Testing
I think its good that CP is doing a thorough job of making sure that all of the electric side of MF is done correct and in place. Im still skeptical about SOB, because I hear the are only doing a week of testing, personally I dont agree with that. You never know what problems a rollercoaster can occur when you dont do a thorough job in testing and getting all of the "kinks" out of the ride. Well, I just wanted CP to know I appreciate what they are doing in making sure we have a safe, but intense rollercoaster.
David, whose last name I can never remember, from Kings Island had a very good point about that in regards to Sonny. And he is correct. The important thing isn't how many hours you run the ride or how long you do your testing, but rather that you complete a full testing process. Also, some tests may be conducted in a different manner on Sonny than on Millennium Force. For example, on Millennium Force, the reach envelope testing was done with a pull-through; the implication last week was that Sonny wouldn't get a pull-through, but rather that the envelope testing would be done as the ride operated: put the envelope testing rig in the car, dispatch it, and see if the whole rig comes back in one piece. If the test is successful, then it's a faster way to complete that testing procedure (finish in three minutes instead of three days). If it is unsuccessful, then it takes a little longer to find the problem.
The main thing is that all of the issues that need to be tested get tested. How long it takes to make those determinations is really unimportant.
Remember also that a big part of Cedar Point's testing procedure is to get the cycle timing worked out so that they can know just how quickly the crews have to work to hit interval. That kind of testing serves to allow the ride to run more efficiently, but does not necessarily reflect on the safety of the ride. It's very possible and perfectly safe to open the ride before all that stuff is worked out; in fact it will work itself out in the first few weeks of operation.
Translation: I don't think either park is really doing a more thorough testing job than the other. It's just that Cedar Point can be a little more relaxed about putting Millennium Force through its paces than Kings Island can be with Sonny.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
The main thing is that all of the issues that need to be tested get tested. How long it takes to make those determinations is really unimportant.
Remember also that a big part of Cedar Point's testing procedure is to get the cycle timing worked out so that they can know just how quickly the crews have to work to hit interval. That kind of testing serves to allow the ride to run more efficiently, but does not necessarily reflect on the safety of the ride. It's very possible and perfectly safe to open the ride before all that stuff is worked out; in fact it will work itself out in the first few weeks of operation.
Translation: I don't think either park is really doing a more thorough testing job than the other. It's just that Cedar Point can be a little more relaxed about putting Millennium Force through its paces than Kings Island can be with Sonny.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
And the timing is a fairly big issue, I learned today. As it turns out, the ride is faster than they thought, so it'll take some tweaking to get the dispatch interval right.
Overall I hear that testing is going extremely well. The only problem is that they have to test after 5pm, because people are busy working around the ride all day.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"
Overall I hear that testing is going extremely well. The only problem is that they have to test after 5pm, because people are busy working around the ride all day.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"
Jeff, you said that the ride has proven to be faster than they expected. Did you hear any other details regarding this issue? Deviance from calculated speed at certain places, or causes of, etc?
After thought: **Oh, and hopefully since the ride was designed to only have one train on the track at a time, this doesn't mean they will be considering any midcourse breking--or is there now a possibility?**
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-Dave Kochman
Pittsburgh
*** This post was edited by DaveTKoch on 4/14/2000. ***
After thought: **Oh, and hopefully since the ride was designed to only have one train on the track at a time, this doesn't mean they will be considering any midcourse breking--or is there now a possibility?**
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-Dave Kochman
Pittsburgh
*** This post was edited by DaveTKoch on 4/14/2000. ***
They said 88 on the first ever run.
You'll note that this occured in *April*, when it's still cold... Temps maybe low 70s, most likely low 60s. Coaster running a bit slow... [denser air]. Also, there would remain some track inconsistencies to be ground out and cold wheels in general. Trains tend to speed up a bit as they break in, as well.
Now, it appears, MF is breaking in more than anticipated. =)
You'll note that this occured in *April*, when it's still cold... Temps maybe low 70s, most likely low 60s. Coaster running a bit slow... [denser air]. Also, there would remain some track inconsistencies to be ground out and cold wheels in general. Trains tend to speed up a bit as they break in, as well.
Now, it appears, MF is breaking in more than anticipated. =)
As riders of S:ROS at Darien Lake will tell you, the Intamin trains are very temperamental. Until the ride "warms up," it won't run at full potential. That first day ran 88, but they only did around 6 laps (so I hear). The drop will probably get around 92, I'm sure.
The speed I'm talking about is the overall average speed. It's completing the circuit faster than anticipated, and that's good from a capacity standpoint if they can keep people moving. From what I understand, the ride really doesn't let up at any point. That means the airtime addicts should be happy on all of the vertical hills.
Regarding trims, I did notice brackets in two locations, presumably fabricated in to the track as a "just in case" measure. These are at the bottom of the return hill before or in the second tunnel, and just before the final turn around the queue.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"
The speed I'm talking about is the overall average speed. It's completing the circuit faster than anticipated, and that's good from a capacity standpoint if they can keep people moving. From what I understand, the ride really doesn't let up at any point. That means the airtime addicts should be happy on all of the vertical hills.
Regarding trims, I did notice brackets in two locations, presumably fabricated in to the track as a "just in case" measure. These are at the bottom of the return hill before or in the second tunnel, and just before the final turn around the queue.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
"And he says 'I'm goin' crazy up there at the lake...'"
Remember, the acceleration of an object in freefall is independent of of its mass, though. Weight/mass DOES figure into the force of an object, though. This is important to sustaining that velocity which was initially obtained. This is called momentum. Larger mass objects have more momentum; therefore, I'll end by slightly changing the question CP Genius posed: is it easier to stop a bowling ball traveling at 92-(94???--heheh) mph or a millennium force train traveling at the same speed. I'll take my chances with that bowling ball...
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-Dave Kochman
Who occasionally bowls in Pittsburgh
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-Dave Kochman
Who occasionally bowls in Pittsburgh
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