Occasionally, the train will not clean the top

I couldn't find a topic that throughly talked about this disturbing fact listed before you enter the Dragster line.
All I could think was "WHAT? IS THIS SERIOUSLY TRUE?" I've watched the train closely throughout the whole time I was waiting in line, and to be honest, there were some close calls where the train barely made it over.
I talked to a Dragster worker and he seemed to be so cool with this statement and was like, "yeah, it happens. It' snormal. Not to be concerened with this."
uhhhhh. OK!
Anyways- I wanted to know if anyone has witnessed this obsurd happening. I'm not sure if I would either cry or be happy if this happened to be; being a huge rollercoaster fan. Again sorry if this topic was mentioned!

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*** This post was edited by MiLlEnNiUmGuRl 5/10/2003 12:28:05 PM ***

Its been mentioned a BUNCH of times, now listen cloely ;)

Its called a Rollback, and it is not that uncommon to happen. Sometimes there just isnt enough speed to make it over, so the train might start to crest over and then fall back down the upside and back through the launch track.

If you have seen Xcelerator or TTD, you see all those little brake fins that pop up and down inside of the launch track. Those are to stop the train from heading back into the station after a rollback. Those brakes are what stop the train if it does rollback, in which case they stop it, bring it back to the launch spot and try again.

I hope this answers your question(s) :)

I don't think it has happened to the public yet. Although early in the morning and late at night it seems like it got pretty close with the first and last few trains they sent.

I got a nice ride last time with a lot more time to see whats going on when we got to the top. The train seemed to be going half as fast at the top then it was Opening day when I rode it.

During the testing it rolled back constantly. Of course they wanted it to most of the times. There is nothing wrong with it rolling back down the hill, it'd just be scary flying back down that hill! I bet it would be fun however.

That would be awesome going straight down backwards while doing a 90* turn! I sure hope that i get one when i go.

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Actually the fins wont stop the train but it will slow them down but the regular brakes that are right after the fins will stop the train hehe, if you want to get technical.

and i would give my first born for a rollback

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Besides the great rides and being the best of everything, the best part about Cedar Point is that it isn't Six Flags! YAY!

Actually you wouldn't want a roll back. I was with you at first, hoping to get a rollback, but on opening day i was talking to the girl that tells you want seat to go to on TTD, and told her i would like a rollback, and she said, "No you wouldnt, when it happens we have to close down the ride for at least 45 minutes while the maintenance people come out and make sure everythings ok before we can luanch again."

I know i wouldn't want to have waited hours for the ride, only to have to wait 45 mins (or more) for them to make sure the rides ok.

I think the 45 min thing is an estimate. cause Excellorator didn't have to be for such along time when it rolled back. they just sent a train thru a circuit, but then again that is only what i read from someone who was there on opening day.

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Besides the great rides and being the best of everything, the best part about Cedar Point is that it isn't Six Flags! YAY!

Read the sign.

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Xcelerator usually takes about 30 mins to get back up and running when theres a rollback, unless they have a blown pump (which ahs happened more than once). But most of the time you can feel the ride's launch getting jumpier and jumpier until it finally rolls back. It gets progressively jerky through the launch (like short bursts of acceleration instead of the full on launch). I've witnessed around 30 rollbacks and have been on 3. But like I said, its no big deal, and they have it up in about 30 mins. I havent seen Xcelerator down for more than 30 mins at a time in quite awhile, although it used to have hour+ breakdowns when it 1st opened.
*** This post was edited by Josh B 5/10/2003 4:27:04 PM ***

That would be so cool to on TTD during a rollback. The two things that are great about it are you fall down backwards at 400 feet and you get to launch again.

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If the ride dosen't clear the top it isn't by much. Just a little more umphh.... and it should make it.

I have an idea, to stop the rollbacks. I am sure someone will explain why it isn't practical or will not work.

Why coudln't there be a spinning tire at the top of the peak, kind of like some coasters use to push the train to the lift chian to give that coaster that one last kick over the hill??

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Cedar Point can not and will not be responsible for any thing lost or dammaged.

Because not all the roll backs reach that height, among other reasons.

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Eric Morrison (Coast)
Drag Races: 6
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*** This post was edited by Etrain 5/10/2003 11:02:26 PM ***

I saw a rollback last night (5/10) and several this morning (5/11).

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ya, I have a video of the testing where it rolled back....

WOW... I want one! :)

i saw an empty car roll back last night right before i left. i was wondering what the magnets were for if they weren't to launch the coaster. thanks draken!

Well, Dragster rolled back yesterday 5/10 3 times. Sadly they were only empty test trains after a breakdown. All of us in line cheered when it didnt clear the first time but became a little less enthusiastic as the next 2 did not clear either. They finally got 2 in a row to clear and started the ride back up again. So yes rollbacks do happen. I noticed that the rollback brakes are too strong, or at least maybe there are too many plates in the brake run on the launch. I know this is a problem they had with the normal brake run and some magnetic plates were removed because there were just way more there than was needed. maybe this is another change we will see is the removal of some of the rollback brakes because the train was brought to a stop about halfway back to the tree. then took about 3 or 4 minutes to finally roll back into position. But the best thing to see that night was the first time with the tree lighting up. very cool :-)!

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Im sure the added weight would help the train move a bit quicker (and further) down the launch track during a rollback. Remember that they haveto account for the absulute full load, meaning theres an extra 2 tons of weight those brakes will eventually have to stop.

The very first car of the day with people (guests) yesterday rolled back yesterday while I was in line. From what I could tell they just tried again, the second time sucessfully.

--James

So I'm guessing if they have two or three rollbacks in a row they shut it down, but if they make it the next time they can keep it running. At least that's how I think they should do it.

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