Author Topic: Timber Wolf retracking question (Read 4012 times)

Bradley Robertson · « **Reply #30 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 10:54 »

Quote from: AyTrane on Mar 9, 2009, 10:21

Pulled this off the GCII site:

"Our Millennium Flyer trains may be available for existing wooden roller coasters that meet Great Coasters' strict standards for track and structure condition, as well as acceptable dynamic profiles. We are available to assess these conditions and help you with any necessary improvements that may be required in order to make your coaster fly."

This may just be really wishful thinking, but is it possible that all the work to Timberwolf would qualify it for MF trains?

I wonder if that is a new decision. I thought I recall that at least as of September they had a strict policy of not doing MF trains for anything but GCII built coasters. This is good news. It could definitely breathe new life in to some existing coasters. I also wonder if TW had MF trains if they would be able to get rid of some of the trims.

AyTrane · « **Reply #31 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 12:56 »

Hopefully with the new work to the track, the trims will be off. MF trains don't smooth out the track, so if the track is bumpy...it will still be bumpy. The cars are at least comfortable, and cushion some of the vibration. What I would be more interested in, is the lack of bounce from a stretched out car.

Bradley Robertson · « **Reply #32 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 01:15 »

Quote from: AyTrane on Mar 9, 2009, 12:56

Hopefully with the new work to the track, the trims will be off. MF trains don't smooth out the track, so if the track is bumpy...it will still be bumpy. The cars are at least comfortable, and cushion some of the vibration. What I would be more interested in, is the lack of bounce from a stretched out car.

I also thought the trims were there to help slow the trains before curves where most of the stress on the structure would be placed. With the MF's I assume that this would reduce the stress on the curves, and potentially the need for the trims. I understand that no matter what train is used if the track ain't smooth then neither is the ride.

Swoosh · « **Reply #33 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 01:39 »

I would imagine that GCI would have had to be the firm doing the retracking.

jlovesee · « **Reply #34 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 01:39 »

At one time MF's were allowed on anything but GCI coasters, this changed sometime within the last year. a MF train compared to a PTC, is like comparing a Mamba/Arrow train to a Wildfire/B&M train. MF and B&M's have seperate wheel axles, instead of one solid axle like the old Arrow's and PTC's. Which means even a bumpy coaster won't seem so bumpy.

In other words I only dream of riding a MF on Timberwolf. I guarantee there would be an improvement.

Jennifer

Swoosh · « **Reply #35 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 01:58 »

Is the gauge the same?

Jason · « **Reply #36 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 02:01 »

I would think so since they were able to switch the trains in Wildcat at Hershey without retracking the entire ride.

Swoosh · « **Reply #37 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 02:27 »

The difference there, though, was that GCI built Hershey's Wildcat.
I will be honest I do not know that much about gauge of track when it comes to wooden coasters -- are they mostly the same?

Jason · « **Reply #38 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 02:34 »

But they built it to run PTC's and then were able to throw MF's on there without any modification.

This leads me to believe that all track gauges are the same. If coaster A can run both PTC's and MF's and coaster B can run PTC's a G trains then coasters A and B are the same gauge and can run any train (except for SoB).

AyTrane · « **Reply #39 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 06:18 »

Son of Beast has Villain's old trains.

Jason · « **Reply #40 on:** Mar 9, 2009, 06:51 »

I thought that they had to modify those trains???

Jason · « **Reply #41 on:** Feb 1, 2010, 03:09 »

Old bump!

The GCI interns are apparently bending track for Timber Wolf.

http://greatcoastersinterns.com/?page_id=143

tonyblackjack · « **Reply #42 on:** Feb 1, 2010, 03:25 »

So Timberwolf is getting Millennium Flyers? Which might mean maybe bye bye Trims?

Swoosh · « **Reply #43 on:** Feb 1, 2010, 03:38 »

Um, no. It means that they are doing some of the rennovation work - though that would be nice and would sure help the ride out if they did get MFlyers

Bradley Robertson · « **Reply #44 on:** Feb 1, 2010, 03:52 »

Wow. Awesome to see that GCI is doing some of the work on TW.

Ben Dover · « **Reply #45 on:** Feb 1, 2010, 05:57 »

Does this mean that TW will be smoother this coming season?

tonyblackjack · « **Reply #46 on:** Feb 1, 2010, 07:11 »

It really was pretty good the last 2 summers!

Swoosh · « **Reply #47 on:** Feb 1, 2010, 08:06 »

I sure did love Timberwolf back in the day, but between terrible wait times and not the best ride experience (when compared to back in the day) it has become a "once a season" ride for me, sad to say

Ben Dover · « **Reply #48 on:** Feb 2, 2010, 09:11 »

Quote from: tonyblackjack on Feb 1, 2010, 07:11

It really was pretty good the last 2 summers!

Really? Last time I rode it was back in Haunt '08 and it was still rough, so rough in fact that I took a vow to never ride it again. Guess I better give it a second chance.

Bradley Robertson · « **Reply #49 on:** Feb 2, 2010, 10:15 »

Quote from: Ben Dover on Feb 2, 2010, 09:11

Really? Last time I rode it was back in Haunt '08 and it was still rough, so rough in fact that I took a vow to never ride it again. Guess I better give it a second chance.

I thought in '08 it was considerably improved over '07. By mid-year last year I thought it was running phenomenal. Faster and smoother (but not too smooth) than it had been in years. Last year it seemed that the word on that seem to get out, along with Prowler coming to the park people seemed more willing to ride it again. Midday during Coaster Mayhem the line was easily over an hour long. I hadn't seen a line like that since I was kid. TW is not, and never will be, as smooth as a GCI. But, I think it smoother than say The Boss at SFStL. or Ghostrider at Knott's.

Swoosh · « **Reply #50 on:** Feb 2, 2010, 11:05 »

When GhostRider was new at Knott's it was very smooth -- however it is hard to keep a wooden coaster that runs almost year round in tip top shape.

AyTrane · « **Reply #51 on:** Feb 2, 2010, 11:12 »

^ Not to mention the SoCal heat drying the wood out, making it not as flexible.

Bradley Robertson · « **Reply #52 on:** Feb 2, 2010, 11:51 »

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with Ghostrider. Just that it is rougher.

Swoosh · « **Reply #53 on:** Feb 2, 2010, 03:48 »

The GhostRider I rode last March was not as rough as the Timberwolf I rode last May.

Bradley Robertson · « **Reply #54 on:** Feb 3, 2010, 08:28 »

Quote from: Swoosh on Feb 2, 2010, 03:48

The GhostRider I rode last March was not as rough as the Timberwolf I rode last May.

We'll have to agree to disagree then because if you remember I rode it within a week of you when I went to Coaster Solace.

Jason · « **Reply #55 on:** Feb 3, 2010, 10:29 »

I asked a question on the GCI blog about the retracking and GCI isn't actually doing the work. They're just selling WoF the track pieces.

AyTrane · « **Reply #56 on:** Feb 3, 2010, 12:20 »

I would think it would be a little bit more than that. GCI would have had to do a little bit of engineering, but most likely the work was contracted out to the company that has been doing the Timberwolf work over the past few years. Brandon mentioned who it was, but I have since forgotten.