questions about coaster trains

Ive done some research but couldnt seem to find anything about which of Cedar Point's coasters have gotten new trains and when. also, what they do with the old trains ...If someone has any information on this id appreciate it..My other question is what is the purpose of transfer tracks...It seems that none of Cedar Point's coasters are on them during the winter months when the park is closed..thanks

Transfer tracks are used for storing trains during the season when they aren't being used. During the off-season most of the trains are taken off the tracks and worked on.

Correction, all of the trains are taken off during the off-season and overhauled.

Aside from replacing worn parts every season, I don't think CP has gotten any new trains for existing rides. They may have been modified, but not replaced.

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Everything that has a beginning has an end.

The Matrix Revolutions

I believe Blue Streak got new trains around 1996, but don't hold me to that.

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-Chris Woodard
Friday, September 18th, 2003 at 10:10 PM. It finally happened. Rollback on Dragster in the front seat of the gold train!

No, Blue Streak has the original trains, just modified with new restraints and seat backs.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

Isn't Mantis' third train new? You know, the one sitting under the brake run? Or is it just a cleaned up, shrink-wrapped, old one?

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I own you!

The third train has always been here and was used with the coaster in it's initial year and was used for a couple years. It has not been used for about three years now anymore due to excessive stacking.

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Beer and golf Thursday thru Monday, Cedar Point & beer, Tuesday and Wednesday.
*** This post was edited by Browntggrr 11/25/2003 2:03:52 PM ***

didn't the mine ride have 5 trains years ago? This year they only had 3 trains, 2,3,4 the other ones are gone.

Yes the Mine Ride did have 5 trains. The original Mine Ride had different load and unload stations similar to Top Thrill Dragster and more block brakes throughout the ride.
There were brakes before the drop over the lagoon and brakes before the final helix. When the brakes were removed there was no need for 5 trains as the system only could run 3.
Trains 1 and 5 were involved in a minor collision and taken off the track. I'm not sure how long ago this was. Trains 1 and 5 are still at the park though. They sit inside the Meanstreak structure covered up by Safety 1 brakes.

I remember RideMan went into a description of how the old Mine Ride ran when it had 5 trians. Perhaps he would share that story with us again.

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Final 2003 Stats: Trips: 37
Top Thrill Dragster: 17
Magnum XL-200: 85 (last train of the year in 6-1)

http://www.guidetothepoint.com/cpplace.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=5699

"somebody made a terrible mistake and caused Very Bad Things to happen with a couple of empty trains"

I'm not sure on this, but I'd guess that they alternate which Mantis trains they use each year to keep the wear down. If this is true, then each train has been used within the past 2 years.

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Last Magnum Train of season:2-3

I've worked there for the past 2 years. And for the past 2 years, only trains 2 & 3 were being used. For as long as I can remember, train #1 has not been used in at least the past 2 years.

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MANTIS ROCKS 2002 & 2003

ok, here's the synch

Blue Streak: Technically, all the cars are newer than the originals. Only difference being, they have been "repaired" over time so much, that there are few original parts on it.

Mantis Train 1: Always has sat under the tracks. If you notice, the tarp that is over it is so formed to it, that it looks like a 2nd skin to the train. Besides, they found out that they could cycle the same number of people every hour with 2 trains as they could with 3.

Transfer Track: Used for "cooling periods" on MF and TTD and for storage of train if they don't need 3 trains running. Raptor is a good example. Last season, near the end, almost every time I was down there, one train of Raptor was sitting in the storage track area. Another reason there is a Transfer track is in case one of the cars has a problem, they can transfer it off, work on it, and allow the rest of the trains to operate while the other one is being repaired.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride: 5 trains down to 3. correct. Another reason they removed the 2 trains is because Mine Ride doesn't have that much ridership, and they'd be cycling empty trains all the time.

I believe next year we will see only 5 trains on at a time on Dragster, just like this past season. They have found that cycling 5 trains is just as easy as cycling 6. Difference being, you don't have to wait for the train to move to launch the first train in the set... as the last 4 are rotating into position, the 5th train can already be launching.

Transfer tracks are an in-season item. I once heard that Raptor would have been 1/2 mill cheaper if they hadn't put so much steel into its storage racks.. but hey, that's just a rumor I heard.

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TTD: 32 (no rollbacks)