KevinM wrote:I'm amazed at how the community has just rolled with RMC, Herschend, and Six Flags's marketing that Outlaw Run and now Goliath are "wooden coasters".
Rolled along? Where have you been? There has been SO much back on fourth on whether these rides are steel or wood coasters, to an annoying extent. After all the debating the majority opinion that came through was that topper track is wood and I-box is steel. There's nothing shameless about calling these woodies when thats a majority of people say they are.
Goliath72165 wrote:WTH!? Why did they change the supports!?
One of the RMC people finally got around to watching Lord of the Rings, and after briefly consulting with the other employees shortly thereafter, the decision was made to explore possible revisions to the structure.
I wonder if will see some form of netting placed under the Zero G stall since it's completely open to the service road below. Kind of like what Diamondback has under its first drop.
My initial thought about the Zero-G stall was that I wanted it to go through a mess of wooden supports for the head chopper elements. However, this is just as cool. Now you have nothing but the ground 80 feet or so below you and a simple lap bar holding you in upside down. Seems quite thrilling!
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
^ I agree that going through the supports would have been cool, but I think we'll still get a similar effect on the dive loop and second over bank turn.
Goliath72165 wrote:I have NO doubt that the track & the structure will SWAY between 1-2.5 feet from side to side as the train. HOW are those supports going to hold up!?
I'm not going to pretend I'm an engineer, because I'm not, but have you ever seen Intimidator 305 (picture I posted on the previous page)? It has less supports on the lift and drop than this, plus it has heavier track because it's all steel, and a good 140 feet higher off the ground than Goliath's lift. It's been operating since 2010 and not a single problem with holding the track up. The people are highly skilled professionals that work on these designs and know how to distribute weight within structures to keep things like track where they should be... in the air. This ride's structure is going to be safe, I promise.
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
Goliath72165 wrote:I have NO doubt that the track & the structure will SWAY between 1-2.5 feet from side to side as the train. HOW are those supports going to hold up!?
I'm no engineer/physics expert either but you do realize that the design any kind of structure (coaster, building, bridge....ect) has to have some give and take to it, or it'll snap like a toothpick if the force exerted on it can't go anywhere.
So yes, the track and structure will sway, but so does the track and structure of any other coaster in the park (or the entire world for that matter).
Goliath72165 wrote:I have NO doubt that the track & the structure will SWAY between 1-2.5 feet from side to side as the train. HOW are those supports going to hold up!?
Now you just sound like you're trolling. Honestly, HOW do you seriously think you know better than RMC on how to build a roller coaster?
This is just ridiculous. Get over it or don't ride it. Do you HONESTLY think RMC doesn't care if dozens of people DIE on their ride? You can't POSSIBLY be SERIOUS!
I am in disbelief at some of these shocked/concerned reactions.
Goliath72165 wrote:I have NO doubt that the track & the structure will SWAY between 1-2.5 feet from side to side as the train. HOW are those supports going to hold up!?
I'm no engineer/physics expert either but you do realize that the design any kind of structure (coaster, building, bridge....ect) has to have some give and take to it, or it'll snap like a toothpick if the force exerted on it can't go anywhere.
So yes, the track and structure will sway, but so does the track and structure of any other coaster in the park (or the entire world for that matter).
Just like skyscrapers. They have to be able to move a little with the wind.
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
Goliath72165 wrote:I have NO doubt that the track & the structure will SWAY between 1-2.5 feet from side to side as the train. HOW are those supports going to hold up!?
You've said this about 4 times now. We understand your point, so chill out and think of something new to say.
"Everyone, listen to me! These jerks killed Superboy. They've tried to kill us. Now they say they're going to tear this city apart. I say... like hell."
AirTimeDaz wrote: I've never seen this before on a wooden coaster. :shock
You know why you've never seen this? Because Goliath is a steel coaster. I'm amazed at how the community has just rolled with RMC, Herschend, and Six Flags's marketing that Outlaw Run and now Goliath are "wooden coasters". Don't get me wrong, I this Outlaw Run is a stunning roller coaster and I expect Goliath to deliver as well. But the designation of these pure Topper Track coasters as "woodies" appears to me as a shameless way to declare "world records" for these coasters. The wood has very little impact on the ride experience, it is merely there to hold up the steel rails on the steel rail ties (and these two parts are also connected with a steel plate). Supports don't impact the designation of a coaster, which is why I contend the wooden stack should not magically turn these coasters into woodies. Topper Track has far more rigidity than traditional 7-layer wooden tracks, which is what allows this lift to sit on such a minimal structure.
