PowerTower Testing

On this sad day, the first day CP has been closed since May, I noticed on the funcam that PowerTower is running the SpaceShot side as TurboDrops. It doesn't really suprise me that the towers can be switched so easily, but I can't seem to make a good guess as to why they'd need to do that right now. If it's just daily testing, they could do it Friday... If it's semi-annual maintenance, why in the world do they need to make sure the red towers can operate like they're blue?

Any PT operators able to shed some light on this?

They can't really be switched (I imagine they could, but they'd have to move some hardware around). What you're seeing is maintenance running the ride. They have the ability to move any of the towers up or down very slowly, or even stop them anywhere on the tower. Maintenance also uses the slow moving cars as an "elevator" if they need to do work at the top of the ride. It sure beats climbing one of the ladders inside the tower.

How do they ride the cars as an elevator? Is there a platform above the seats that they could stand on? (after being properly secured with a fall strap).

I'm not sure about the S&S towers, but I know that the Intamin Gyro Drops have a work platform on the top of the lift vehicle, and it's used by maintenance.

PKI used it this spring to repaint Drop Zone. It beats bringing in cranes! *** Edited 9/5/2006 4:13:49 PM UTC by PKIDelirium***

I didn't think they could "reverse" the towers easily either. They're set up completely different hardware-wise. At least I think they are. Where are our PT ride-ops?

Thanks for the info so far guys - thats cool. I'm pretty confident the red towers were going up slowly and then dropping quickly. I'm not 100% sure because of the lag and framerate on the funcam, but I'm fairly convinced.

Also, having a vague idea of the mechanics of the ride, I'd imagine that it's feasible to switch the towers. It appears as though both SS & TD sides have the same air chambers and the same pulley systems. Since the TD side actually pushes you down, it's applying a very similar force as SS... just later in the ride. Both sides transfer force into the pulley system to pull the car up or down.

I'm further lead to believe that the towers are versatile by the fact that most drawings of PT show different pairings for TD & SS. In reality, the two towers nearest Corkscrew are paired together and likewise, the two nearest Iron Dragon, but in most images, the two towers closest to the front are paired and likewise with the two in the back. Some may have also noticed that the numbered circles you stand on while waiting for your ride don't match the towers' colors.

Does anyone know if CP switched which towers were TD and which were SS during either planning or construction?

I worked on power tower for a month and they cannot switch them but they have the ability to move them up slowly and bring them back down. Maintenance also rides on the top using it as a elevator. Reason i know this is because one day a bolt came down from the top of the tower and smashed right thru our window in controls which was scary as all h***

Mark - I don't believe the SS towers have the mechanics at the top of the ride to stop the car and trigger it for a drop. I'm sure that could be added, but its not like they could make the switch right away. I'm sure they were contructed in a way to allow the park to change them around at a later date though. For instance, if the park decided they wanted three TD towers and only one SS tower. I could be wrong there, but that would make sense to me if I was designing the ride.

hall,

That's what I'm thinking. I don't think there's a TD/SS toggle on each tower, but I don't think it would be hard to convert them. I've always been curious about the mismatched colors in drawings and on the concrete.

They can't just 'switch'. The mechanisms are reversed on the SS and TD sides - that being the tower would need to be turned upside down by a tornado to have the space shot sides doing turbo drop.

Maintenance will ride it to the top or move the cars manually constantly though. There's a little control right on the control panel for them to move it once the controls are in maintenance mode.

I think itsa the CF/CFF or CF/CCF switch cant remember what it was but thats the one they use when they move them manually>

Bottom Right.

Cool. Hey Ben, any knowledge of why the mismatched colors?

Mismatched colors? Probably so that each button is unique and the wrong one(s) aren't pushed?

No, I'm sorry... I was referring to my post earlier...

most drawings of PT show different pairings for TD & SS. In reality, the two towers nearest Corkscrew are paired together and likewise, the two nearest Iron Dragon, but in most images, the two towers closest to the front are paired and likewise with the two in the back. Some may have also noticed that the numbered circles you stand on while waiting for your ride don't match the towers' colors.

Does anyone know if CP switched which towers were TD and which were SS during either planning or construction?

I'm guessing it's just easier to have different colors for each drop/shot when telling people where to stand. (Ie: Red 1) It would be more difficult if both of the drops were red, if you see what I'm saying.

Thanks for answering that DBCP, I to was wondering the same thing. :)

The ride was definetly in maintenance mode.

I wish they would configure PowerTower like Six Flags Over Texas Superman Tower. They have 3 towers of which do both.. First shoots you up..and then raises you to the top, and then shoots you down.

They also built that tower 5 years after Power Tower. I'm pretty happy with Power Tower as is.