Train design and capacity

You really think the train is that much longer CP_bound? I would appreciate some closer approximations from anyone. I think the train may be a little longer, but not 2 1/4 times longer. 18 rows of B&M seems like it would be longer than MF's train. Anyone have figures?

What do you mean 18 rows on B&M's? There are only 8 rows per B&M train compared to 18 rows per MF train. Trust me, the trains may not seem that much longer, but they ARE.

I must have been confused by what you posted above... I see what you meant now, 18 rows on MF. Were you saying that 2 1/4 B&M trains would fit in the MF station then? I am still confused a bit. My point is that I still think a 4 across B&M car is not much shorter (front to back) than the Intamin car. This would mean (if it is correct) that capacity would not be increased much by having 4 across seating. Again, we really need to get an approximate length of a car or train to get a better idea.

OK- let me say that I now completely understand BirdDK1's point. Intamin could have made 4 across seating while not increasing the length of the train. My brain must have been out to lunch. I am still curious though as to the length of the cars of the various manufacturers. Sorry about my poor reading comprehension skills. =)

Yeah, I would mind knowing the actually lengths of the trains either.....

It's four per car either way.

-------------
Dispatch Master, This is Transport one! I'm losing control, I'm losing control!

No, we're talking about length of the trains as in #'s, not capacity or # of riders.

They have around the same cars per train. Or are you talking in feet?

-------------
Dispatch Master, This is Transport one! I'm losing control, I'm losing control!

Yeah, we're talking about actually measurements. (ft. & in.)

What if the MF train was the same length as it is now, the same number of cars as it is now, the same number of rows per car as it is now, everything the same as it is now except that each row held 4 people instead of 2 making it a 72 person train instead of 36.

Joe, that's what I was getting at orignally. RideMan and Pete made good comments on that topic, who knows where everyone else went with this.

I like B&M coasters as much as the next guy, but I almost have to sit on the outside of their cars. The two middle seats do nothing for you, IMO. With a two seater you are on the outside no matter what

BirdDK1, yeah, I've been thinking the same thing ever since I first saw 4 across seating (Shockwave - the stand up coaster at SDGAdv that mysteriously disappeared after 2 seasons).

Middle seats may be useful as "training" seats for timid riders who were forced onto a major coaster by their "friends". I do agree that the middle two seats are not as entertaining as the outside seats.
I also think that the wide chunky trains lose some of the graceful appeal that a coaster train snaking around the track has.