General Carowinds discussion
#35934
I'm so confused on why people keep saying they just turn trims off on certain days.
Whats the point of having them if they just use them some days? Ridiculous....
I'm sure they want the ride experience the same for all.

I found this.... (even though we know already what it is, I'm highlighting a point)
Trim Brake - A brake used to slow a roller coaster train or car. Trim brakes are typically found in the middle of the circuit and are used to slow a train when it is exceeding the optimal operating speed. Trim brakes may be used to reduce the amount of negative g-forces on a ride.

And another....
Trim brakes are sections of brakes which are intended to adjust a train's speed during its course rather than bring the train to a complete stop. They may be engineered into a ride at its design stages at certain anticipated troubled spots, or later retrofitted once it is discovered that trains transverse certain areas at higher-than-anticipated speeds. Trim brakes are often either added for safety reasons, to lower g-forces in certain areas, or for maintenance/mechanical reasons, to lower the cost of wear-and-tear (especially on wooden roller coasters) caused by the trains traveling at faster than normal speeds. Usually, a proximity sensor precedes the trim brake in order to identify the current speed of the passing train. From this, the trim will then grab the train's brake fins to modify the train's speed to what the ride sets.

The questioning of if they are computer controlled is OBVIOUS.
#35940
jasonwilson88 wrote:^ I wish I could just hear B&M explain why they exist rationally and I bet I would never even doubt / worry about them ever again. They MUST have a purpose, it's just annoying that none of us can point to a visible/apparent purpose. The engineer in me is bothered by them.

That said, once again I will repeat that our Intimidator is going to be amazing.


Keep in mind that the ride experience is designed around a broad spectrum of riders. The ride must have a wide appeal to make the numbers work. If ridership is too low, its an indicator that the ride is not adding to the parks bottom line. In addition, if the park is recieving compliants then that's an even bigger problem. No park wants to spend millions of dollars only to find low ridership and consistant complaints from average riders.

Your hardcore coaster enthusiat crowd is not enough to satisfy the bottom line for a rough ride experience. Sometimes just the word of a ride's rough experience is enough to lower ridership. Once the average crowd decides the ride is not enjoyable, the hardcore crowd cannot sustain the rides longterm finacial outlay. Drachen Fire is a prime example. The coaster is legendary among the hardcore riders, but it's ride experience was not popular enough to justify the amount of land it tied up. Mistakes like that can cost parks millions of dollars and engineering companys their entire business.

More often than not, its the left-right forces that make a ride uncomfortable. B&M was one of the first engineering companies to design around the CAD heartline to try to smooth out left-right transition forces on the rider. But for every transition, ideal speed is essential to keep forces in check. Like I said earlier, the placement of the trim doesn't always equate to the element in which its located. In the case of Intimidator, the trim on the third hill is most likely setting up the panoramic turnaround. Its placement on the incline of third hill is to minimize the effect of the ride expereince - that location is where a train is already losing a maximum of momentum. Keeping the trim away from the turnaround allows the ride experience to be fast, powerful, and smooth on the approach in through the element.

Food for thought.
#35947
jasonwilson88 wrote:Lol let's just be happy we have one working webcam and a huge ******* expensive hyper coaster.


im happy that we have a working cam and a new coaster adn not a relocated coaster. i would like to see some south gate views is all.
i know it could be alot worse and suprised at how fast the coaster is coming together. im looking forward to getting on it and thinking WTF then turning around while still in shock and getting back on for a second ride.
#35951
coasterdave wrote:^ I have no clue what you are even trying to say. Maybe next time post when you are not half asleep or something?


i was saying

im happy that we have a working cam and a new coaster and not a relocated coaster.
night hawk and cobra are relocated coasters. not new ones

i would like to see some south gate views is all.
all the construction we see is from the cam on the sky tower.

i know it could be alot worse.
no new coaster at all

im suprised at how fast the coaster is coming together.

im looking forward to getting on it and thinking WTF then turning around while still in shock and getting back on for a second ride.


hope that helps you understand a little better.
#35956
coasterdave wrote:Thanks for the enlightment to help clear your post up. Not always a great idea to post when you are half asleep or whatever cause you just might use i instead of I. O wait.....


Which is why I post in the afternoon. So I am :D.
#35961
Thanks for the rain, Ida. And for the lovely sunset. Now move along.

Got some decent sunset shots at dusk. At least, I think I did - I left my camera cable at work. Will throw them up tomorrow.

They've added another piece of track to the turnaround.
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