Mean Streak?

I suppose my description of "structure" was not as clear as I thought. I meant anything not mechanical. Not necessarily limited to support structure.

So, the brake was added because fixing the turn didn't fix the problem, and caused a new problem.

Jeff said:

You're assuming that the brake is there because of structural issues and not something else. And I think that assumption is wrong.

Not structural issues in a falling-over sense, but I was once at the Point with a certain guy who happens to be an engineer and designer of wooden roller coasters. He did point out that the way the track was supported and braced did allow for a certain amount of up-and-down flexing that would eventually become permanent, leading to that washboard sensation we've come to know and love. That issue has plagued the Dinn/Summers rides, though.

Per Rideman:

"...In all the tweaking, the hills have been chopped down and the banking largely eliminated, and that's fixed much of the banging around. The trouble is, with the shorter hills, that messes up the speed requirements for the now-underbanked curves, so they have to slow the train down."

So are you saying going too fast through those curves is an issue as well? Because when one does get lucky enough to have a trim-less ride, that first half before the brakes into the finale is enjoyable. Heck, you even get some airtime now and then.

Perhaps it gives rise the issue you bring up, exit?

Jason told me that Mean Streak is set to open on Memorial day. It is opening later this year because they didn't close it during Halloweekends last year like they had done in previous years. I also heard it will only be running a maximum of two trains the entire season.

I guess I was wrong. I'm hearing that mean streak is open, but is only running 2 trains.

Much like Iron Dragon and Corkscrew, going to two trains on Mean Streak doesn't bother me. Gemini struggles at times, but I understand the safety reasons behind it.

The ride it will hurt and I could see them doing it to one of these days is Magnum.

Haven't been up to the park much this season yet? :)

I'll be surprised if they only run 2 trains the whole season. We know that all 3 trains were sent to PTC to be re-habbed during the off-season.

http://www.philadelphiatoboggancoastersinc.com/projectdetails.php?RequestId=49

That doesn't mean they will run three. As is the case on Gemini, Iron Dragon, Corkscrew, and previously Mantis - one of the three trains sits out every third season. Which train is still MIA? If it doesn't pop up in a week or two, we will know.

And no, I haven't been to the park yet. I heard Magnum was only running two trains on preview weekend. The ride typically only would run two on May weekdays, I take it that has been the norm all season? I guess we'll see...

It was running 2 all weekend, and last weekend, too.

I honestly thought the 2007 incident would have brought an end to three trains on Magnum. It just seems to be the trend with the Arrow coasters in the park. Three trains on Magnum is a capacity monster and it will be sad to lose that, but at the same time I'm not 100% surprised.

If Mean Streak and Magnum go down to 2 trains, it would be a very un-Cedar Point-like move. Historically they have always striven to maximize capacity even at times when other parks would not do the same. John Hildebrandt would not approve.

Gemini, Corkscrew, and Mantis were all doomed by some combination of air gates and/or seat belts. They simply couldn't run 3 trains without stacking the vast majority of the time.

Iron Dragon received air gates, but never had seat belts added. That allowed it to still maintain the capability to run 3 trains efficiently. Rumors of guest complaints and the consequences of having a train setup on the 2nd lift are all we have to go on there.

Because Mean Streak's interval is so long, it would be a shame to see it wasted on just 2 train operations all year. It will be interesting to see what happens when we get closer to the real "season" beginning in late June.

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Magnum would go down to two trains. The ride runs great with three trains and needs the capacity, I highly doubt CP would remove a train permanently.

Mean Streak was running today. I didn't notice how many trains.

I'd stand 20 hours in line for a Kardashian autograph signing, before I'd wait 5 minutes to ride Mean Streak. It's probably just me, but I despise MS.

Just you. I'd marathon MS all day before coming within a mile of a Kardashian.

^^Why not do both? I would rather stand in line for Jim Carrey. I also don't mind Mean Streak.

I guess after working at the park and seeing the nightly maintenance they do on that ride, it's just a turnoff for me. That, and Wicked Twister. Although WT is not a deal breaker for me. But when I worked at the park, they were welding WT back together EVERY single night. Walked by it on my way to the busses.

That was another example of great Intamin engineering. I remember the welding, they added reinforcement ties to the track to stiffen it and then in the off season they added the additional braces that apparently solved the problem permanently. The ties were welded in after closing for a number of days. Why, in this day of computer modeling, Intamin can't get it right is beyond me. But, I'd rather be an Intamin crash test dummy than see any Kardashian.

rode mean streak today,no different than last year.