Raptor's French Clone

So I know it's been discussed a long time ago that there is a clone out there. It used to be in Japan, now it's in France. (At a park that used to be themed after the Smurfs)

Video: Right here.

Now, don't be fooled into thinking Monster is faster than Raptor. CP shot their video with an empty train. If you compare it to illegally shot povs, they match up perfectly, but I'm not linking those here.

So here is the thing that bothers me about Monster. The mid course brake run. Or rather the Mid Course... Where are the brakes? Run. They were there in japan so... why didn't Walygator put them in when they moved the ride? It's just... strange. Oh and if you youtube double Monster with an actual loaded train ride on Raptor like I did with the official POV, it arrives at the station at the EXACT same time, even without the brakes Please don't let this turn into a "waaaaahhhhh mid course brakes" discussion. Although it is interesting to see how much faster a loaded train cycles.

Monster still has all 3 of its trains, though I've only ever seen one in operation in videos and pictures. Do they just not care about capacity? Could they even run multiple trains?

If they didn't install the mid course brakes then I don't think they eill be able to run more than one train for safety reasons

They could in theory run 3 trains even without the Mid-Course Block Brake, but it would be pointless to do so because the trains would double stack every cycle. This of course assumes the final brake run hasn't been modified at all and can still hold all 3 trains.

You can run two trains without the mid-course. You would just have to change the blocking system to allow a train to drop off the lift once the previous train has cleared the first 2 sets of brakes coming into the station.

In a perfect fantasy world:

• Remove mid course breaks for better final half of ride.
  
• Put magnetic breaks at the end since the current break run is painful.
• separate loading and unloading station.
• Replace current restraints with newer version of B&M restraints similar to the ones on GK.
  

^ You do realize that Raptor with an unload station (which wouldn't fit anywhere anyway) would be less efficient than its current set up.

They do not run more than 1 train at a time. The crowds dont demand it. The other 2 trains are sitting in the transfer area and are being stripped for parts. Like many european parks, Wallygator will let you shoot POV.

DejaVu2001 said:
^ You do realize that Raptor with an unload station (which wouldn't fit anywhere anyway) would be less efficient than its current set up.

I have seen three trains stacked up on that break run before so why wouldn't placing an unload station just before the loading station be possible?
What is your reasoning for saying that Capacity would not be improved?

I do not see how they could have any problems by running 2 trains. 3 trains however, would be inefficient.

^^ They couldn't fit an unload station because of the Transfer and storage track.

As for being less efficient, an unload station by its very nature, makes it absolutely necessary that the second train stop before it returns to the load platform. The only way there would be any increase at all would be having an unload platform AND a mid-course brake run and run 4 trains.

On Raptor, the final break run, the shifting transfer track, and the station are all located on one straight section. Remember that the transfer track section is a block break as well so you have three block all on this one section (just like on MF which has no MCBR, and a different style of transfer track). With the way the Raptor is designed with the transfer track between the block breaks and the station, you could put the unloading station where the first blocks are at, then have the transfer track and the loading station where they currently sit. I would suspect logically that three trains can fit there since they already do so yes they do fit.

Not to mention that this would provide a better 2nd half experience to the ride (and quicker), in addition to better load times which leads to higher hourly capacities (which is why most modern coasters at high volume parks have new coasters with separate loading and unloading stations).

So yes this would benefit the ride experience. However, the reason the park does not do this is because it would not result in with any ROI. They would not make anymore profit making these changes they would make the same amount of money as they would if Raptor continued to exist as it does today. Thats why I said it was purely "perfect fantasy" and that it would "never happen." But from a enthusiast stand point this would benefit the ride experience which the "Raptor's French Clone" already does partially with the lack of a MCBR.

Don't make me show you illegally shot povs of Raptor synced with Monster to show you they hit the station at the same time. Use the Youtube Doubler and sync the drop with one that has a loaded train. The only reason the videos I posted don't sync is TPR shot Monster fully loaded and CP shot Raptor with an empty train.

As much as I would love you to show me illegally shot povs and watch people complain about it on the site, I'd rather not waste anyone's time. I understand that it would shave off only seconds without the MCBR, the people who actually videotaped and rode the Raptor clone have said that the slight increace in speed increased the intensity and experience of the ride.

What actually increases the capacity to a much larger extent is the separate loading and unloading stations, which splits the job currently done by Raptor's one station in half.

cpfourlife1 said:
With the way the Raptor is designed with the transfer track between the block breaks and the station, you could put the unloading station where the first blocks are at, then have the transfer track and the loading station where they currently sit.

Doing this, you would have a block (Transfer area) between load and unload and no block behind unload. That set up would not work at all.

Not to mention that this would provide a better 2nd half experience to the ride (and quicker), in addition to better load times which leads to higher hourly capacities (which is why most modern coasters at high volume parks have new coasters with separate loading and unloading stations).

Again, 3 trains running with minimal stacking will always be more efficient than 3 trains in a set up where the second train must stop and unload separately. These high volume parks you speak of usually run MORE than 3 trains.

^^ Or you could just simply put the unload station right behind the current station and combine the current break run with the transfer track by using the same transfer method as the MF uses. And yes the high volumes that I do speak of do uses more than three trains and their newer coasters also use separate loading and unload stations as a method to increase capacity.

I've held for a long time that Raptor's mid course brake is the most perfect one on earth. The secret is the height- its designed so that the train can enter at the perfect speed needed to complete the course comfortably without having to slow it down. While you might hear a slight "pshht" as it travels through, seldom do you experience any actual braking action. That area checks to make sure the coast is clear then let's it go at the exact same speed. Which is why the 2 coasters finish at the same time. Under common operating circumstances, brake installed or no brake present, the rides are going to be the same.
On that video Mr Alvey asks his group "which is better, French Raptor or Cedar Point Raptor?" I get tired of hearing him dog Cedar Point, truth told the rides are the same and I find it hilarious that they think they can discern a difference. They need to get back to Cedar Point. I've ridden Raptor hundreds of times since it was installed, so sometimes take it for granted these days in light of more recent installations. But when I do get on it I'm always pleasantly surprised by how fast, fun, and relevant the ride still is.
That French ride may provide a darker night experience, if there is such a thing there at that park. The overall placement at Cedar Point sure is better though.

I myself have also ridden Raptor 100's of time and never even notice the MCBR. That was until two years ago when we were caught completely off guard by coming to a complete stop on the MCBR, which completely changed the pacing of the second half of the ride.

The problem with raptor is the bins. Pretty much every time the ride is stacked up (all 3 trains waiting) is when allot of people have things to put into the bins and it takes forever for everyone to get back into their seats.