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Whizzer--What's Wrong?

Talk about anything that has to do with Six Flags Great America and Hurricane Harbor here.
Postby Ilovthevu' on September 18th, 2006, 7:34 pm
What is wrong with this ride? It seems that the ride was checked, but it never was able to be sent out quickly at all. In other words, they would send another one out when the other one came back right in back of the one in the station.

Is there something wrong with the mcbr that goes around the main lift for this ride? After, it clears that, shouldn't it be able to be sent out? This was with two trains. The thing was that it was ready to be sent out, and they would just wait until another one was right in back.
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Postby twixmix0303 on September 18th, 2006, 8:19 pm
Yes -- however, think about how long it would take until the one behind it got back. If the the first train just cleared the MCBR when the second one is sent out, it would be a few minutes of no train in the station. Then when that one finally got back, the one behind it would be only about a minute and a half behind. By not sending it until the other one enters the final brake run, the trains stay more evenly spaced out and you don't have the long delay before a train enters the station.
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Postby Bob O on September 18th, 2006, 8:52 pm
I rode the ride this past Saturday and it was on 3 train operation and the ride was having no problems at all and had 2 trains on the track at the same time.
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Postby zjohn1988 on September 18th, 2006, 9:27 pm
3 train dispatch is once the Block is clear, 2 train dispatch is when the previous train hits the trim brakes on the brake run. This prevents set ups and makes the guests have the impression that more trains are availible than there actually are running.
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Postby greatamerica2003 on September 19th, 2006, 9:58 am
Exactly. Its just a saftey issue and to prevent the ride from setting up. You are going to wait the same amount of time whether you are standing in line or sitting in the train waiting for the other one to come back.

4 or 5 train operation is no longer possible because of the elimination of the second control towers electronics and the disuse of the unload platform.

Be happy that the thing is still running.
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Postby LAFFfan4lyfe on September 19th, 2006, 10:30 am
I'd rather have a safe ride than something that would risk my safety.
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Postby Jackluver18 on September 19th, 2006, 10:59 am
^ I agree
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Postby Ilovthevu' on September 19th, 2006, 12:26 pm
twixmix0303 wrote:Yes -- however, think about how long it would take until the one behind it got back. If the the first train just cleared the MCBR when the second one is sent out, it would be a few minutes of no train in the station. Then when that one finally got back, the one behind it would be only about a minute and a half behind. By not sending it until the other one enters the final brake run, the trains stay more evenly spaced out and you don't have the long delay before a train enters the station.


It doesn't seem that bad without a train there. The ride duration is only 2 minutes. In my opinion, I see the line moving a lot faster with them keep on sending trains out after it hits those mcbr's. I get the reason why though. It just seemed really weird waiting about 1:50 for a train to be sent. This is considering that the duration is 2 minutes.

So, I see it this way. The first train is sent right out, and then the second train is probably sent out at the 40 seconds mark of the lasts one run, and then you basically wait around 30 seconds with nothing in the station which isn't a big deal. I would rather wait 30 seconds instead of 1:50 for the next train to come back.
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Postby SFGAm Shock Wave on September 19th, 2006, 12:29 pm
Well that could probably work since Whizzer only has seatbelts to check, rules are rules, and if that is the earliest they are allowed to send the train, thats the earliest it will be sent.
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Postby twixmix0303 on September 19th, 2006, 2:13 pm
Duration only two minutes? I clocked it with the second hand on my watch, 90 seconds from dispatch to clear the block brake. I don't know how long it takes to get all the way back to the station.
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Postby zjohn1988 on September 19th, 2006, 2:53 pm
2:23 i believe?
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Postby greatamerica2003 on September 19th, 2006, 4:27 pm
The loaded train is also kept in the station to minimize downtimes. How?

If you send a loaded train out of the load/unload position before you need to, you run the risk of having TWO loaded trains on a ridecourse instead of ONE.

It's just common sense.
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Postby twixmix0303 on September 20th, 2006, 8:37 pm
Right, because pushing a train off the top of the lift or through the block is not fun. (Unless you're the one sitting on the train. :))
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Postby zjohn1988 on September 20th, 2006, 10:00 pm
Even more fun if the lift is hot :)
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Postby Bearclaw0990 on April 10th, 2008, 9:51 pm
Ilovthevu' wrote:What is wrong with this ride? It seems that the ride was checked, but it never was able to be sent out quickly at all. In other words, they would send another one out when the other one came back right in back of the one in the station.

Is there something wrong with the mcbr that goes around the main lift for this ride? After, it clears that, shouldn't it be able to be sent out? This was with two trains. The thing was that it was ready to be sent out, and they would just wait until another one was right in back.


The cycle on Whizzer with 2 trains is you can send it when the train enters the brakes before the station (trim brakes). With three trains though there is a guaruntee that one train will be waiting because the train can't leave until the 1st brakes (safety brakes). Other than that, the ride was built for 2 station operation so when it ran with 5 trains one station was for unoading and the other was for loading, while three trains were running through the ride course.
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Postby bigb7965 on April 10th, 2008, 10:13 pm
dang whizzer used to run with 5 trains?
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Postby viper1988 on April 10th, 2008, 11:56 pm
Yes Willard's Whizzer used to run with 5 trains and as mentioned above now can only run 3 due to a redesign in the rides safety system.

As far as I have been told as I obviously wasn't alive at the time but the Whizzer could send trains as soon as everyones butts were on their seats. As you will see in the photos that are going to be linked in this post Whizzer used to run by fitting two trains on the lift hill at one time.
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Postby Chitown on April 11th, 2008, 3:20 am
Yes, it ran 5 trains at one time.

All you have to do is look at the unloading platform for this ride. Notice the extra section of unload platform past the exit stairs. This basically was a separate unload and load ride at one time. Same scenario as MF at CP.
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Postby tp41190 on April 11th, 2008, 8:44 am
I dont know this because I have never timed it, but isnt the lift it self a good minute? Then the rest of the ride is also a minute?
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Postby cycamps on April 11th, 2008, 4:38 pm
Did they start running less trains due to the incident on the California Whizzer? Or is that not related to them running 5 trains?
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Postby DejaVu2001 on April 11th, 2008, 5:10 pm
^ Yep. That is why Whizzer only runs 3 trains now. Immediately following that incident, both Whizzers were shut down and modified.
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Postby sfgam1 on April 11th, 2008, 7:42 pm
I can't believe that it originaly ran with no seatbelts.
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Postby DejaVu2001 on April 11th, 2008, 8:02 pm
^ And why is that suprising? Whizzer is a great ride, but there is no airtime, nor any other forces great enough to necessitate a seatbelt. The only reason they are their now is so if someone decides to be a moron and stand up, the park can say "we aren't responsible, the person undid their restraint"
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Postby sfgam1 on April 11th, 2008, 9:55 pm
I would just not think of a coaster that dose not have restraints for that reason.
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Postby DejaVu2001 on April 12th, 2008, 5:04 am
^ Well, another thing to remember is back then, our country wasn't dominated by frivolous lawsuits. Now people sue over everything. Hot coffee burned you, sue McDonalds. Got struck by lightning in the parking lot at King's Island, must be King's Island's fault :lol:
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