I reiterate, this coaster looks amazing, but it's not a wooden coaster. I wish Six Flags marketing had enough of a backbone to advertise this coaster on it's merits rather than dodgy "world records". But I shouldn't expect that from the park that declared itself "The World's Cleanest Theme Park" and "The Best Water Park in the Nation".
Would you like them to market Goliath as "A KInd of Wooden KInd of Steel Rollercoaster!" And they could market the park as "A pretty clean amusement park!" and Hurricane Harbor as "A Mediocre Water Park, Nothing Special Here!"
"Everyone, listen to me! These jerks killed Superboy. They've tried to kill us. Now they say they're going to tear this city apart. I say... like hell."
1-2.5 feet of sway doesnt really sound like all that much either. Id be willing to bet the top of Giant Drop gets that much sway and no one has died on that. Leave the engineering to RMC one of the best coaster engineers in the world and definitely the hottest one at the moment. No comment on the Wood v Steel debate. It's wood. There is some steel involved but it will be a wooden coaster experience on steroids.
Goliath72165 wrote:I have NO doubt that the track & the structure will SWAY between 1-2.5 feet from side to side as the train. HOW are those supports going to hold up!?
At the risk of reiterating what everybody else has said, this is absolute nonsense. What material do you think the structure is made of? Plastic? Rubber? There is this new fangled material called steel that doesn't have 1-2.5 feet of give to move back in forth that they are using. If you are so concerned about this how do you think Bull, Demon, Whizzer, Superman, V2,X Flight and Batman have stayed standing? If you still have no doubt then I suggest you take some basic physics, material science, and some engineering because the only way somebody would have no doubt of the absurd notion that you stated is that they simply are uneducated on the subject matter. I hope this response has given you the resources you need to put your mind at ease, however, if you are still skeptical then simply don't ride it. I am sure there are 100 people on this site who wont give a damn about having one fewer person in line for what will be an excellent roller coaster.
-Remember there's nothing but air beneath the chair.
It seems like the other side always wins on American Eagle Also, I've ridden Goliath 23 times in one day. HBU? (Sorry in advance for unnecessary commas and parenthesis every where)
You guys can calm all your rumors. RMC just confirmed it. RMC just shared all of the renderings on their Facebook and confirm that the lift hill structure will be made WITH STEEL supports!!! It's on the photo that is shared that says 85 defree first drop. It's mentioned in the comments section!
I messaged Brandon Bruce about if Goliath's final design was going to use this new steel structure instead of the wooden structure for the lift and top of the zero-G stall all along and here's what he said...
"Hi Tyler,
Yes, the lift hill is a steel super structure supporting the wooden roller coaster track.
We decided to keep the final design for Goliath as a surprise and are thrilled to show the world one of the most unique wooden roller coasters ever built.
We created a rendering of a traditional wooden roller coaster last August based on the centerline design. The final design that we released on Friday shows something much more unique leaving the inverted zero G stall exposed offering nothing but air between riders heads and the ground. Not only does that make the ride more extreme, but it also continues to hold the three world records. The drop, speed and height all remain the same.
I hope you're excited about it! We've been dying to share it because it really stands out as a world record breaker and it looks awesome.
Sincerely, Brandon"
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
Goliath72165 wrote:I have NO doubt that the track & the structure will SWAY between 1-2.5 feet from side to side as the train. HOW are those supports going to hold up!?
SWAY SWAY TRACK IZ GON MOOV ITS NOT SAFE THEY DID IT RONG OMG. ITS GONNA SWAY THAT IS NOT SAFE THEY DONT KNOW WHAT THEYRE DOING Please... tell me you're joking. RMC had the structure of the ride planned like this 100%before the ride was even announced. There is no way they would change it to meet a deadline, that is ridiculous. As far as the ride "Swaying" All ride structures move if you look closely. Superman does, Raging Bull does, X-Flight, American Eagle, Viper, V2 especially..... ALL the rides are designed to "sway" so that the stress doesn't make the ride fall apart. If you are that worried about the ride not being safe, by all means, don't ride it. Don't bother going in any tall buildings either, those move too
Just looked at the live webcam, they are currently working on placing the first piece/section of track out of the tunnel into the first overbanked turn!
I am glad to see they are making progress however, I still think the entire ride and the station probably won't be finished till the middle or late April. Early May at the latest.
