Top Thrill 2 Pit Stop - Ep 4 - Lightning Train at IAAPA

Ian Flemming said "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is a marketing strategy." or something like that.

There was a video discussing the artistic design of the trains, wherein CAD models of the black and gray trains were shown, but it appears the video has been removed.

DA20Pilot:

I'm guessing the holes in the wheels are for some combination of heat dissipation and achieving an optimal strength to weight ratio.

Much like a Festivus pole

There are 3 trains: blue, silver and black.

I don’t know what the black train looks like in person, but it’s already my favorite. I’m so excited to see everything in person, and see the view from that back spike.

One of my favorite things about TTD was the train colors, and I’m gonna miss that variety. Black cherry topped my list, and whoever came up with that one deserved a raise. I think I only rode it once, but for some reason I had lots of yellow/gold train rides. In fact, for my only rollback I was seated in row 2 of that one.
The train they had on display looked awesome and I look forward to seeing the other ones too.

Seeing some of these construction videos over the weekend that Spike looks awesome. Just seeing it there taller than Power Tower really puts it in perspective on how massive this is. Can't wait to ride it!

I think the tapered spike gives the forced perspective illusion of being taller than it is. I think that's really cool!

Today's pit stop makes it sound like they're really working quickly on getting this thing put together. The switch track is already testing. One comment that caught my ear was right at the end when he said that they're getting very close to putting trains onto the track. I'm curious if that's just a paraphrase, or if they're actually going to load a train onto the track in the coming weeks. And if so, why so early in the offseason?

No he definitely said trains are on site and are being placed on track. And the fact that programming and electrical testing is well underway makes me curious about testing, which, by todays video makes it seem as though they may be doing test launches well before spring. And if so, why so early like others have said?

They want to make sure this thing is up and running by May. Though the system is different than TTD, there are just as many components to this machine.

Top Thrill Dragster had a lot of problems when it first opened. Expect they may have wished they had gotten ahead of it more to allow them to test through more of those issues. They may well be trying to get ahead of any issues with Top Thrill 2. Looks like there will be a lot of testing of a complicated machine.

They may also be looking to make as much progress as the weather allows. Don't know what the winter will be like.

GoBucks89:

Top Thrill Dragster had a lot of problems when it first opened.

I think some people are reading way too much into what Michael Maney said in the video. It's definitely impressive to see the current state of construction at this point in time. Especially with them testing the high speed switch and doing the checks/commissioning of the electrical components. But I would be shocked if actual ride testing started before other things are completed. It's just a guess but I'm thinking they'll want to have a good amount of the new station structure done before testing starts. Things like the control booth, catwalks, lights etc etc. All things that are still a few months away from completion.

So while I DO think testing will be able to start super early, I'm not holding my breath that it'll be before March.

I agree. I would think they would want to get the promised lagoon maintenance work complete before they start the testing.

In terms of complexity, I imagine the new ride is more and less. On one hand, you don't need a zillion proximity switches to check the state of all of the brake fins. On the other hand, there's a math algorithm for powering the staters in sequence, I assume. I also assume you still have to measure timing so your speed isn't too high over the top.

Mechanically though, the launch mechanism at least has no moving parts (if you don't count the switch).

Loading the trains onto the track can happen at any point once they arrive on site and enough track is completed to hold all the trains. Having them on the track doesn't mean testing will start soon after, just that they may as well get that portion of the project over with since the trains are on site and just sitting there waiting.

^ I think everybody’s assumption of testing soon is based on Michael Maney’s comment in the most recent “Pit Stop” video stating that the trains are now “on site ready to be put on the track for testing and commissioning very very soon”.

Now, does “very very soon” mean some time this year? Or does it mean it’ll happen in less time than the last time Dragster had operated altogether? They are really moving on this project and I am so excited to see things in full swing.

Even so, testing does not necessarily mean full circuit testing. They could spend weeks just jogging the trains back and forth from the brake run to the transfer/launch track. However maybe full blown launching will actually happen sooner than later. Any reason why it can't?