American Eagle - Retracking/New Trains

by **cycamps** on March 22nd, 2008, 8:31 pm

It seems like this year is a big year of change. I'm curious to find out what changes will occur. A return to an AE on-ride photo would be great.

by **TwistedSTEEL666** on March 27th, 2008, 4:12 pm

Speaking of AE, does anyone know if the Blue train will be running backwards again for the 2008 Season?

The Year the Blue train stopped running backwards, I think was 2006. It ran backwards for about 3 or 4 years in a row.

I asked an op why Blue wasn't backwards anymore and she said it was the Eagle's 25th Anniversay?

by **DejaVu2001** on March 27th, 2008, 4:30 pm

^ No more backwards. Don't count on it happening again soon as it really did a number to the tracking on that side.

by **TwistedSTEEL666** on March 27th, 2008, 4:33 pm

DejaVu2001 wrote:^ No more backwards. Don't count on it happening again soon as it really did a number to the tracking on that side.

How much damage could the Blue train running backwards do?
Why not put the Red train backwards this time?

by **Colonel Mustard** on March 27th, 2008, 4:47 pm

It does damage to the track, not going to happen.

by **TwistedSTEEL666** on March 27th, 2008, 4:48 pm

Colonel Mustard wrote:It does damage to the track, not going to happen.

So, I guess no racing trains this season?
will Blue be running at all? Or just Red?

by **Colonel Mustard** on March 27th, 2008, 4:49 pm

Both should be running on a fairly consistant basis, I don't see why they wouldn't.

by **TwistedSTEEL666** on March 27th, 2008, 4:52 pm

Colonel Mustard wrote:Both should be running on a fairly consistant basis, I don't see why they wouldn't.

Are they re-tracking Blue now? During the season, or After?

Are they almost done?

by **DejaVu2001** on March 27th, 2008, 5:15 pm

^ They are retracking Blue right now from the station to the bottom of the lift (Same spot that was retracked on Red last winter)

by **cycamps** on March 27th, 2008, 5:48 pm

I didn't get on race on American Eagle last season. I really hope it will happen this year.

by **bigb7965** on March 27th, 2008, 11:09 pm

^ really?

i went on AE every visit and it was racing

by **traincrossing9** on March 28th, 2008, 12:52 pm

Why can they never get consistent racing on Eagle? Blue backwards is the BEST! I don't see why it would screw up the track.

by **Colonel Mustard** on March 28th, 2008, 1:19 pm

^Perhaps it's good that you aren't the one maintaining the rides then.

by **crumale** on March 28th, 2008, 2:35 pm

It is really awesome that AE is a racing coaster. Just think. It is difficult to get two items to go at the same pace. But both tracks do come really close at the same pace.

by **FParker185** on March 28th, 2008, 4:07 pm

Eagles trains have an articulated rear axle. Running the train backwards has that axle lead and it bounces all over the place making for a rough ride for both the riders and the track.

Normally the fixed front wheels will take the turns and roll the car body then the rear axle compensates for that.

not 100% sure how to explain it clearly. But if Eagle ran the non articulated trains (box cars) like Racer at KI and alot of older PTC's then it wouldn't really be an issue.

by **kumba830** on March 30th, 2008, 7:19 pm

why don't they buy special backwards trains?

by **FParker185** on March 30th, 2008, 8:23 pm

you pay for them, and I'm sure they'll gladly put them on

by **rctfan1556** on April 1st, 2008, 6:48 pm

Saw the Red Train sitting out today:

by **coasterinsane** on April 9th, 2008, 8:36 am

I do not know if I believe that running the trains backwards hurt the track any more than forwards...Could you try to explain better?

by **tp41190** on April 9th, 2008, 8:42 am

^ This explains it

FParker185 wrote:Eagles trains have an articulated rear axle. Running the train backwards has that axle lead and it bounces all over the place making for a rough ride for both the riders and the track.

Normally the fixed front wheels will take the turns and roll the car body then the rear axle compensates for that.

not 100% sure how to explain it clearly. But if Eagle ran the non articulated trains (box cars) like Racer at KI and alot of older PTC's then it wouldn't really be an issue.

Imagine how heavy those trains are. Now imagine them bouncing all over and causing the train to shake. Now think of the wood and steel on the track. Over time, it causes the track to get bad and they have to retrack it over and over.

by **coasterinsane** on April 9th, 2008, 9:17 am

I am trying really, really, hard to register what that means.. I think I understand.. but at the same time it makes no sense to me...maybe its too early. I'll check back in a few hours.
Thanks.

by **tp41190** on April 9th, 2008, 10:30 am

You know how trucks/cars wheels only turn in the front. So that way when you turn, you (in the front of the car) is turning and not the back swinging around. Try to image you making turns at high speed while in reverse. Same thing with the cars on American Eagle except the wheels turn in the back (the axle). So when the cars go into a turn the front axle turns first. Well because of the speed and weight, along with the space of the wheels and the track, it causes the cars to bounce and shake all over. Because the front wheels in the car have room to "zig zag" and "bounce" from the gap of the track. So because of the shake, it wrecked the track and they had to do alot of work to fix it.

So now, they would rather keep them running forward so they dont have to do as much retracking.

by **viper1988** on April 9th, 2008, 10:49 am

I just say keep it forwards no matter what because thats how it was designed to run and thats how it opened in 1981.

by **traincrossing9** on April 9th, 2008, 11:45 am

Why can't you just switch the axels?

by **cycamps** on April 9th, 2008, 4:10 pm

^^I totally agree with you!!! I love Eagle the way it is and I don't think that it needs to change. I do, however, wish that they raced more...

American Eagle - Retracking/New Trains

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