Wicked Twister Deconstruction

Well, after seeing that section of track cut out, I guess all I can say is: D'OH!

They cut that piece out to have it analyzed to make sure the track can handle another 20 years of operation at another park. It wouldn't make sense to ship it to another park only to find out that the track is worn out. Duh.

Seriously though, why cut out that piece of track? What would be the point?

This brings up a kinda-but-not-really-related question; how do they take the train off Impulse coasters? There isn’t a transfer track with an open end…

Same way they take a valleyed train off a track, I assume.

-or-

If you play RCT2, hit the ‘Close Ride’ button twice 😉

Shane Denmark said:

Seriously though, why cut out that piece of track?

To auction or sell off as souvenirs, presumably.

If they were to sell track pieces, I don't understand why they would cut the pieces for sale while the ride is still standing. Wouldn't it make more sense to do that after taking the track down?

^ It's completely speculation, but it makes total sense that they would have cut one piece off first, potentially to work on packaging, cleaning, presentation, whatever, before deciding on exact sizes/shapes/whatever to start chopping up.

I’d strongly advise any last minute deniers to read Tonys blog today. Wicked Twister is not moving anywhere else it is being demoed in the next few weeks. They are removing the final electrical components currently.

What IS cool is that he’s going to document the removal process since it doesn’t happen very often with rollercoasters. So I’m looking forward to those updates personally.

I guess they're not gonna blow it up like Spiral either :(

I’m led to believe there was an initial plan to do something else with WT, but those plans fell through.

Otherwise, why be so vague about its closure when announced earlier in the season

Showing my ignorance, have other rides that permanently closed - closed so early in the season?

Mantis and Mean Streak both closed early for rebranding.

….and Shoot the Rapids, well that ride just don’t count.

Shane Denmark said:

Seriously though, why cut out that piece of track? What would be the point?

This brings up a kinda-but-not-really-related question; how do they take the train off Impulse coasters? There isn’t a transfer track with an open end…

There is a section of track right past the 1st or 2nd brake outside of the station where the rails detach. It’s a pretty neat process to see.

The fate of the ride sucks in all honesty. That corner of the park really did not get the traffic it should have. I really think if it would have been advertised that the seatbelts were extended a few years ago, ridership would have increased. But I am willing to bet the fate of WT was already planned.

Either way, looks like I’ll be making more trips to Dorney and Valleyfair now.

2020TpForSale said:

I’m led to believe there was an initial plan to do something else with WT, but those plans fell through.

Because tearing down a ride is at the same level of precision as intending to stop for Starbucks on the way to the grocery store, and sometimes things just don't work out.

2020TpForSale said:

Showing my ignorance, have other rides that permanently closed - closed so early in the season?

WildCat closed pretty darn early in its last season.

As I may have said earlier in this thread, or maybe it was in the "RMC MS is definitely for sure opening in 2017" conversation, if you have a preconceived notion about an outcome, it's important to challenge that preconception. Otherwise every single data point gets filtered through that preconception such that the data confirms that notion, even when that data doesn't objectively support it.

^Agreed. I think emotional bias plays a big part. I was hoping for relocation. Not based on any evidence. Just as an enthusiast I truly get bummed to see rides gone forever. Even though I realize that the decisions to remove and either scrap or relocate are purely based on financial circumstances, I can't help but to mourn the loss of another coaster. I didn't really have any sentimental feelings towards WT. I did enjoy riding it. I thought it was a great coaster. But growing up going to CP in the 80s and 90s, it wasn't there my whole life. And my fondest memories, albeit rose colored glasses, were from the days before WT. I think my biggest problem that I see on FB and through some of these posts is that some people actually are happy about it being demoed. As a CP fan and a roller coaster fan in general, I personally would've rather it found new life elsewhere. But again, if it doesn't make sense financially, I understand their decision.

I was surprised that the chain didn't relocate Firehawk, and also about WT. Since they spend so little on the bottom tier parks, I would have thought that both would be good for places like Dorney, MA, WoF. Cost savings to scrap and use for spare parts seems to have made more sense.

Looking around the chain, I really only think Rougarou could be one they'd actually relocate. New trains, would be a top attraction at WoF, MA or ValleyFair. I won't miss WT, but I hope Steel Venom hangs around for a while with the holding brake in action. That makes it a lot more interesting.

The issue with relocating a ride like Firehawk or Wicked Twister to a lower tier park is that the maintenance costs made those rides far from inexpensive.

I was wrong about my prediction for WT’s future and I’m man enough to admit it.

My guess is that it is a requirement to de-commision a ride that that is no longer usable. This is in reference to the piece of track cut out is to prevent any use of the ride while it is not being used.

Im not so sure about that part. While I dont know why that section of track has been cut out, the ride, from my understanding is very much inoperable and has been for weeks with all the controls and most of the electrical removed. Theres physically no way that train could launch

If the piece of track was cut out to prevent any use then that would actually assure the train would fly off the track. That would teach em, lol.