what would happen if a coaster didn't make it back to the station?

Obviously TTD would just roll back... But what would happen if Millenium were to not make it back to the station and got stuck in the middle of the circuit somewhere. How would they get it back to the station?

If a train valleys in the middle of the ride, the train will most likely be clamped to the track and everybody is evacuated . Then, the train needs to be disconnected from the track (wheels and cars); a crane will be then brought in to remove the individual cars from the track.

This is why Magnum, Gemini, Mantis, Maverick, and Raptor can not run in high winds. There is a chance of the ride valleying.

Here are a couple of great photos of roller coasters valleying @ CP:
http://rollercoasterfreak.com/Cedar_Point/2006-10-29_Closing_Day/Im...GP0035.JPG
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v492/kennywood_racer/cedar%20poin...-23001.jpg

I'll just elaborate more on the other method. They pull the train to the next highest point or the highest point behind the train with a series of winches, pulleys, cables, etc. Then they "cut" loose the train, allowing it to complete the rest of the course back to the station. I was at Hershey Park for Fahrenheit's opening day and it vallied in it's cobra roll during testing. I though it was going to be postponed, but they pulled it to the 2nd roll and it made it around the rest of the course. And it thankfully opened just 2 hours later.

Oh, and Dragster doesn't valley but it sure can get stuck in another way. ;)

It would be a very, very bad thing if Wicked Twister didn't valley.

I don't think there is any point on Millennium where it can be released and make it back to the station, other than the first hill. I believe they had to rachet it all the way back.

I also think nearly every coaster that can valley at CP has done so. Wasn't Mantis the only one that hadn't until just a year or so ago?

No, Mantis has definitely stalled before.

Pretty much most of the major coasters have valleyed..only few I don't know off hand are blue streak corkscrew, and mean streak...I don't think this have but I could be wrong...the park is pretty much good at shutting down rides if valleying is possible..

coolkid said:
If a train valleys in the middle of the ride, the train will most likely be clamped to the track and everybody is evacuated . Then, the train needs to be disconnected from the track (wheels and cars); a crane will be then brought in to remove the individual cars from the track.

This is why Magnum, Gemini, Mantis, Maverick, and Raptor can not run in high winds. There is a chance of the ride valleying.

Here are a couple of great photos of roller coasters valleying @ CP:
http://rollercoasterfreak.com/Cedar_Point/2006-10-29_Closing_Day/Im...GP0035.JPG
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v492/kennywood_racer/cedar%20poin...-23001.jpg

I remember when that happened to raptor. It seems to me like raptor would be harder to get back than any of the other rides.

^Actually, how would people get off of Raptor if it stalled? That would be the worst coaster to try to get off of while stalled... Would they use a cherry-picker crane, perhaps?

I would think it would be the easiest. You bring a platform up under the seat, release the restraints, and they slip off the seat to the platform. They don't have to try and climb over seats and to the edge of the car to get out of it.

TheDevarious said:
Pretty much most of the major coasters have valleyed..only few I don't know off hand are blue streak corkscrew, and mean streak...I don't think this have but I could be wrong...the park is pretty much good at shutting down rides if valleying is possible..

Mean Streak has

Blue Streak and Wildcat have a habit of not valleying...they will fail to make a hill and catch on the anti-rollbacks.

I've got video of Mantis:TCFKAB being loaded up with "volunteers" and released to return to the station after valleying. I also have video of Top Thrill Dragster failing to make it back to the station (WITHOUT rolling back!).

Wildcat is probably the easiest to fix if it stalls out because the cars are light enough that a bunch of guys in blue shirts can push them off of the anti-rollbacks. And there is one mid-course brake on an uphill section of track; for that one a winch rope is hooked to the back of the car with a quick release. I think I have video of that operation somewhere as well, but it isn't online.

When Mean Streak valleyed on the third drop, they fixed it by taking the train apart. I've seen them deal with a valleyed Gemini both by taking the train apart and by dragging it up the hills with a wire rope and a forklift.

I'm thinking the hardest ride to evacuate might be Magnum, because when it stalled out loaded, it stalled in the middle of the turnaround, 95' in the air. Just an opinion, of course.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I remember watching MF get winched back to the station in 02. At the time I remember hearing they winched it up and released it from the top of the hill returning from the island and that it failed to make the final overbank, so they winched it the rest of the way.

I would also guess that only a small percentage of valleys actually have people on the ride. Typically valleys occur during morning test runs when it is colder. Although I know with many coasters, Raptor and Mantis especially, wind can be a factor.

I'm guessing the Magnum valley in the turnaround was due to what? A strong gust of wind off of the lake? I've certainly taken some very *slow* Magnum rides in the morning.

I love the Dragster video Dave. Thanks for posting it again.That was a good day. :)

Corkscrew actually got perfectly stuck on top of the loop after the bunny hill, this was a long long time ago. Bet guests enjoyed that

Steve...where do you come up with this ****? :P

Jenna told me!! Lol She is too awesome to lie!

That never happened.

It did happen on Demon at SF Great America though. And in 1998, which isn't that long ago.

Red Garter Rob said:
I love the Dragster video Dave. Thanks for posting it again.That was a good day. :)

Ah, you're only saying that because you practically starred in it... :)

Incidentally, that was shot from the Maverick loading platform. I actually delayed my ride a couple of cycles so that I could see the resolution!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.