BREAKING NEWS: COLOSSUS ON FIRE

[Viper 88]

A fire has broken out on Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain, story should be on ABC7 Chicago, as of the 4pm news cast it was put out, but there was significant damage resulting in total destruction of that piece of track. The fire was put out but its still steaming.

[skibum101184]

Also saw a photo on Facebook of when it was on fire. It looked pretty big and the flames looked quite tall. The Coaster Guy (Kurt, who heavily covers SFMM) posted pictures the yesterday of his first Twisted Colossus Construction Update. On the lift hill, you'll see that RMC (or whoever is helping with the de-construction) seemed to be using torches to remove the track on the lift hill. My wager would be that's how the fire started.

You can check out the burned sections of track at this link, it's almost half-way down the page.

http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2014/09/07 ... -update-1/

[w00dland]

RMC is managing a much better batting average on starting fires so far this year than anyone on my Milwaukee Brewers.

They make great coasters, but this is a major, inexcusable accident that is going to cost both the chain and RMC $$$.

[w00dland]

Just as a follow up - the people who are writing this off as a "small accident" because the ride was under construction couldn't be anymore wrong. The public perceives this as the park literally burning down the top of its most iconic roller coaster. The symbolism and damage to the entire brand must just be awful.

[sfgam-fan]

I think some people are over-reacting.

If the fire occurred during normal ride operations with guests on the lift hill that's one thing.

This happened during construction, while the ride and the whole park were closed, seemingly as a result of using torches to remove the metal track. The use of heat to remove metal from a wooden coaster sounds suspect, but whether you torch it or saw it, you're going to create heat. One of the welders was probably a bit sloppy with his work.

Is it a set back? Yes. But not a serious one. Most people understand the difference between construction and operations.

[[jonrev]]

I think some people are over-reacting.

They are, but in a season already plagued by incidents at theme parks, the media now can't wait to sensationalize the next time a ride operator farts.

They should've let Colossus burn - that ride was way-beyond terrible.

[Director_Guy]

^Maybe the SoCal woodies have lowered my standards, but I didn't think Colossus to be any worse than Mean Streak or Ghostrider, and certainly not Psychlone. It was rough, but I never wanted my money back.

[[jonrev]]

I'm sure it was better without the B&M bathtubs. I never understood the hate Mean Streak gets, though - it's no worse than any other Cedar Fair woodie (that isn't Beast or GoldStriker).

[FParker185]

Yeah, with the Morgans, Colossus was pretty much butter smooth but terribly boring.

[CoasterCale]

I'm sure it was better without the B&M bathtubs. I never understood the hate Mean Streak gets, though - it's no worse than any other Cedar Fair woodie (that isn't Beast or GoldStriker).

Mean Streak is the worst Wooden Coaster I have ever been on. Anybody that complains about SFGAm Woodies haven't gotten out of the park. BTW Renegade at Valleyfair and Blue Streak are actually really nice.

[[jonrev]]

Blue Streak did nothing for me. All of Kings Dominion's and Canada's Wonderland's wooden coasters are pretty bad, though.