Son Of Beast to be removed.

Yeah, Outlaw Run looks awesome so far. What raises a question for me is the price tag of $10 million, are we gonna come to a point where more wooden coasters are built because of the increasing price of steel. Has technology advanced far enough to be able to build just as great of a coaster out of wood as steel? I'm thinking more along the lines of NTG, rather than traditional woodies.

Yeah, 10 million dollars for that seems much better than 10 million for a steel coaster. Also, this will be Rocky Mountain Construction's first coaster made intirely by them (from what I've read). They did the treatment on Texas Giant, so it will be interesting to see how this ride is. If all goes well, I hope Cedar Point gets one sometime.

Corkscrew Follies said:
...are we gonna come to a point where more wooden coasters are built because of the increasing price of steel. Has technology advanced far enough to be able to build just as great of a coaster out of wood as steel?

I think it's a combination effect - steel prices are high, and in the last 10 years, wood coaster design seems to have come quite a long way. As an added incentive, it seems as though many lessons have been learned recently regarding how the design of a wood coaster can play a role in maintenance cost.

Definitely agree, DJ.

Of course, the maintenance costs of a $10m wood coaster will FAR exceed the maintenance costs of a $10m (or even $20m) steel coaster

How much added maintenance would there be if it was an all steel track like NTG? I don't think NTG is going to need retracked every couple of years like a traditional woodie. Not unless you figure the support structure is going to need constant maintenance.

The New Texas Giant is a steel coaster.

So sayeth the Book of RCDB...

::bows head::

Amen.

;)

You meant the CoasterBuzz database, I'm sure.

Guess thats the point I've bern trying to make. A coaster with a wood substructure is a whole lot cheaper to build then a completely steel one.

Jeff said:
You meant the CoasterBuzz database, I'm sure.

But of course. A mere slip of the keyboard...

Personally, I'd prefer a wood-tracked, steel-structured coaster, a la The Voyage. Less maintenance, wood "feel".

I can't say my preference, because I've never experienced Voyage or NTG yet. :(

But, I've always thought the Voyage concept seemed bizarre or counter-intuitive on paper. You're basically keeping the wood part that needs the most maintenance.

So, if the wrong owners had a steel-structured, wooden track coaster, it could still ride every bit as poorly as an unkept wooden coaster. On the plus side, as you mentioned, you get that legit wooden coaster feel when it's nicely re-tracked.

The way I look at it is simple:

With a steel structure-wood track coaster, you get a wood coaster with reduced maintenance costs.

With a wood structure-steel track coaster, you get a steel coaster with increased maintenance costs.

This is how I look at it:

Voyage is the best coaster I have ever been on, so lets get one of those. :)

Just add terrain!

I agree Voyage is awesome. And, I get what you are saying DJ about steel structure and wood track. I have not had the pleasure of riding El Toro as of yet, in your view is that a wood or steel coaster.

Wooden. With an asterisk. :)

Wait a minute. I thought an asterisk meant the roller coaster in question had taken steroids and therefore its claim to any records was dubious...

What I like about roller coasters such as Voyage is they don't have to cut down as many trees. :)