Rollbacks

How often are rollbacks happening in 06? I was just wondering because I got my first rollback on the 14th. I was the first person in line. It is a whole new experience.

They were happening much more in the beginning of the season then now. I'm sure they will start happening more as the weeks get colder.

I've heard less and less about rollbacks this year. They still happen in the morning, but during the day there aren't to many. That's all part of the ride running much better this year. (not 100% or 95% but better; I need to clarify for some here)

It also happens just after raining which i am sure is what happend in your case??? I was also there on the 14th and we had just sat down and were all checked to go and it started raining so we had to get out and wait... we were 100% we were getting a rollback.

One thing I have noticed though is that the trains are going over the top of the tower a lot faster this year than they were last year.

Last year I remember having a second to look around at the top and not getting a whole lot of major airtime.

This year, I had virtually NO time to see anything from the top (except what was out in front of me) and I floated out of my seat the entire time over the curve and almost all the way down the tower. It was intense.

In 2003 I saw a rollback almost on every launch. This year I saw 2. One rollback occured right before a two day cable repair. The second happened directly after a thunderstorm.

We were at cedar point on August 17th and in one 45 minute period the roll back happened five times. This accounted for one roll back every thirdrun as it took quite awhile for the roll back car to get back in position for another launch. Weather didn't have anything to do with it since it was 85 degrees and a beautiful sunny day.

Do you mean the catch car? Or are you talking about the train?

I mean the whole two part train went almost to the top and then came back down. I don't know what a catch car is?

So you were saying that the train itself took a long time to reset while moving backwards? If that is the case it is b/c the ride operator has to move the train manually and has to go slow while reseting it. And to let you know the catch car is the device that attachs to the train during launch to help propel the train to 120+mph.

Yes, it rolled backwards very, very slowly. Took forever!

During this time they shut down the line and then they kept opening and closing the line as other trains came back down backwards. After they finally got three trains in a row to go all the way over the top people were let back into the line again, but it was after five trains had failed.

kathryn said:
I mean the whole two part train went almost to the top and then came back down. I don't know what a catch car is?

http://www.cedarpoint.com/_upload/blog/NBP074.jpg
That thing in the middle is the catchcar. It's what pulls the trains to 120mph.
If youre at all curious, T&T did a great job with the Behind the Rides: Top Thrill Dragster entries. Check them out and give them a good read. You can then go up to people at CP when youre in line or by the hydraulic building and say "Hey I know how that works!".:)

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/index.cfm?entry=54b8829e-3ddc-465e-aff6-aad4b3cb4687

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/index.cfm?entry=44033fa8-6a2d-46bd-aa9d-1a7c052abdc8

I was the first person inline. I got front rown left side of the purple train. It was the best! Now I know how TTD120 mph feels on getting them.

On the 19th while waiting we saw several rollbacks.

The train did a rollback then relaunch succesfully. Then the same thing happened to the next train. Then the third train rolled back and they closed the ride for about 15 minutes. None of the trains was getting more than 2/3's up. Then all of a sudden they launched another train with riders - no testing.

Later, while waiting for MF I saw it get almost over, the front car or 2 was over the crest, and it came back. (that would be the best ride)

About 30 minutes later we went to get in line and it was closed. 3 minutes later we see a full car launch, then they opened the queue again. The rideop at the beginning of the line said it could have been closed because of water on the track.

^^Good to know there's fans here.:)

Yes front is amazing. I think out of my 127 rides, about 62 have been in front.

*** Edited 8/21/2006 9:09:44 PM UTC by TTD 120mph***

I talked to a ride op awhile back, and they told me that TTD usually just has roolbacks in the first few trains of the morning and right when they reopen after being closed for rain. I have had 1 rollback while on TTD (it was unexpected yet awesome), and saw a few others. Just out of curiousity, how many rollbacks has anyone else experienced while being on TTD?

One....but it was the best ever. Cant really beat first train of the 2006 season AND have it be a rollback.:)

A rollback in the front seat of the first train of the day on your first ride ever on Dragster ranks right up there in my books...

...and it was amazing. :)

Every ride I pray for a rollback, but there is always next year.

Like we say on here, there are opportune times to go to increase your chances of a rollback.
1) Right in the morning during May, late September, and October. I’m talking about being on the first few trains out. It's usually the first few trains of the day that get the rollbacks.
2) After rain. It pertains to the track being wet, and cold. This is when you want to wait it out....that is IF you know the rain will stop. They try to get it up and running as soon as the weather cooperates. But being on the first train (loaded not empty test train) out after rain is a good time to hope for a rollback.

Other than that, you just have to be lucky.

*** Edited 12/23/2006 5:08:29 PM UTC by TTD 120mph***