Cedar Point (CP) Discussion Thread

Still no sign of said boat.

Edit: You beat me by seconds!

Might as well post it now, as they won't be doing any other lifting today.

Valravn Construction Progress as of December 31, 2015.

I'll sleep fine at night knowing that I missed a boat pulling into dock . I guess that construction just doesn't interest me much anymore after I've been working in the engineering industry for years.

I do hope the boat returns soon

I'll sleep fine at night knowing that I missed a boat pulling into dock . I guess that construction just doesn't interest me much anymore after I've been working in the engineering industry for years.

You working in the engineering industry doesn't impress us. Just because your not interested in something doesn't mean everyone else shouldn't be.

Long live that boat

That vertical track looks AMAZING! Not complaining at all but I wish they would have dug the bottom of the first drop into the ground 20-30 feet so the vertical part of the track could be that much longer. Then maybe they could have added a tunnel because if history has taught me anything, coaster enthusiasts LOVE tunnels!

But I've never been on a dive coaster before so maybe it's not necessary.

Anyway thanks for the pictures guys, the ride is absolutely MASSIVE! I'm also not sure if I'll be able to sleep tonight if that boat doesn't come back!

Seeing the vertical pieces going up keeps reminding me of how tall this thing is for some reason. I'm excited for this; it's going to tower over the midway and look super cool, especially with the Immelman rising over the walkways.

The boat though...I'll be waiting...

That vertical track looks AMAZING! Not complaining at all but I wish they would have dug the bottom of the first drop into the ground 20-30 feet so the vertical part of the track could be that much longer. Then maybe they could have added a tunnel because if history has taught me anything, coaster enthusiasts LOVE tunnels!

 

But I've never been on a dive coaster before so maybe it's not necessary.

 

Anyway thanks for the pictures guys, the ride is absolutely MASSIVE! I'm also not sure if I'll be able to sleep tonight if that boat doesn't come back!

I'd love an underground tunnel, too, but if the construction crew digs just a few feet into the ground, they'll hit water. That's one of the drawbacks of Cedar Point's location on the lake, and the reason no coaster in the park has an underground tunnel. It's not a huge deal in my opinion. Valravn still looks like it'll be awesome.

I'll sleep fine at night knowing that I missed a boat pulling into dock . I guess that construction just doesn't interest me much anymore after I've been working in the engineering industry for years.

Then maybe you picked the wrong career?

We will always remember you, boat. #NeverForget

Then maybe you picked the wrong career?

I love my career. It's just that the construction or building phase is the only part that isn't hands on for me. It's a waiting game. I love seeing the finished product when it's finally done and the troubleshooting phase afterwards is my favorite part.

^This kid is talking as if he's the next Gustave Eiffel. It's almost as if our enjoyment in the construction is beneath him! lmao

#BoatsLivesMatter

We will always remember you, boat. #NeverForget

#BoatsLivesMatter

A tunnel would of been awesome. Having the midway go over the track to the entrance, kind of like Fury, would of been awesome. It would of been a beautiful photo spot!!

Valravn's support structure for the first drop and pull out seems lopsided and unstable. Let me be clear - I know that it's not and that B&M are well aware of what they're doing so let's skip all of the "armchair engineering" comments - but with all of those angled supports, it seems like there needs to be a vertical one thrown in there to balance everything out. The other two big dive coasters have a vertical beam where the pullout starts. Maybe B&M figured out how to have the track itself hold the drop and pullout in place, I don't know. Maybe some of the engineers on the site can shed some light on how they were able to achieve this or why they may have gone a different route this time around

^ Maybe B&M realized that one vertical support just wasn't needed?? Or maybe they have found a way to make the spine stronger, so it doesn't need the vertical support??

Don't worry, I've noticed the same thing with Valravn's supports, and I also found my self wondering "Why didn't they just use one vertical support??"

I don't know why they didn't, but they have a reason!

I can't tell if he wants a reply or not. He says to skip it, then asks to shed light on it... I am confused.

Valravn's support structure for the first drop and pull out seems lopsided and unstable. Let me be clear - I know that it's not and that B&M are well aware of what they're doing so let's skip all of the "armchair engineering" comments - but with all of those angled supports, it seems like there needs to be a vertical one thrown in there to balance everything out. The other two big dive coasters have a vertical beam where the pullout starts. Maybe B&M figured out how to have the track itself hold the drop and pullout in place, I don't know. Maybe some of the engineers on the site can shed some light on how they were able to achieve this or why they may have gone a different route this time around

According to the construction progress diagram, the shaded support that I circled has not been added yet, and that looks to be a vertical support holding up the pullout:

Griffon has one like this too, again circled in red:

Maybe B&M saw the extra support as overkill and decided to eliminate it from the final design. With the large prices of coasters nowadays, the less steel needed, the better. We've seen companies like Intamin and B&M cutting down in supports where they're not always needed for this reason. If it isn't added soon though, I wouldn't expect it to be added at all, as they're about ready to move onto the next section.

Judging from the looks of it, they probably eliminated the support for two reasons. One, they would have probably erected that one first as it would have been the easiest, and two, the force of the train at that point would be pushing more outwards than downwards. I could be wrong though.

I think the one you've circled on the diagram is the support on the drop from the mid-course brakes (6) and not on the first drop. I might be wrong though

I think the one you've circled on the diagram is the support on the drop from the mid-course brakes (6) and not on the first drop. I might be wrong though

This is correct. The perspective in that image is misleading.

Yeah I see it now, thanks for the correction. Even if there was a vertical support, they probably would have placed it there before anything else, so I would still guess that they eliminated it to save steel.

I can't tell if he wants a reply or not. He says to skip it, then asks to shed light on it... I am confused.

Yeah, what I meant was let's skip the three pages of people accusing me of knowing better than the engineers who designed the ride, not skip your take on why B&M designed the supports the way they did

Does the pullout on the drop look less gradual on Valravn than on the old dive coasters, or am I seeing things? Or maybe it's the longer drop giving me the impression.

^I had the exact same thought. I'm not sure whether it's perspective or legitimately a more abrupt pullout. Also, having a gander at the progress image, it's striking how few columns will support the whole damned coaster.

They're working today..!