Wicked Twister questions

I know we are not all scientists and not all of us are ride ops, but I have been curious about these things for the longest time (since Superman: Ultimate Escape/Steel Venom opened at Six Flags Ohio/Geauga Lake back in 2000):

1) How do the brake fins go up and down on Wicked Twister, Pre launch and Slow down? Is it Manual or Automatic? My guess is that you have to manually press a button to make the fins go up before launching the train, and they automatically come down after the train goes up the front spike the final time.

2) Does the launch button have a 1 or 2 second delay on it? I remember one year at Geauga Lake, I was watching the Steel Venom ride op while waiting in line, and it seemed like there was a second or two delay from when she pressed the dispatch button, to when the LIM's actually sent the train going forward.

3) Nobody has ever really answered this question for me, but, what actually makes Impulse Coaster's Linear Induction Motors to make the high pitched screaming noise? Is it the motor powering itself? The train's fins going through the LIMs? Or is it something else?

Thanks guys, and sorry if these have all been answered somewhere else but I honestly tried looking and couldn't find it.

Forgot about this question too:

4) The beginning of 2002, Wicked Twister's cycle was slightly different/faster, for example: the train used to go all the way up the rear spike both times, but later that season, the cycle was tamed down. How did they tame it? Is there something in the control booth that allows ride ops and mechanics to do that, or do they have to tweak the LIMs? What is the case here! lol

Sorry for all the questions, but sometimes when I don't know something in full detail, it bothers me for a long time. I just find Wicked Twister (and all other Impulse Coasters) to be very interesting in terms of operation. Thanks again!

I can kind of answer 1 and 2. If memory serves me correctly (I only worked the ride 2 days in 2005) you push a button that "readies" the ride by locking the gates and raising the brakes. The controller then will push the launch button during his/her countdown. There is a 2 second delay on the launch button (I'm assuming it's to get the electricity to the motors).

Hope that helps!

I think the screaming noise you hear is just an added sound affect for the ride. It's like the sound affect you hear for Maverick when It goes through the second tunnel. The sound of a Wild Horse going through the tunnel.

Actually Shawn, the sound is not a sound effect like Dragster and Maverick. It is from the LSMs.

Let me take a crack at trying to explain it.

1.) The brakes are controlled pneumatically by the computer and anything else would be done manually.

2.) I've never really paid attention to them pressing the button to see if there's a delay it very well may be the result of how the LIMs fire.

3.)The sound I would guess is the result of the high amount of electricity being released to the LSM motors. Though I only know it's the LIMs making the noise. I really don't know the full explanation as to why it makes that specific noise.

4.)I believe the taming is simply done through tweaking the programming of the computer. Though I'm only assuming this due to how I know Dragsters system works in terms of tweaking.

Dave can probably explain this better than anyone.

Yes there is a slight delay between button press and launch. When counting down 3-2-1 you push the button while you say 2.

Thanks everyone! I was just always curious about the operation of Impulse Coasters. I have been thinking lately and still want to work at the park during Halloweekends at Wicked Twister! Is it too late? And how do I go about doing it? Somebody told me that they just called and requested what ride they wanted to work at and got the job. So I'm wondering if I have to do that or if I have to actually do the whole application process.

I worked Steel Venom one year and can help out some, even though others have answered most everything.

1.) The brake fins are all automatic, done via computer pneumatically. When the computer is "ready" and at least on Steel Venom, when the verbal "All Clear" was given, the operator at the back of the station would "enable" the train via button, and the brakes would go up. At this point, when the main operator pushed the two "enable" buttons at the same time, there is a two second delay and the ride is launched. The train must be "enabled" at the rear of the station before the main control panel allows dispatch, as a safety feature to make sure it is all clear.

2.) Two second delay, roughly.

3.) The noise is the high amount of energy going through the magnetics, creating work, which propels the train forward. Simply, it is electrical noise. Nothing more, nothing mechanical (caused by friction, for example).

4.) The ride was tweaked due to excessive stress on the towers (from what I understand). Any adjustment was most likely done with Intamin engineers (or contracted engineers with approval from Intamin, such as Allen Bradley) to make software changes. The ride basically runs a "program" and follows instructions of the program. By adjusting the program, they can adjust how the ride operates. This has to be done carefully.

Hope this helps!

^^ Anyone working at the park has to go through the online application process.

Alright, thank you Ralph! And everybody else who commented on this thread!

Well i know i am a little late on this post but .......as i look at pictures of WT i thought that the LIM's act as the brakes as well by reversing the current to create the same effect, and i do believe that the fins are fixed on to the train!!!
and as for the noise it do believe that the LIM's Make that.
here is a picture of the trains that i could find to show the fins looked fixed
http://www.rcdb.com/1571.htm?p=3822

http://www.rcdb.com/1571.htm?p=8205

you can see that the fins are fixed and like i say it is the LIM's doing the braking

and the delay could be a quick systems check!!! and then power up and then FIRE!!!

and then they slowed it down due to to much stress on the tower, and all they do is reduce the current to LIM's to make less power in turn less hight

In the first picture you linked to, you can see a gray thing recessed inside the track just past the white LIM in the middle of the picture. That is one of many magnetic brakes that drop down at the end of the ride cycle. Whether or not the LIMs are also assisting with braking, I don't know, but there are magnetic brakes on the ride.