[Capler]

I have always assumed that Hulk's lift hill is covered to protect the launch mechanisms from the elements? A typical B&M train may be too heavy to use a LIMs system for the launch which brings us back to the Hulk system. I wonder if it is possible that the theme company that has been alluded to by some is coming to install a Hulk'ish' style launch system on this coaster, which in turn mean that the lift hill will be partly covered. Oh well, we only have 7 more days so may as well take a swing in the dark like everyone else. It would be too cool to have a covered lift hill that is filled with fog and the coaster launches after a count down and the flag drops. That would be way too much money to spend on a little ol Carowinds attraction.

[coasterbruh]

Here's hoping that there are 3 trains (old style at that)... God know Carowinds needs a people eating machine.

At first I thought the old style trains would be better but realized its only losing 4 seats per train which wouldnt make that much of an impact on operations. And I would go for the openess of the trains more than the regular bench style seating...

Yea I hope its like Hulk, have never ridden it but I love the design. I designed a launch coaster on no limits coaster and its my favorite ride I have ever made (not based on what we are getting).

As a person who has riden hulk lots of time the launch is pretty sweet especially in the backseat! But I really doubt carowinds would get something like that...

[RiDeWaRrIoR]

It looks awesome. I guess we will find out in 7 days....

[CoasterFreak225]

Here's hoping that there are 3 trains (old style at that)... God know Carowinds needs a people eating machine.

Well obviously you have never rode Behemoth nor Diamondback. When I went to both of those, even when they lose 4 seats, the line still went by pretty fast, The average dispatch time Behemoth was 45-60 seconds, like The Jet Coaster (a member) stated in other topic that when a train dispatched, the train front of it is going through hammerhead turnaround, way before mid-course brake run.

It is all about operations and how effective they can get. I have rode all B&M Megacoasters in North America to date (till Carowinds one opens, that is) So from my experience, I have noticed even with three trains, if they wait for a train to go through mid-course brakes, then it usually results in stacking for a short period of time. On Behemoth, that never happens when the operations are quickly, so when the train arrives on final brakes, slows down, but it never stops, just keep going into the station straight on, since other 2 trains are already out on the circuit. But it doesn't happen all of the time, but I have seen it happen a lot.

Honestly I don't know about Diamondback, I didn't pay attention it enough like I did with Behemoth, plus I went to Diamondback when it was just a week old. The operations may be not so effective yet that time.

So my overall point is that it doesn't matter about losing 4 seats. I'm sure people who have rode Behemoth would agree with me. It is all about operations and how effective they are. Yes open spaces on new trains help us with better view, better airtime in back due to longer trains, but also it helps the ride attendants to check the lapbars by having more space to walk across the trains instead of walk through cramped middle seats on old style B&M trains, therefore faster dispatches.

[Jstbcool]

^The dispatch on Diamondback has gotten pretty quick. They will occasionally stack 3 trains, but that is usually due to the guest not the operators. You almost always hit the brakes after the splashdown, then roll immediately around the corner and stop behind the station. I never rolled straight into the station, but most of the stops behind the station were only for a few seconds. Most of the time it was stop, watch train in front of me dispatch, roll into station. Diamondback really is a people eater with 3 trains running so I hope for all of you Carowinds gets 3 trains and a good crew. Even with Diamondback's entire queue filled, I have never waited a full hour to get a ride.

[Coaster Punk]

I don't care what they name the ride as long as Jarvis keeps Della Reese as his avatar!

[jordN1414]

Just out of curiosity do they never use the station as a storage?

[coasterbruh]

Just out of curiosity do they never use the station as a storage?

i was thinking the same thing...

[chknwing]

ok dumbest question of the day or maybe not, Why do they need storage for 3 trains? if one is on the track, why have storage for 3 seems like it would be a waste. Closing/offseason, it can just stay in the station cant it?

[CoasterFreak225]

ok dumbest question of the day or maybe not, Why do they need storage for 3 trains? if one is on the track, why have storage for 3 seems like it would be a waste. Closing/offseason, it can just stay in the station cant it?

Mostly because the storage tracks usually have a mini crane at the back for off-season to allow easier train removal, instead of removing trains from station which would mean having to remove the whole wheel chassis.

