Passengers...

I'm not all that up on coasters, but take Millennium Force for an example, do they always run full trains or if not is the power of the LIM launch governed by how many passengers there are?

Millennium Force is not a LIM launch, by the way... and, no, the LIMS always launch the train to the same speed, whether or not it is full. Take for example Top Thrill Dragster. (not a LIM launch, but same idea...) After a breakdown, the train usually rolls back because the ride is running full trains before the wheel bearings are warmed up. To compensate, CP started only running half-full trains for the first 5 minutes of operations. The launch always exerts full force on the train, so the half-loaded train achieved a speed of 123-124 mph according to the speed sensor while a full loaded train a few minutes later achieved a speed of 120-121 mph. The same amount of force is always exerted, but the effect of the force on the acceleration of the trains is what dictates the final launch speed.

I thought on TTD, the speed and force required to launch the trains was calculated by a computer every small increment of a second to achieve the same speed regardless of the number of passengers. I think it's the same on LIMS as well.

[Brtnboarder495]

I am pretty sure that the catapult just blasts it a bit above 120/122, then there is a wheeling brake section that trims off extra speed, if there is any. however i am pretty sure that it doesnt calculate the wieght b4 hand and then launch according to that calculation.

[Dirk_Ermen]

so if you want a rollback you have to have a train loaded of heavy people...

[Brtnboarder495]

Well that could happen, however, if the track is too moist or has too much friction on it, then the train wont clear the hill. there are plenty of factors.

Lol, I want a rollback.

[Brtnboarder495]

me 2, wen i was there i saw a rollback <_< _>_> ^_^.

I dont mean to be rude or anything, but if I were you guys, I'd trust what CJD said as he was just working there and probably knew more about CP than any of us before than, let alone after he's worked and learned even more. And BTW, I agree that a rollback would be awesome, probably twice as good as the actual ride.

Im not sure about LIM coasters but i know that Incredible Hulk calculates the exact weight of the train and riders in the station. The wieght is sent through to a computer and the computer determines the extact power to be fed into the tires to give the exact same launch each time

That is probably due to the inclined launch, maybe not though.

[gouldy]

The same thing happens on those Drop tower rides like 'Power Tower' at CP. The car is weighed when everyone is in, and the information is fed to a computer which then determines the exact amount of air pressure needed to do whatever with the launch anf the stopping of the car. I would have thought that this was the same with every launched ride so that the same, or at least roughly the same launch occured everytime the car or train was launched, no matter how many people or how big the people in the train were.

Originally posted by gouldy

I would have thought that this was the same with every launched ride so that the same, or at least roughly the same launch occured everytime the car or train was launched, no matter how many people or how big the people in the train were.

or even so that the train is shot too fast through the track, or too slow

[coolbeans326]

a roll back would be pretty awsome, now how does it get launched back over the hill if it rolls back?

[gouldy]

They launch it again from the normal launch position, just with slightly more power and speed......i think

I read somewhere that after the trains comes back through the brakes and to a stop they unload the passengers and shoot the train back through testing the launch. If it makes it then they reload those passengers back on and shoot them into the sky