Question about Mine Train and other high capacity
If the Mine Train had 5 trains in the 60s and 70s was it manually operated and how many different blocking sections did it have? I have heard about extra block brakes in the flat section and the separate loading and unloading platform which allows tow trains in the station at a time! Zambezi Zinger @ WOF used to handle 5 trains! Doesn't Big Thunder Mtn. RR @ WDW have a 5 train operation? And I have heard 6 or 7 trains on California Screaming! If so why doesn't CP build an Intamin hyperwoodie(record breaking in all area without loops) and put a 5 train operation on it?? This would have a higher capacity than Gemini! With the most popular rides in the park having waits or 2-3 hrs on weekends and an hour during the week 3 train oerations are NOT enough! If CP ever decides to jump on the sucess of Heide Park's new Colossos Intamin hyperwoodie they needs to keep the waits to a maximum of 1/2 hr on weekdays and 1 hr on weekends by having 5 trains or even 4 is an improvement over any current ride they have!
Cedar Creek Mine Ride had six blocks on it if I remember correctly, ending at the load station, top of first lift, block brake before long drop, top of second lift, brake before helix, brake after helix, and unload station. And it was run by hand.
Today, both mid-course brakes are completely gone so the ride has only four blocks and thus can only run three trains. And it's not run by hand anymore.
One thing that Cedar Point has learned is that their optimal dispatch interval is about 70 seconds. It doesn't matter how many trains you have, it takes a certain amount of time to get them loaded and unloaded, and if you can keep that time down to about 70 seconds, that will determine your capacity. Adding more trains only means you can make the ride longer. The only way they could use more trains would be to use dual stations as Disney does, and that adds complication to the ride that Cedar Point probably doesn't want to contend with.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Today, both mid-course brakes are completely gone so the ride has only four blocks and thus can only run three trains. And it's not run by hand anymore.
One thing that Cedar Point has learned is that their optimal dispatch interval is about 70 seconds. It doesn't matter how many trains you have, it takes a certain amount of time to get them loaded and unloaded, and if you can keep that time down to about 70 seconds, that will determine your capacity. Adding more trains only means you can make the ride longer. The only way they could use more trains would be to use dual stations as Disney does, and that adds complication to the ride that Cedar Point probably doesn't want to contend with.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Isn't there another block at the transfer shed?
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com
Another consideration about the Mine Ride may be the popularity of the ride - it isn't practical (parts/wear/maintenance-wise or interval-wise) to be running every possible train if the trains will only be less than half-full all the time. The Mine Ride is a great coaster, sure, but it's heyday in the spotlight is over.
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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
I know the Mine Train isn't that popular anymore so now a 3 train operation is enough but I am more concerned about higher thrill coasters which draws 3 hour waits and yes I understand about the duel stations(loading and unloading)! I have memtioned it in my original post but as I mentioned before if CP ever gets smart enough to build a huge record breaking smooth riding Intamin woodie I will want more than just three trains if you can put enough blocks on it! I think CP need to make a racing and/or dueling Intamin hyperwoodie so that the lines don't exceed 1 hour on the weekend! Eight trains of 36 passenger on a racing woodie with more than 7500 feet per side equal very high capacity!:-)
How about a dueling Intamin hyperwoodie or a CCI 135-150 foot racing and/or dueling woodie with more total airtime(per side) than Shivering Timbers and the world steepest woodie drop? Question is will CCI be will to do a single drop of 150 feet? I know the Boss has a double dip but the main drop is like only 125 feet!
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