Millennium Force Cable Issue
I just went past the coaster less than 20 minutes ago along the drive. They have about 3 cranes on site as we speak, lifting to work on it.
I am headed back in a few, I'll snap some pics.
That being said, this honestly does not surprise me. Early tuesday morning as I waited for MF's front seat, I heard some seriously loud noises coming from the lift that didn't sound normal at all. Steel on steel sort of noises.
Yeah just saw a large crane has now reached up near the top of the drop hill so good to see they are out taking a look at it. Crossing my fingers we here positive news about the situation, MF is tops on my list of coasters I want to ride on my first trip to Cedar Point.
CP is usually very good at getting rides back up and running. I am sure MF will be back up and running in the next week at most.
It does look like there is at least one crane on-site. I took a snapshot of the PagodaCam on their website and you can see a small crane.. or really probably a lift - just over the tree line on the right side of the first drop.
I too am hoping that they get this fixed. My wife and I will be out there on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week - although the weather is starting to look worse as it gets closer - rainy and high 60's with the lake breeze will make for cold, dark days.
That doesn't look good! I am sure they will get Millie up and running as soon as possible!
Life is like a rollercoaster! It is full of ups and downs
italianstallion said:
Early tuesday morning as I waited for MF's front seat, I heard some seriously loud noises coming from the lift that didn't sound normal at all. Steel on steel sort of noises.
I was riding early Tuesday morning as well. I didn't hear any loud noises, but I found it odd that the train didn't speed up near the top of the lift hill as it usually does, it kept its same speed all the way through.
On opening day the thing actually slowed down as you got near the crest so much that the anti rollbacks started getting engaged. I think that was the warning sign that something was about to happen, its 9 years old and given a whole lot of rides and with only one part (catch car) bringing up every train it was bound to eventually happen.
Well I'm going to agree with Josh and the others and say the return cable broke as the system was pulling the catchcar back to the station. And looking at the large pic of the drop, it seems the end of the channel does not have emergency stops like on Dragster. So it must have fell and wedged itself like it did on the way down.
No coastermania Millennium ert......or any riding for a while......bummer.:(
-Adam G- The OG Dragster nut
Ouch!
The first time I went to CP the same thing happened a week before I left. I postponed my trip to a week later as a result. I believe it was down for 6-8 days or so.
Deja Vu!
I am leaving in 10 days to go back(4th time). I would think it would be up by the, though. The last time they worked like crazy to get it up and running. Also, Coastermania is coming up next week so I'm sure they want it open for that.
This looks like it could be a serious fix. If it takes longer than a month I'll be devastated considering my one and only visit this season is June 30. But oh well, big machines break. It happens.
Touchdown said:
On opening day the thing actually slowed down as you got near the crest so much that the anti rollbacks started getting engaged. I think that was the warning sign that something was about to happen, its 9 years old and given a whole lot of rides and with only one part (catch car) bringing up every train it was bound to eventually happen.
It slowing down at the top has nothing to do with the catch car. It's not like the catch car has sensors inside of it to tell the computer to slow down. The train slowing down at the top has to do with the train in front of it not clearing the brakes, thus the ride slowing down or even stopping until the train has cleared. You'll notice when the load times are slower the train will speed up about midway up the hill that is due to the track being clear in front of it.
Okay, I had my buddy snap these as I drove by on the way to the ERT (thanks a bunch CP for a replacement in top thrill dragster! 8 rides in a row)
Anyway, I spoke with a park employee about it. "So, Millennium Force is FUBARed isn't it?"
Reply: "Its down for 'mechanical' reasons" wink wink hint hint
Anyway, if you're looking to ride MF anytime soon it just doesn't look good unfortunately. The source said that they heard a ungodly loud noise when it broke this morning.
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee157/l1melite/PICT1273.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee157/l1melite/PICT1274.jpg
You can see the cable hanging on the left side of the track from this POV
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee157/l1melite/PICT1275.jpg
When we left at 9:30 the cranes were up higher and had the catch car back under "control" Its still not in its track, just attached to a crane now. People were working in the station at 9:30
From what I know about the "catch car" the actual hook or "dog" that hooks onto the third car is spring loaded so that the car if it ever overruns the catch car will not rip itself to shreads.
I think Josh is right that the return cable is what broke and the catch car slid back through the the dowhill side of the drop due to the recoil of the return cable snapping. Action = equal reaction. The stress on the return cable (due to the weight of the pull cable) would create a great whiplash effect that could shoot the catch car and followers and leaders to launch out of the end of the catch car track.
Another thought is how thick is the top retaining plate of the catch car track? If this is thin enough there is a possibility that the return cable, or some other foreign object, such as a cam follower (wheel) "snagged" in the return side of the track and the catch car ripped out of the guides.
I think the first one is more possible, but anything is possible and with the stresses that are applied to the catch car, anything is possible.
Beeeeehhhhhhh!!!!!
David Sagert said:[/i}
I think Josh is right that the return cable is what broke and the catch car slid back through the the dowhill side of the drop due to the recoil of the return cable snapping. Action = equal reaction.
Why would any "recoil" force be needed? If the catch car was over the top, gravity would do the job quite nicely.
^ If the catch car had returned to a point where more than half the car was past the crest before the catch car had its "accident" then it would need energy or a recoil effect to launch the car back over the hill.
We dont when the accident happened, therefore the car may have needed some force to exit the track.
Beeeeehhhhhhh!!!!!
While enjoying some much needed Panda Express on Monday of last week I heard a terrible metal-on-metal noise as the train crested the lift hill. I only heard it come from one train though, I didn't notice it after that. I guess now we just play the waiting game and cross our fingers.
We'll miss you MrScott and Pete
carolina_canes_8 said:
italianstallion said:
Early tuesday morning as I waited for MF's front seat, I heard some seriously loud noises coming from the lift that didn't sound normal at all. Steel on steel sort of noises.I was riding early Tuesday morning as well. I didn't hear any loud noises, but I found it odd that the train didn't speed up near the top of the lift hill as it usually does, it kept its same speed all the way through.
It wasn't every time, but every now and then I'd hear that loud noise.
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