TV Heads Up!

The 'manual' that you saw was more than likely straight from B&M. Like any design, there's certain specifications that the contractor has to follow. In this case, it's B&M dictating the order the ride is erected. Placing a support followed by track is likely a structural issue more than anything. You've got all those supports sticking up, get a good gust of wind and you'd better hope those anchor bolts are strong enough to hold it up. Putting the track on it adds rigidity. Just about any structural system, be it concrete or steel, is weaker while it's built.

I know that when Montu at Busch Gardens was erected there was a whole binder full of drawings showing the order the supports and track were to be erected in, as well as rigging diagrams showing lifting points and rigging lengths so the pieces would be in the right orientation.

Man do I want to get inside those controls cabinets, oh wait there using Allen Bradley stuff thats been around for 10 years. So much for cutting edge.

^^I can see it now, a book with instruction just like the ones used on the Screamin Serpent knex coaster showing the pieces and how to put them together and where to place them.:)

To be honest, SFMM's operations manager should be embarrassed to step out in public with his track record. He's horrible at his job.

The program over exagrated so much, it was getting annoying. How many times did the smallest thing turn into the ride being worthless?

"The queue handrails have yet to be delivered, if they don't come Tatsu will be worthless."

It seems everything SF does, be it a show or coaster, is over exaggerated.

Well, since you asked, I'll throw in my mini Tatsu/Magic Mountain report.

Tatsu was really awesome. Probably my second favorite coaster out of everything at Knott's and MM, my favorite being Ghostrider at Knott's. The ride is fairly short (I believe they mentioned 48 seconds in that TV special) but they pack a lot into that amount of space. I know with most other flying coasters people have complained about them being force-less, but Tatsu was surprisingly forceful. My favorite element by far was the giant loop. You enter it coming off the side of the mountain, so you find yourself really high really fast. Then nosedive toward the ground, very high g-forces at the bottom of the loop (luckily you're on your back). and then soaring back up into the sky for some sweet negative g's. I found the restraints to be very comfortable compared to the Vekoma flying coaster restraints, although I never thought the Vekoma restraints were too bad.

As for the rest of Magic Mountain, I hate to say it, but it rocked. I'd have to say it's my second favorite park, behind CP of course. But that's purely from a thrill seeker's aspect. Magic Mountain has pretty much nothing to offer the family demographic with younger kids. I found very little of what has been said negatively about the park to be true. All of their major rides aside from X were running, and three other coasters were out of service (Psyclone, Ninja, and of course Flashback). Load times were slow, but it wasn't due to the crews, it was due to 1 train operations on most of the rides. I could see this being annoying on busier days (of course, they sell more Flash Passes) but today was dead, so it didn't matter. The crews for the most part busted their butts getting things out as fast as they could. The rides seemed well maintained, the coasters were exceptionally smooth, the park was clean, the landscaping was very beautiful, and I found many employees to be very friendly and helpful.

I guess that may have turned into more than a mini-report, but I just wanted to say that in my opinion, the park substantially better than I expected. Overall it doesn't hold a candle to CP, but it certainly doesn't deserve some of the bashing it gets around these circles.

Ralph Wiggum said:
I found very little of what has been said negatively about the park to be true. All of their major rides aside from X were running, and three other coasters were out of service (Psyclone, Ninja, and of course Flashback). Load times were slow, but it wasn't due to the crews, it was due to 1 train operations on most of the rides.

What you say here is everything I hear bad about the park. All those things would make for a very horrible day at CP.

For example:

All of their major rides aside from Millennium Force were running, and three other coasters were out of service (Blue Streak, Gemini, and of course Top Thrill Dragster). Load times were slow, but it wasn't due to the crews, it was due to 1 train operations on most of the rides.

I would hope the crews weren't slow during 1 train operation. You load a train and get 2-3 minutes rest.

Thanks, Chris. Tatsu sounds every bit as terrific as it looked. With luck, I'll be out to LA in a month or so, and I'm definitely planning to work in a visit to MM. Although it would be a bummer to have so many coasters out of commission. Then again, that is the SFI we've come to know and love (or loathe).

I already saw the program, i was up and it came on from 1:00 to 2:00 am est.

The program itself was very infomative on things they need done to make profit off the ride and things like that.

I reccommend watching it

I guess the point I was trying to make was that none of those things really had a negative impact on my day. The crowds were so light that often times even with a one train operation they were sending empty seats. Having X closed didn't bother me because I know it hasn't operated in months, and it was only one of a handful of rides I wanted to enjoy out there (which I why I don't feel bad for people who say Dragster or MF not operating "ruined" their day at CP.) Flashback hasn't run for years, although I do admit I have a problem with the park still advertising it. Ninja and Psyclone appeared to be undergoing yearly maintenance, which should be expected at a year-round park at a time when crowds are almost non existent. They still had a lot of good rides available, and I enjoyed what I could and didn't harp on negative stuff.

Ralph Wiggum said:
They still had a lot of good rides available, and I enjoyed what I could and didn't harp on negative stuff.

WOW! Thats a first around here I think.

no implied sarcasm, thats the honest truth.

It really depends on the day a person goes. I've heard some bad reports from people about MM and I rarely hear good. It looks like a good park, and it would be good to see it experience more days like the one Ralph had.
Who knows, maybe the fact that they were put on the chopping block caused a positive change in the park (operations and what-not).

I think after been to WDW and CP I have a very high standard of quality operations. Not that my day would be ruined at SFMM, especially since I'd expect such a thing at that park.

Light crowds at CP (weekdays in May) never spells one train operation on any ride. I've gone to the park where a 5 minute wait for TTD was the longest all day and every coaster was at least running two and three for all the major rides. If a guest is going during a light time for short lines, they expect short lines. Unless trains are leaving completely empty or problems have occured, I see no reason for only 1 train to run.

I'm an example of how much CP can spoil someone. They've set high standards in the industry and SFMM's operations are as poor as a major amusement park's operations can get.