Top Thrill Dragster: Years from now.

Perhaps it will get repainted, MF got some this past off season

I wish they would do the red and white alternating all the way up the tower.

That would be cool. Also, Wicked Twister can use some paint.

For sure TTD needs some paint, as somebody already mentioned look at the pictures from 2003 and how it is not, the yellow supports and the red track used to stand out against the skyline now its just kind of mehh.

Does anyone have any idea how much it costs to paint coasters?

Depends on how much track. TTD - Probaly $1.5 Million.

How does your butt feel after pulling that number from it?

^ +1,000,000,000,000,000

Probably pretty raw.

And its not solely based on track length either. Accessibility and height play pretty big roles as well.

The next time someone engages in ridiculous 'plus' inflation, I'm going to cut their fingers off at the keyboard.

Just kidding.

Sorta.

;)

It's entertaining reading back through the thread and seeing how things turned out 7 years later. Fortunately, TTD ended up working out.

I forgot how spotty its up time was its first season. If you saw a rare TTD launch, you'd just see people flocking to it, with a nicely backed up line waiting pre-queue. You also just expected it to go down while in line several times. An hour wait could easily turn into 2+ with down time.

Now, while still being one of the least reliable rides at CP, it's usually up, with no down time while in line. Kudos to CP's mechanics.

Holy crap does this mean Adam is gonna be 13 this year? ;)

Coaster Boi said:
...Also, Wicked Twister can use some paint.

Speak for yourself. My baby looks good and so does her paint job. Actually, IMO, has one of the best original paint jobs on any coaster I've seen (minus the fact of the welding spots that had to be painted over in the past). But the supports and rest of the track is B-E-Autiful

^Last I saw, you're baby had some recent welding work done to it on the rear tower base and it was pretty noticeable. Better get some paint on that before you start getting complaints. ;)

^^Call the cops then cause that means I've been drinking illegally for a few years now. :)

Carolyn said:
My granddaughter was there this weekend and as usual ( or so it seems) TTD was not running. She said a park employee told them someone had been seriously hurt on TTD and that it was going to be dismantled. Anyone else hear or know anything about this?

Lemon Chill Guy, you never fail to impress.

TTD 120mph said:
^Last I saw, you're baby had some recent welding work done to it on the rear tower base and it was pretty noticeable. Better get some paint on that before you start getting complaints. ;)

It happens! She's pretty self concious of that mark though so stop pointing it out :) But as far as fading, WT has one of the best paint jobs in my opinion

From reading the earlier post it seems that TTD had a lot of problems early on. I only got the chance to ride TTD for the first time in 2011. The two visits I have made to Cedar Point, TTD did go down both times, but it was for a short time and in the morning I believe it was weather related. I am just wondering how much worse TTD was the first few years of operation.

The first year of operation TTD was down from about Memorial Day weekend until June 17th or somewhere in there, and opened for about half a day before being down again for another month.

The second year I believe it was down for quite awhile after it threw metal shards into people in the middle of July.

It had quite a few problems. Lots of people that "travelled all the way to Cedar Point to ride this and its broke"

I do not post often, but I feel the need to comment. TTD's launch is hydraulic. It is a large hydraulic motor(or two). Mechanically, the ride is sound and regular simple maintenance will keep the ride sound for decades. This is the same basic technology that the air craft carriers have been using to launch jets for years. Structurally, the ride will last for decades once again with regular maintenance(paint). It is strong and stable(unlike Magnum sinking....had to go there). It is NOT rocket science. Electronically, there are tons of safety sensors, switches and relays that are all exposed to the elements including everything from sun exposure, insects, birds and the like. Yes, the cable will wear, the wheels need greased and the the track painted. I feel most of the issues will be electronic failure. Slow cumbersome fixes, but not worthy of destroying an amazing ride. Chill!!!!