Lightning Train Question

I got a perfect answer to your situation SpeedDemon, pass it up, don't ride. I can't ride corkscrew or mine ride comfortably, but you don't see me here complaining about it, or lobbying for it to be removed. I simply don't ride them.

Oh I forgot I was on Pointbuzz. Where we aren’t allowed to criticize anything at the park without it becoming a thing. I don’t ride it anymore. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to advocate for the park to improve/replace an experience that isn’t up to par .

Shades:
I find it interesting that every time I ride Magnum...

Maybe it's not the ride that's making their experience so unenjoyable? ;-)

Brandon

Really? That is the shot that you take?

Oh, for crying out loud, it was a joke. Sounds like someone needs a tendie.

Brandon

I'm no engineer, but I'm pretty sure I could fix Magnums lap bar issue with pools noodles and duct tape.

I’d settle for lap bars that just stay up during the ride, like Adventure Express. Added bonus, they pop up when unlocked. The trains on AE and Magnum seem nearly identical. I wonder how easy a retrofit that would be.

CP Alum ‘06-‘10

djDaemon:
Sounds like someone needs a tendie.

As long as it is a scrumpdilyicious hand breaded CP tender!

Yes - I am having a bad day today. I am sorry for my snappy response.

SpeedDemon:
Oh I forgot I was on Pointbuzz. Where we aren’t allowed to criticize anything at the park without it becoming a thing. I don’t ride it anymore. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to advocate for the park to improve/replace an experience that isn’t up to par .

I mean you didn't post that and not expect a response from the Magnum faithful? You bash a ride that the majority still loves, and expect crickets? 🤷‍♂️

Not only that, but, you are trying to advocate to the wrong crowd. There isn't a single thing we can do here. Maybe try communicating your suggestions to the park?

Last edited by DRE420,

Uncle Steve:
I'm no engineer, but I'm pretty sure I could fix Magnums lap bar issue with pools noodles and duct tape.

This would honestly probably fix all my issues haha.

Are you aware that padding was added to the Magnum lap bars a couple of years ago?

I ride Magnum a lot. And almost every ride I take is in the "worst" row of the train, the back row of car #1. If any row of that train is going to hurt you, this is the one. Let me suggest how to make the most of it....

1) Don't get the lap bar too tight. If it's laying on your lap, that's OK. If you can lift it to the next notch as it sits there, that's even better. You do not want it to be tight; if it's deforming your thighs before the ride starts, the ride is going to hurt. You don't get tossed very far on Magnum, but you do get tossed. The closer you are to the top of your bounce when the lap bar bottoms out on your thighs, the lower the force will be.

2) When you fasten your seat belt, make sure it isn't twisted. When you get to the turnaround, grab the 'dead' end of the seat belt and give it a yank. You want the belt to be snug for the entirety of the return run.

The lap bar is about 1.5" in diameter and has an even smaller contact area with your lap, perhaps 3/4". The seat belt is about 3" wide. This means a much larger contact area with your lap at the seat belt than at the lap bar. You want the seat belt to pull tight before you are fully stopped by the lap bar. The less concentrated force will be more tolerable.

3) When riding through those last few hills, pretty much after that angled peak past the turnaround, grab the lap bar with one hand and lift up on it. Yes, this will pull the bar up to its next stop, and afford you an inch or two of space, but more important than what happens to the bar is what happens to you. Doing this tends to hold your body down in the seat, with your arm acting as a heavy spring or shock absorber to reduce the magnitude and acceleration of your upward movement over the tops of the final hills.

All of this is very simple and it combines to reduce the collision where you hit the lap bar, which is the point where it can hurt. The park has added padding, but those simple actions you can take will have a much greater impact. So to speak.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.


    /X\      *** Respect rides. They do not respect you. ***
   /XXX\     /X\     /X\_      _     /X\__      _      _____
  /XXXXX\   /XXX\   /XXXX\_   /X\   /XXXXX\    /X\    /XXXXX
_/XXXXXXX\_/XXXXX\_/XXXXXXX\_/XXX\_/XXXXXXX\__/XXX\__/XXXXXX

I don’t even do those things. I just let the ride do what it does, hands in the air, and I love it.

I do keep the lap bar loose as suggested. But not to mitigate pain (although it's a nice side benefit), instead to increase airtime.

Last edited by Scott Cameron,

Just keep the belt as tight as you can make it. Enjoy the ejector air without the pain.

Jeff - Advocate of Great Great Tunnels™ - Co-Publisher - PointBuzz - CoasterBuzz - Blog - Music

I just ride row 16 and enjoy myself...

Yeah row 16 is my favorite as well.

16 is also my favorite and I always felt like a reject for it. Everyone is so hot for row 3 and thereabouts.
But 16 is nice because it’s easy to hold on, nobody’s hair goes in your mouth, and it’s a back seat experience without the long walk, lol. Rollicking airtime.

You all can be my wingman, anytime.

16 is a great spot. I do really love the very back seat, too, though.

Was at the park yesterday and did 4 rides on Magnum. The 1st three were very quiet as there was no one around me (maybe DJ was on to something in his earlier post). But on the 4th ride I was rewarded with the very loud announcement by the woman behind me that this was the most painful thing that she has experienced in her entire life and that she would never ride this again. She was in row 15.

The trouble that I have with Magnum is not the ejector air as cinching the belt tight solves that. It is the constant vibration and shaking that I feel on it. I agree with everyone that the ejector force has always been there but I don't remember the vibration/shaking being as noticeable as it is.