quite the surprise to come out of that tunnel and instantly stop on the brake run. Some people on our train were concerned, but there were enough people in the train who understood blocking systems that we were able to calm everyone down.

As far as ability to hit interval goes, my experience has been that Raptor crew is kicking Magnum's butt this year. There's been many times where I've seen Raptor dispatching so quickly the incoming train doesn't even stop on the brake run, and they'll keep that up for 20-30 minutes at a time. On the other hand, I've never seen Magnum set up as much as it has this year, which is saying something considering I spent last summer working practically right under it.