Switchback at ZDT's Amusement Park!

[mkingy]

Isn't that the spike it's leading into on the last picture? May find out fairly soon.

That's one thing I was really curious about, if they were actually going to implement the 90 degree bank, or if it was just a publicity stunt.

Speaking of a lateral spike, the Future Boomerangs should get "high-five" lift hills!

I feel like you'd lose the important part of the effect without another train on the track...?

[mkingy]

If Gerstlauer did boomerangs...

Too soon too soon!

[Paradox]

mkingy wrote:

If Gerstlauer did boomerangs...

[mkingy]

I think you're missing the point.

[Paradox]

Hello!

The moment you've been waiting for is here! Here's the official announcement we've been teasing for the past couple of weeks:

When completed, #Switchback should officially claim the title of world's STEEPEST wooden roller coaster! That???s right, a record breaking wooden roller coaster is coming to ZDTs!

The steepest point of the ride will occur on the ???Grand Spike??? at the tail end of the ride, where the riders will ride upwards, stop, and then fall backwards to ride the track again in reverse. While the track itself will reach upwards to a full 90 degrees, the designers of the ride estimate that the train should reach a near vertical 87 degrees before falling backwards (topping the current wooden roller coaster record of 85 degrees).

The only way to know for certain??? stay tuned for the official test run results on a date to be announced!

If you have any question I will be more than happy to answer them!

Thank you,
ZDT's Amusement Park

Eeehhhh.... okay.
I can get on board with that I guess.

[TTD03]

Here's a bit more info on the subject also....

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Steady progress has been made on the Switchback, a new wooden shuttle coaster at ZDT's Amusement Park in Texas, with only one major element left to go up. The above photo shows the entire layout of the coaster, from lift hill on the right to the far (extremely banked) turnaround on the left.

That final element is a giant spike that the train will head up, eventually losing momentum and then falling down backward - sending riders through the course backwards. Today's announcement was all about that spike and its now record breaking proportions.

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This is the base of the spike as it currently stands, and when complete the park has announced that the train will hit an impressive 87 degrees on it, just three degrees away from fully vertical. That steepness beats out the current record holder, Goliath at Six Flags Great America, which plunges downward at 85 degrees.

Switchback's "grand spike" will extend to a full 90 degrees, however trains are not expected to make it that far up the element before gravity stops them. The exact degree that the trains reach will be determined in the coming weeks when the spike is complete and testing can begin. We can't wait!

[Coasterkidmwm]

I've always been curious how this sucker will turn out. Would be kinda sad if it didn't make it past 85 degrees due to a miscalculation lol.

Pretty cool, but I kinda feel like if this counts as a drop, then so should Goliath's dive loop which is also momentarily at 90*, and on which the train actually travels completely vertical. I know inversions haven't been counted for max slope, but also neither have spikes really. Count it if you can though I guess, as marketing generally makes rides more successful which is good for everyone.

[slosprint]

I'm still curious how the train returns to the station, as there hasn't been much info on that. The safest place for a switch-track to trigger would be when the train is on the lift, but where on the layout does it occur?

slosprint wrote:

I'm still curious how the train returns to the station, as there hasn't been much info on that. The safest place for a switch-track to trigger would be when the train is on the lift, but where on the layout does it occur?

I am glad I am not the only one concerned with this. Its never been made clear exactly how or where the transfer occurs. The Nl2 and hand-drawn renderings don't really show any form of transfer or switch track.

[mkingy]

dcs221 wrote:

Pretty cool, but I kinda feel like if this counts as a drop, then so should Goliath's dive loop which is also momentarily at 90*, and on which the train actually travels completely vertical. I know inversions haven't been counted for max slope, but also neither have spikes really. Count it if you can though I guess, as marketing generally makes rides more successful which is good for everyone.

Agree completely. Oblivion had the world's steepest drop despite the existence of Superman: The Escape and Takabisha is now touted as the steepest drop despite Cobra at Conny Land clearly having a steeper "drop".

I know how I'd define it in my head - I just can't put it into understandable terms. Something about it needing to pull down then pull up (in aircraft terms) to level in order to be classified a drop.

[mkingy]

slosprint wrote:

I'm still curious how the train returns to the station, as there hasn't been much info on that. The safest place for a switch-track to trigger would be when the train is on the lift, but where on the layout does it occur?

In the ECC magazine First Drop there's a little piece on this ride that explains it fairly well I shall paraphrase!

The ride basically navigates the track forward and backward then ascends the first drop backwards. As it comes back down there are a set of brakes that bring the ride to a stop, and a transfer track shortly afterwards. The transfer track outs the train into a block brake behind the station whilst the train in the station is released onto the lift hill. The transfer track then slides back into place to allow the second train to navigate the track.

Hopefully that makes sense!

[mkingy]

T-T-T-T-Triple Post! Nonetheless this has pictures of the (non twisted) spike!


ZDT's Facebook

[Dirk_Ermen]

Looks like they stopped using the twisted spike. Looks a lot more interesting now.

[Coasterkidmwm]

I think whoever was using NL to show the ride didn't know about vertical banking, so then the game just twisted it unintentionally.

[Paradox]

In the original promo it twists,

I have a feeling that park maps and promos (Hmm, what can I say? Announcement signs for guests?) are using "too" exaggerated ride images!

[Coasterkidmwm]

Just kidding I was totally wrong lol.

Unless I wanna be a prick and claim the promo art was based on the NL demonstration made by GG to promote the ride to ZDT

[mkingy]

Trains!


Source: ZDT's Amusment Park Facebook

they look awesome!