Iron Dragon disscussion

It's about as thrilling as the Mine Ride in performance. The park needs a few calm coasters like this, so it's good to have. The new paint and theme colors are hideous to say the least. The ride would be helped if there was more greenery and trees spread closer to the track to give it more of an enclosed feeling, but this would naturally require more trimming/maintenance and would likely be frowned upon by management. Doubt they would want more work if they don't bother to keep up with the theming of some other rides....DT....MF's belts...

Loopy said:
Magum50, this is purely a guess on why the lift runs slow and then speeds up but I would say it has to do with where the other train is on the course.

Kinda like on MF.

*** Edited 12/24/2006 4:45:37 AM UTC by Loopy***

It isn't anything like Millennium Force, which only has one train out on the course at a time.

After Big Bad Wolf and Top Gun, Iron Dragon really does seem lame.

Did you know the reason for the OTSRs? Arrow planned on eventually having their suspended coasters do inversions but realized how bad it would be if they slowed or stalled in a loop and those cars slammed hard to the left or right. Could you imagine?;)

If you read my post again, you'll see that I said it has to do with where the other train is on the course.

Which, in fact, is correct for both ID and MF.

MF's train can leave the station as soon as the previous train enters the brakes but doesn't speed up until that train leaves the brakes and enters unload.

ID's train enters the lift hill but cannot speed up until the previous train clears the 2nd lift.

Sounds like the EXACT same reason both trains go slow on the lift hill to me. And is exactly what I said in my previous post.

So having one train on the course at a time or having 15 out has nothing to do with the question. The question was why does ID's train go slow up the first lift hill.

*** Edited 12/24/2006 5:01:50 PM UTC by Loopy***

I remember the year ID opened. The line went all the way past the first Sky Ride entrance.

Sorry Loopy I don't consider the "course" anything after the brakes and didn't know that was the reason for the "speed up" climbing MF's hill. You learn something every day.... :)

Pit bull I remember waiting in that line. Our first ride on ID was at night and these drunk guys sitting in front of us had taken the silver bag out of one of those boxes of wine and were drinking it and offering it to everyone on the train. We were young and innocent and said "No thanks". :)

Was that this year that happened, because if it was you should have reported it to us immediately. On another note, Everyone has to remember that Iron Dragon runs 3 trains in normal operation. The train ahead does not have to clear the second lift in order for the train on lift 1 to speed up. If you have never noticed, they are supposed to crest each lift at the same time.

If you have never noticed, they are supposed to crest each lift at the same time.

Out of all the times I've been on ID, I never noticed.

Bootz, that happened way back during Iron Dragon's first season of operation.

Actually it happens all of the time, if it doesn't happen, well I think everyone can fill in the blank here. Just remember to look at my signature lol.

Bootz, he was answering you as to what year those guys were drinking on ID, not about the operation.

While I realize you are rather enthusiastic about working at CP, not everyone here needs you to remind them every time you post that you were an employee there last year. We love CP just as much if not more than you do and being an employee doesn't make you more knowledgeable about the park than others. Trust me, sometimes I think there's people here that know these rides better than the maintenance crews, and they've never worked in the park. Are there going to be little things here and there that will add to a discussion? Sure there are. But telling everyone to "look at my signature" or saying that "you should have reported it to us" isn't adding anything constructive to the discussion.

I'm not trying to be mean, just trying to get you to chill out a bit. It's the Holiday Season and we're here to spread cheer. :)

Iron Dragon is definitly a waste of potential, but I still don't think Top Gun is better than ID. I've ridden TG a couple of times, and think it is just as boring as ID, honestly.

Now, I usually ride Draggin' Iron a few times each trip to CP; mainly to give my feet a rest, but also because I am slightly fond of the ride.

ID gives a nice cool ride thru the trees and mist on a hot day, unlike Corkscrew where you sit and bake on the brake run for an eternity some days.

Worst Dragon experience? Due to the speed changes on the first lift, the front seat of every car was treated to repeated sloshings of cold rainwater that had filled in the vinyl suspension guards during a short downpour. On a cool, windy May evening. Brrr.

You are right Loopy, I do take the job a little to seriously and I need to chill out; so thanks for giving me a reality check. Anyway dosen't everyone here agree that Iron Dragon needs new trains?

TG owns ID with an iron fist. TG actually uses the potential of the design, while ID just.... sits there and runs the course. The swinging was amazing and gave me a new appreciation for the ride type.

Now, if you want to see how a suspended coaster SHOULD be, look at The Bat @ PKI. That ride had some kick... too bad its gone.

As for ID... it sucks. I don't waste my time riding it unless im extremely bored. I think I only rode it twice this past season, in 14 visits.

For as much as it sucks or stink to some of you, I don’t think that’s what some of the younger, soon to be, coaster enthusiasts think of it. It may not be a Dragster or Millennium, but at least it's something to enjoy with the whole family.

I enjoy riding it, even if isn't fast or tall.

On another note, I always flinch when I’m riding and it enters the final section over the pond. Specifically the part where it crosses over the track and from your perspective (or maybe just mine) it looks as if you’re going to hit...............everytime!

Aww loopy, be nice to Bootz, he's really quite harmless. Well, mostly, I know of one thing he can do. But actually, yeah, he's harmless... Even on his last day of his contract. :p

I think that floorless suspended trains would be way better than the current trains on ID.

So what does that mean Travis, on the last day of my contract, and what is the one thing I can do lol. *** Edited 12/28/2006 5:54:09 PM UTC by Bootz3456***

ID is a great beginner coaster and a family coaster if all are tall enough. One of the few we all could ride in 06. I wish they could retrofit it to allow smaller kids with adults like on Woodstock, which allows 42 inches and greater I believe. My 6 year old loved ID and he rode it 200x in 06. Of course, someone accompanied him on many of those rides. :) Now he is over 48 inches and has many more to graduate to.

We loved the ride crew in 06 and some knew my son and greeted him every return trip, it was fun. I hate the auto spiels, it doesn't allow the crew an opportunity to be enthusiastic and takes away a lot of the fun experiences I see on other coasters without the spiels.

I'm looking forward to 07! Happy Holidays to all!

Glad to see that people notice that we need more "spunk" in the station. I believe I remember you guys, I don't remember exactly by looks, but I remember a group that was there all the time.