[jasonwilson88]

It is extremely unlikely that B&M track is checked more often than once every couple months, or possibly once per year.

Considering there are no moving parts, and they are just huge pieces of steel, there isn't much to check. Woodies require inspections because wood is constantly getting torn up, screws/nails fall through the ride, and supports get weakened over time.

[lanigan911]

It is extremely unlikely that B&M track is checked more often than once every couple months, or possibly once per year.

Considering there are no moving parts, and they are just huge pieces of steel, there isn't much to check. Woodies require inspections because wood is constantly getting torn up, screws/nails fall through the ride, and supports get weakened over time.

Not true. I remember seeing a program where this guy helped out with KD's morning inspections. There was a special car that they used to inspect Dominator every day.

[TadTAz]

Not true. I remember seeing a program where this guy helped out with KD's morning inspections. There was a special car that they used to inspect Dominator every day.

Yea, Carowinds does not do that everymorning, If i remember right that show said it took 45mins to go through the loop?!?! maintenance only gets in at 6, most of the inspections maintance does has to deal with the trains themselves and saftey features of the ride like brakes and block set ups. I know Hurler and TRoad have complete walk throughs as they are wood and wear at a much more significant rate

I can't imagine KD do that every morning, maybe one ride a week but the time involved with putting the car on and going through the entire track would take way more time than allotted in mornings.

I could be wrong but just thinking logically at how much time is available and the fact that I have never seen one on the track in the morning at carowinds leads me to believe that statement in that show may be slightly distorted to make the general public feel safer.

[Capler]

I also remember seeing a special where they said each coaster gets a daily visual walk thru track inspection. Maybe they were wood, I don't recall.

[KDcoasterMAN]

I'm pretty sure they do inspections every morning on most if not all coasters. I think today's standards call for that.

[PreferParamount]

Great pictures wormy, but be careful taking pictures while driving. LOL

[jasonwilson88]

Today's standards DO NOT require a daily inspection of steel track. That special about KD's funicular vehicle wasn't a daily occurrence. It is an absolutely crazy thought to assume that someone is going to walk every inch of a steel coaster every day. MilF's daily inspection requires a simple walk up and over the top of the hill to where the cable ends, press the button, and walk back down. That's hardly a full track walk!

Climbing up and over all of those hills, every day, would be an unreasonable and pointless task considering there are zero moving parts on most of the track. I imagine the mid-course and lift get a daily check, with the rest of the track getting yearly (or longer) inspections that probably include the sonar devices to ensure structural integrity.

On a side note... hill 2 is rising fast!

EDIT: Also, only a very select group of parks even have one of those track riding cars from B&M. They mostly rely on sharing between chains and yearly inspections.

[RollerBee]

Hurler's track is not fully inspected everyday, a portion is inspected a day. I know this because it took maintenance 2 days to find to steel rails coming loose, and causing a big jolt in turn 5. Me and my TL at Hurler in 2006 told Maintenance that but they didn't believe us until they found it. Three cycles with atleast 2-4 people bleeding from hitting the bolt head on the back of the headrest. For those that want to know how we knew the steel rail was loose, we both done test rides both days, and maintenance even admitted we were right after they found it.

About the special cart on Dominator, Only Silver Bullet at Knotts, and Dominator at KD have them as far as I know. Chances are it is because both rides are/were over water, and that prevents maintenance from getting the booms under the ride to inspect them. Most steel coasters don't have catwalks, and they are inspected with cranes, booms and from the ground.

[Diamondback FOF]

I know with Diamondback, maintenance has to walk the track every time the ride is shut down. If there is some sort of problem with the ride (like a fulty sensor) so the ride shuts down (even for 10 minutes), the track IS inspected. It doesn't matter why the coaster was shut down, it does get walked before reopening. I believe it is like that for every coaster at KI. I don't know if it is state law, and if soo, it very well could be different down there.

[jasonwilson88]

^ They do not walk the entire track after the ride is shutdown, because you CAN'T walk the entire track. It would take literally hours upon hours to harness up and climb up/down those hills.

[TheRepeatProphecy]

PICTURE TIME!!!!11!1!1!111!!one!11!!

Timmah was especially kind to the camera today.



^^^ Timmah from I-77 Exit 90 (Northbound). He so pretty.



^^^ The view from Carowinds Boulevard, near Cracker Barrel. (Country-style food and then coasters? Sounds like the perfect storm for vom.)



^^^ I wanted a closer shot, but Timmah wasn't ready yet so I had to settle for a distant paparazzi style shot.

[jordN1414]

(Photo Thanks to: Wormy)


Did anyone one else notice that the gap between the drop and the first hill look much smaller than the renderings?

[Wormy]

[jordN1414]

(Photo Thanks to: Wormy)


Did anyone one else notice that the gap between the drop and the first hill look much smaller than the renderings?

The photos above even show it better....

[bobbysmagic]

I hope they didn't forget a piece....LOL - BTW, I just joking