What I heard (downtime)

Most recently, (today) when i was at Cedar Point, they had the usual crane parked at the launch position, working on the cable wheel... or near that area. Around 8:00pm i walked by Top Thrill Dragster and the Crane was moved, a few people were waiting at the Entrance to the line, where a worker wearing a Ride Mechanic uniform was standing. Me and my friend approached him, and asked him what was wrong with the ride, thinking he would give some bull**** excuse like they always do... he didn't.

He ended up going into detail about the Brakes on the Launch run, (the security feature for rollbacks). He first stated all of the braking plates needed to be replaced due to "un-predicted" over-usage. He said the plates had been ordered a day prior and were currently being shipped to Cedar Point from Intamin, Switzerland. He also went into detail about how the Braking sytem on the launch run was not to be used on a daily basis, and only intended for very-rare rollbacks. They were designed to be used rarely, and not Casualy, as they have been in the past few weeks, because the "weight of the train and the ratio of the pull from the cable does enable the train to safely clear the crest of the hill".

He also added the ride should be up in working order when they recieve the Braking Plates by the end of this week. I asked him what his personal opinion of when the ride would be in standard working order and he said most likely not until next year.

Another person asked if the ride would operate tonight, he said "Possibly a few test runs, 1 or 2 but no, there is a 100% chance the ride will NOT open tonight."

I've been on it twice, I know other people haven't been as lucky, I hope the ride is open soon, I would like to ride it again. Well I hope this information is genuine, I think it is, so I'll see ya'll later

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TTD: 2 (Rollbacks seen: 1)
MF: 15
WT: 6
Usually at CP: every mon, tuesday, thursday

MrFat699 that was great info but i have a question did you ask him if the tires and all the other things in the back of the train coming back and wht about that hydrolic problum too did they finely get that fixed? I hope it will start operating more better after this is done
Thanks again for the update.

Rides on Top Thrill Dragster As of 7/22/03 = 21:)

I thought it was the sled that was getting beat up by the rollbacks. If it is the brakes, I wonder why they needed to take the sled apart.

Still, I'm not really buying this about the brakes not handling all the rollbacks. Those brakes were made to stop as many trains as the brakes on the brake run. Why would they put up signs all over the place saying that there might be rollbacks from time to time.

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- Dennis
When I die, They'll read this And say a genius wrote it.

The signs say from time to time not every 20 min.

I dont know if i really can believe that..... arent the brakes magnetic? with permanent magnets on the trains, and just the plates that run between the permanent magnets? If so, there should be no physical contact at all, and if there is no contact, how will they wear out, especially that quick? Im goona have to go with the theory of the sled getting torn up.

Perhaps the brake fins are too thin, and the force of the magnetic pull on the plates is stressing the mounting holes, pulling the plates out of alignment. Just because it's magnetic doesn't mean that the fins are not seeing some kind of force and perhaps being deformed. I think "worn out" was the wrong choice of words, but I could see how, if the fins were too thin, they could be getting damaged.

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Come on people, this poetry's not going to appreciate itself!

I think what he told you was nonsense. I'll leave it at that.

I can, however, be 100% sure that the launch sled has taken a bit of damage the last few weeks.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - Luau II Cam 7/19
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I don't understand how this could have been an oversight during the engineering faze. They had to know what kind of wear and tear that sled was going to be facing.

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No matter where you go, there you are.

The trolls sure are hungry, it appears.

Are we all forgetting about all the rollbacks during the month testing? I highly think this guy is just trolling
*** This post was edited by bholcomb 7/23/2003 10:15:32 AM ***

Looks like they're going to open it today. So much for the brake theory.

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Scott W. Short
mailto:scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

Hey, Nice....Not once did i believe this dude's BS story about the brakes. I know they were made to withstand what the brakes on the brake run withstand. And i think i would rather listen to what Jeff had to say then some dude with 7 posts.

Anyway, Glad to see it getting ready to open. Cant wait to get a taste of TTD.

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- Dennis
When I die, They'll read this And say a genius wrote it.

Big D said:
And i think i would rather listen to what Jeff had to say then some dude with 7 posts.

He has only posted 4 times.

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:) C :) E :) D :) A :) R :) :) P :) O :) ! :) N :) T :)

Big D --- maybe if you ask Jeff nicely, he'll even bend over for you

Besides, I know Jeff is well informed about the happenings at Cedar Point, but I'd place my money on the actual MECHANIC that actually WORKS on the rides.

sooooo, the ride IS now workin'? is it? it might be? is that good enough? id love to take another 5 spins on this monster...

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"One word: DAMN!" - Large Man Exiting Dragster
Phantom's Revenge? DELICIOUS!
TTD: 5