Trains have arrived!

Well, by sensors, I meant the contacts for the various proxy switches and harness release. I believe they have to be a particular distance between each other (at least the prox sensors do).

Adam is right. More than likely they are just checking that all sensors in the transfer, station and base of lift hill area are vertically adjusted. You want these as close to the metal strike plate as possible without hitting the train to ensure quick reaction time.

Also they may be adjusting kicker wheels to make sure they are pushing the train along well.

Lastly I remember Tony (ific) saying they will also be checking to make sure the chain is engaging on the catch dog properly before doing a full lift hill pull with a full train.

So im pretty sure the transfer track is over to the storage area.

http://174.121.245.214/cp/GateKeeperBeachCam_1024.jpg

Testing has to start really soon, like this week I imagine. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes place within the next two days.

Thursday. Not warm enough until then. B&M does not recommend that their coasters operate below 40 degrees.

And I'd imagine they'd want to finish painting the towers before sending trains.

^ That shouldn't make any difference as long as the painters aren't working during testing. I mean the train does not touch the towers.

That's what I meant. Not so much about the wet paint, just about the painting schedule and the painters themselves.

Any word on the 3rd train ? Is it necessary to have all 3 trains on the storage track so that all 3 trains can run thru the circuit ?

^ It only takes 1 train to start testing and only 2 to complete all of the system checks. As long as the 3rd train is here by the end of April, all 3 should easily be ready for May 11th.

TTD 120mph said:
That's what I meant. Not so much about the wet paint, just about the painting schedule and the painters themselves.

I know when X Flight tested at SFGAm, they usually started around 4:00pm after all the other workers went home for the day.

^just in time for us high schoolers to get home and drool over the webcams even more than usual (I'd be lying if I said I didn't fit into that stereotype)

Thnx DejaVu. Looks like Tony has posted in the blog. Dunno about everyone else but I love the way this train looks.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/blog-article/online-fun/Its-coming

I don't know that you can validate three-train blocking without three trains.

There is absolutely no difference to the ride control system between 2 and 3 trains. It only takes 2 trains to check every single block.

Then how does one test to see what happens with a train in the safeties, one in the midcourse and one on the lift?

You don't need to do that. You leave a train in the Safety to check the Block brake, then leave the second train in the Block brake and send the train from the Safety up the lift.

I'm not convinced that would satisfy state inspectors, based on their history of not clearing other rides with 3+ vehicles.

What DejaVu2001 describes is more or less how we did "block checks" on Magnum every morning. The block check was done before the third train was transferred on. Whether that would be enough to satisfy a state inspector, who knows. My guess is they might like to see all three on there.

MF has some ridiculous procedure with swiping quarters across proxies or something like that as part of opening procedures. I honestly don't know the exact details only that it sounded weird to me.

It wouldn't be that surprising for a state to need to see something completely unnecessary. But I can guarantee you the difference between 2 and 3 trains has no actual effect on the control system or ability to test said control system.

Ill take that bet that you're wrong.