Usual for last Magnum rides to no have trims?

I went to the park this past weekend (I'll have a trip report up in a day or two) and I ended Friday and Saturday with a mini-marathon of Magnum. And both days, right before closing, they ran the last few cycles with the trims off. Do they normally do this?

Depends on how windy it is and how full the train is, I suppose. A heavy headwind and a light train with trims would be bad news.

Generally depends on the train loads. If the trains are nearly empty, the trims usually get shut off to avoid having one stall out during the run.

My understanding is that there are 2 settings available in the control room, on and off. Maintenance has to go out and manually adjust the air pressure on the trims. So air pressure that only slightly affects a full train on a warm day can severely slow down a train with 3 passengers on a cool night. Late in the day, there is no point to having maintenance adjust the trims and they just turn them off.

Ok, that makes sense. It was pretty windy both nights and the trains were only about half full.

Jugga's got it goin' on.

It's really not uncommon, even if the last loaded train of the day is completely full, to have the trims off then. Two empty trains have to be dispatched after that last fully loaded train so that the riders can get back to the platform. In some cases the trims get turned off in anticipation of the empty train that's coming after it.

whats a trim (and wheres the darn question mark key)

Its a brake that is meant to slow the ride down but not completely stop it. It is meant to "trim out" some of the speed. Some block brakes (like the ones on Raptor) act as trims. Normally they just trim the ride, but can be used to stop a train in case of emergency.

Its on the keyboard.

**EDIT - Changed break to brake - It was caused by a retarded keyboard operator.**

*** Edited 9/11/2006 7:32:30 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

Actually, Jugga meant "brake". A "break" is a piece of a Kit Kat bar.

You should have been there for the evening ERT Magnum rides during CoasterMania. Those were insane rides!

Wow, I can't believe I missed that. And normally, I'm pretty anal about my spelling.

Well, I'm not going to go on some rant about how the natives are out to get me and its not fair for you to point out my spelling deficiencies. I'm just going to say - Thanks.

^ - How about a 2 person trimmed ride on a cold, windy, rainy May night? We were about to have to get out and push the darn train the rest of the way around.

*** Edited 9/11/2006 9:09:45 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

Just having a little fun at your expense, John! :)

Hopefully it'll be the last time I have to pick up the tab for a little while. ;)

Heh. You should be so lucky. ;)

A trims-off ride on Magnum is something to be savored, like the finest wine! When the trims are off the trains literally scream through the pretzel and the run through the bunny hills is just nuts. I think the best time is on a really hot night, on the last few rides of the night. The trains are faster than ever then. Next best is first thing in the morning, before they turn them on. Nothing like a good trims-off ride to wake you up and set the tone for the day!

I was there in Aug. with my 2 son's and I keped yelling turn off the trims, so my one son asked me what I was talking about, so I told him what I was saying about the trims than he understood. The last ride before we went back to the Breakers for the night they had turned off the trims and after the ride was over my son's said now I know what you were talking about and they said that they wished that CP would run the Magnum like that all the time. I was glad that they were able to experience the Magnum without the trims on.

I'm sure the crew really appreciated you asking them repeatedly to do something they could get written up for. Classy.

I thought everyone yelled at the crew on Magnum to turn off the trim break, I know they all do on coastermania

No. Cedar Point management gives the OK to turn them off for Coastermania. They are not supposed to give 'special' rides.

I much prefer it with the trims on. It's much easier on my thighs on those camelbacks.

I seem to remember when the Magnum was new it was much faster than it is now, did they add the trim brakes after the first season? I know they added extra padding and such since people were getting injured (Broken noses, etc-I personally had a blood blister on my forearm from hitting it on the side of the car)