Second Half of GateKeeper

We also don't know that this brake will stop or even appreciably slow down the train. It may very well come off as nothing more than a flat piece of track to most riders. I'd wager that most riders of Raptor don't know or don't care that they're going through any sort of brake; to them it's just a high, flat part of the ride.

I've never overheard anyone exiting Raptor say "That brake system was in the exact right place on that ride. Had it been earlier or later, I would have been really thrown off!" I'm not trying to be mean, but overthinking the placement of this thing ventures into some serious Comic Book Guy-esque territory.

^ Hahaha. That's pretty funny. Cuz it's true.

As quirky or nit-picky as it may seem, I'd rather there not be a block brake at all. To this day the Batman clones are still my favorite inverts because of their balls out, back-to-back action. A mid-course or block brake isn't a deal breaker nor is it something to bitch about it (unless it's bringing the fun to a full stop), but given the choice I'd rather them not be there.

Cedar Point will gladly take the block brake out. And you will wait significantly longer because of two train operation. And then you'll wonder why a block brake wasn't put in in the first place.

I have a feeling the train's just gonna slide right through. So it's almost a moot point.

I don't know that I would say significantly longer, especially if your using Fastlane. ;)

Looking at the capacity of Batman vs. Raptor, the numbers aren't a huge difference. Raptor's 3 trains can do 1,800 riders per hour, where Batman's 2 can do 1,400 rph. For further comparison, Dragster can do 1,000 rph and Millennium Force can do 1,300. In reality those numbers are much less, but my point is that even with only 2 trains, B&M coasters deliver a higher rph than most coasters.

I agree that Gatekeeper's block will probably be a moot point since the most intense portion of the ride happens ahead of it. I like the anology that everything after a block is "bonus track" or "encore" track.

Rihard 2000 said:
Looking at the capacity of Batman vs. Raptor, the numbers aren't a huge difference. Raptor's 3 trains can do 1,800 riders per hour, where Batman's 2 can do 1,400 rph.

On what planet is 29% increase in capacity not a huge difference? That's essentially the equivalent of Raptor being open for an extra 3 hours on a 10-hour summer day.

Obviously over the course of an entire day the numbers add up significantly and from an operations point of view more riders is better than less. From my personal point of view, I don't mind waiting an extra 30-40min for a great intensly paced ride sans block brake. I don't want to give the impression that I even remotely care that Gatekeeper has that brake (because I don't), I'm just saying Id rather wait 1.5hrs for a Batman clone than 45min to ride Raptor. Also saying, even a B&M' with 2 trains has an acceptable capacity for me.

I would disagree with you there, no way I would want to wait twice as long. The block does nothing to take away from the intensity/experience of Raptor, for me anyway.

Yeah, count me in with Cody. My time is more valuable than that.

I'd also not wait an extra 30% longer. That time can be better spent in any number of ways.

When I look at my top favorite coasters, aside from Magnum, it just so happens that none of them have a block brake of any sort mid-ride. I get that time is valuble and it makes sense that CP would want the added capacity, but call me crazy for not minding to wait at an amusement park. . :)

You so crazy.

Heck, the last time I waited more than an hour for a ride was opening weekend of El Toro. See what we've become? :)

Rihard 2000 said:
Raptor's 3 trains can do 1,800 riders per hour, where Batman's 2 can do 1,400 rph.

Don't forget that Batman is a shorter ride, the interval running two trains on Raptor would be longer than two trains on Batman further reducing capacity.

Rihard 2000 said:
When I look at my top favorite coasters, aside from Magnum, it just so happens that none of them have a block brake of any sort mid-ride.

Magnum doesn't have a mid course block brake.

He might be counting those trim brakes.

Right. I was refering to the block brake at the end of the ride to make the point that my top 10 or so coasters do not have brakes during the course of the ride. I'm aware that Magnum's is nearer the end of it's course rather than mid. I suppose I needed to say that my favorite coasters, aside from Magnum, do not have brakes during the course of the ride. Magnum does have a good trim mid course that doesn't interupt the ride pace imo.

Rihard 2000 said:
...call me crazy for not minding to wait at an amusement park. . :)

Crazy. :)

I go to an amusement park to be amused. Standing next to sweaty Midwesterners for hours on end does not amuse me. :)

Especially sweaty, half-clothed, forgot to put on deodorant Midwesterners ;)

Fat, you forgot FAT sweaty, half-clothed forgot deodorant midwesterners.

I'd rather have this than what Leviathan got, it's ECBR serves as two blocks. Both Ispeed and Intimidator have further placed MCB, I've never heard anyone nag about those. It's there to ensure your wait is shorter, why complain? Expect the train to slide right through it like Raptor does. And "if" the block ever has to be used. Don't worry, at-least the layout following is elevated reasonably lower, so expect it not to drag complete a$$. *cough*mantis*cough*