In 3 pictures below, you could see a beam above the storage track that is used for a crane to carry a car away from the train out of shed and slowly drop onto the ground. I'm 99.9% positive that if any of you go and look at back of storage shed, you will see a beam sticking out of the back wall of the shed,

Goliath at SFOG
http://rcdb.com/3290.htm?p=14120

Diamondback at Kings Island (hard to see but the beam is above the left-most storage track)
http://rcdb.com/4253.htm?p=22250

Nitro at SFGAdv (you cannot see the beam but you can see an opening behind the middle storage with some crane cables from above)
http://rcdb.com/1106.htm?p=1382

So probably the whole reason parks like to have enough storage for all trains, so they can switch them easily or clear everything within the circuit for safety reasons. I'm sure.

However there is an exception, Goliath at LaRonde only have one train storage while it have 2 trains. I'm sure they storage a train inside the station during off-hours but not during off season, of course.

http://rcdb.com/3385.htm?p=16291

[jordN1414]

ok dumbest question of the day or maybe not, Why do they need storage for 3 trains? if one is on the track, why have storage for 3 seems like it would be a waste. Closing/offseason, it can just stay in the station cant it?

Mostly because the storage tracks usually have a mini crane at the back for off-season to allow easier train removal, instead of removing trains from station which would mean having to remove the whole wheel chassis.

In 2 pictures below, you could see a beam above the storage track that is used for a crane to carry a car away from the train out of shed and slowly drop onto the ground. I'm 99.9% positive that if any of you go and look at back of storage shed, you will see a beam sticking out of the back wall of the shed,

Goliath at SFOG
http://rcdb.com/3290.htm?p=14120

Diamondback at Kings Island (hard to see but the beam is above the left-most storage track)
http://rcdb.com/4253.htm?p=22250

So probably the whole reason parks like to have enough storage for all trains, so they can switch them easily or clear everything within the circuit for safety reasons. I'm sure.

However there is an exception, Goliath at LaRonde only have one train storage while it have 2 trains. I'm sure they storage a train inside the station during off-hours but not during off season, of course.

http://rcdb.com/3385.htm?p=16291

Could they not just remove one train? Then put the train thats in the station in its spot if they want to take it off?

[CoasterFreak225]

Could they not just remove one train? Then put the train thats in the station in its spot if they want to take it off?

Well, I stated that sometime parks would like to have room for all trains to be put in storage, so the circuit itself won't have any train in it during off-hours. It could be for safety reason, so staff could work on the tracks without any risk of dispatches by accident.

But after looking at Goliath at LaRonde, it may be parks' choice to ask for room for all trains in storage so B&M just provide what they want...

[Jonathan]

The storage sheds are built for maintenance access and to service the trains. The station is not, and is in fact quite cramped due to the platform pressed up against each side of the train.

[flewthecoop26]

I appreciate all of the thankyou's. Here are 2 pictures I had to reduce the resolution on because they wouldn't upload yesterday. One is of the full site front to south gate, the other is of a pond that is forming for scenery.

full site
SN852520.JPG (1.24 MiB) Viewed 3858 times

landscaping (ignore the file name...still hoping)
splashdown.jpg (325.18 KiB) Viewed 3858 times

[TadTAz]

Couple reasons for storing trains in the transfer area not in the station

Using the same picture I used earlier
http://behemoth.canadaswonderland.com/public/latest/gallery/index.cfm?mode=image&chip=43

You will see a big walk way under where the train would sit allowing super easy access to the bottom side of the trains for morning and off season mantenance. By having all the trains in the shed you would have all necessary tools in one spot for any repairs or p/m. Also this keeps a vehicle out of the station brakes allowing the ride to be totally turned off during the off season.

Now all this being said, there are few things at Carowinds that can store both trains off the track, Afterburn can, Goldrusher could, maybe vortex and nighthawk? Most everything else has to keep one in the station. During the offseason many rides have a train taken off for a full checklist. Not all do so don't jump all over that last sentance!

But the main reason for keeping all the trains in the transfer shed is centralizing everything to make mantenance all the easier even for the morning checklists it would help a ton so you don't have to do the train dance that is required right now on rides.

Add on: To really confuse some of you, I know at closing at hurler one train is parked on the transfer track (which has the mantenance walk under) and one train is on the back brakes. Presumably set up for the train dance/shuffle/swap/moving/call it whatever you want, during morning checklists.