The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

^Trashing the whole thing.

I'm tellin ya man, I used to harp my fellow mechanics when I worked there to see if it would ever be possible to run the thing like it was promised to run the first time I saw the drawing of it back in '96, and the sad fact is that its nobody's concern that works there to get it running like that. Nobody's.

People there have much more important things going on. Unless some miracle happens where someone up in the company wants it running at 100 and getting a lot further up the tower, it won't happen.

^I'd like to see some older footage too.

There used to be a badass commercial for Superman when it first opened. It showed some kid running up to the ride, and the Krypton entrance and 41 story tower were glowing in the distance. And when he rode it his cheeks were flapping cause the ride was going "so fast." I'd love to see that commercial again.

Any word on those Antique cars being relocated? With both SFMM and SF St. Louis pulling out their cars, I wonder if they will be sent out to other parks. (not to mention whats left from Astroworld)

It's going to get to a point when Superman is just too costly to maintain and operate.

I just think a better use of that area would be to pull down that Coaster and put an S&S tower in it's place and retain the queue

Trains aren't going to run into eachother, trains aren't going to be impossible to stop, and the trains WOULD NOT bump into eachother.

 

Brakes on coasters, wet or not, they're going to work. They're designed that way.

Not saying you are wrong or anything(Because for the most part you are right) but I have had first hand encounters where I have seen what rain has done to a ride in the rain that has caused problems to the operation of the ride. EG. Cedar Point during Halloweekends in 2006. I was in line for Mantis when it started to downpour. I was surprised they didn't cease operation right away. Then when the second train was coming near the station, it didn't quite stop properly and bumped into the unloaded train in the station. The train in the brakes was immediately unloaded and the guests were escorted off. This bump caused minor damage to at least one of the trains and had maintenance and supervisors looking at it in awe. (I'll have to look for a picture.) Everyone in line was told if we give our name we could go up the exit of one ride. Then we were told to leave the line. I'm pretty sure those trains would not have bumped if the brakes/brake fins were dry. I used to think rain didn't affect rides too much, but there is still a chance that it can happen and cause minor damage.

We got new certification tags, Its colorful but kind of looks tacky.

^They'll probably sit in the graveyard for a couple years to rot and rust a slow death.

^They'll probably sit in the graveyard for a couple years to rot and rust a slow death.

That's correct. Hell they should put them on ebay. I would love to have one. Throw in a Metro train also.

Trains aren't going to run into eachother, trains aren't going to be impossible to stop, and the trains WOULD NOT bump into eachother.

 

Brakes on coasters, wet or not, they're going to work. They're designed that way.

 

Not saying you are wrong or anything(Because for the most part you are right) but I have had first hand encounters where I have seen what rain has done to a ride in the rain that has caused problems to the operation of the ride. EG. Cedar Point during Halloweekends in 2006. I was in line for Mantis when it started to downpour. I was surprised they didn't cease operation right away. Then when the second train was coming near the station, it didn't quite stop properly and bumped into the unloaded train in the station. The train in the brakes was immediately unloaded and the guests were escorted off. This bump caused minor damage to at least one of the trains and had maintenance and supervisors looking at it in awe. (I'll have to look for a picture.) Everyone in line was told if we give our name we could go up the exit of one ride. Then we were told to leave the line. I'm pretty sure those trains would not have bumped if the brakes/brake fins were dry. I used to think rain didn't affect rides too much, but there is still a chance that it can happen and cause minor damage.

The well-publicized accident on Magnum at Cedar Point earlier this year was also caused by a train not being stopped by the brake at the end of the airtime hills, which was wet due to rain. It rolled through and bumped into the train ahead of it that was stopped in the brake run right before the station, with enough force to cause a couple minor injuries and do enough damage to both trains that Magnum was on single-train operation for at least a couple weeks afterward.

Any word on those Antique cars being relocated? With both SFMM and SF St. Louis pulling out their cars, I wonder if they will be sent out to other parks. (not to mention whats left from Astroworld)

SFStL is re-routing/moving Moon Cars, not completely removing them.

Oh thats good to know. I thought they were a gonner.

Hey everyone just stopped by the park today and took some pictures of X from outside the park. The ride seems to be about 50% painted. Looking really good. I will be back home on Thursday and I will post them. I also have a couple of shots of the painters. Were going to Disneyland tomorrow and I will have a photo TR up soon! Take care everyone!

^ Interesting...Diana and I were out there yesterday to renew our season passes and, yes, some of it was painted, but nowhere near half of it. That is, unless they got a lot done today.

Eric

^^^As far as Mantis that was caused by wet tires not wet brakes. And for Magnum, I find it hard to believe wet brakes caused that on their own, something else had to be going on too. If it were just because of wet brakes, as PURE mentioned, then everytime it rained all the coasters would have to be shut down because the brakes would not work. Wet brakes alone are not going to cause problems. The rides are designed to be used outside in the rain and the brakes will work just fine wet or dry.

Here a small clip of Flash Back, from a video called "Here Comes A Roller Coaster". It has some pretty good shots, and its amazing how blue the ride is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1hGkpf1SnI

"its amazing how blue the ride is!" (Top Thrill Dragster)

Yeah, Flashback was a rather pretty blue when it arrived at SFMM. Then the sun and the birds got to it!

Eric

Very interesting video. Its sad that even on those slow fairly straight pieces of track the set up camera still shook rather harshly. Thanks for sharing!

-Mike

That's really cool. Yea, it sure looked rough. At the end how in the hell did that kid appear like that ? WOW that's tricky. Thanks for finding that clip.

Here is a small clip of Psyclone. I think the guys reaction to the ride at the end, sums it up very well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Mjn6ZmPgKg

EDIT: Here are some Photos of the transformation of X to X2 that I took on 7/14/08

Here are some Photos of the Painting of X2 I took on 7/14/08

You took these...FROM THE FUTURE?!?!!??!?!

The parts with the new color scheme look good, I much prefer it to the tacky magenta yellow ugness.

^ LOL. At least we know SFMM will still be there 6 months from now. Whether that's good or bad is debatable I guess. Just kiddin' with ya though...nice pics, and I like the new color scheme.

EDIT: Dude, but since you're from Vegas... with time traveling capabilites, can you tell me if I win a World Series bracelet this year?

LOL I'll fix that post. HAHA if I could tell that I think I would keep it to myself!

But yeah I would love to Travel to the future and come back to tell you all if X2 is any better!

lol wow these colors are MUCH better. I cannot wait to ride this soon. Hopefully with the "new ride" Six FLags will take better care of it than they have before.

But yeah I would love to Travel to the future and come back to tell you all if X2 is any better!

That would be the last thing on my mind if I could time travel.

On another not, thank you for the pictures. The new paint looks awesome, It'll be weird driving up the hill and seeing X when its first completely repainted, it looks like a completely different ride now!

Off the topic of X2 a bit, I was just wondering when the Metro actually last operated. Does anyone know?