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Cedar Point | Top Thrill 2 | Triple Launch Renovation | 2024

Totally a fantasy, but here me out.

Reverse direction of the course, so a straight launch track propels the train up what used to be the brake run, up and over the top hat. Down the other side of the top hat we go into another set of LSMs that boost the train up to 240kmh, up a new 500 foot spike where the station used to be. Reverse free fall back into the LSMs, which trim off some speed before we roll backwards about, halfway up the top hat (rollback cred acquired). Back down to the LSMs, which now slow the train to a crawl before a switch track that leads back to the new station.

A goon can dream.
 
I posted a similar idea at some point and, in fact, if they'd want to get back the height record, adding a boost and a spike would probably be the cheapest way to get it (while still providing some decently complete ride experience). I was seriously hoping that they would go all the way and do something like this. But latest rumors do not imply that will happen, unfortunately...
 
I mean, -4 G is perfectly cool. Right @Indy?

Also adding to open thought - it will be curious to see whatever, if any, track building action may take shape late winter/early spring. TTD (and MF, for that matter) took a better part of 12 months to construction, with construction beginning early the prior season to opening. Maverick too famously had footers laid a solid year and a half ahead of schedule, making the Skyhawk opening in 2006 anticlimactic as we were moreso obsessed with cement than an entire Screamin’ Swing.

At any rate - if there’s to be new track lay, we most likely would see action sooner than not.
 
A non-update update: Someone did a fly-by recently, showing all the clearing of infield and transfer tracks (to be expected, as all ride and ride system outside fo the top hat at this point has been removed):

https://twitter.com/x/status/1624570377866252289

Also doesn't show much, but Cedar Point has resituated one of their webcams onto the TTD top hat. You can see the track cut right at the bottom of the image.

cedar2.jpg


Expect a trickle at best of updates until we see honest construction equipment on-site!
 
It's insane the amount that has been removed. Makes me think it is more likely to be some different layout, maybe with a swing launch as people have discussed.
Dont see why else they'd remove so much of the layout otherwise.
 
With a highly unqualified amateur perspective of tracking roller coaster construction at the point for 20+ years: it feels there are two avenues of construction, depending on how large-scale of modifications TTD will receive.

If we are to receive new track (a la back spike or other new elements) - one would expect to see some footer lay or other make-ready work in late spring/opening day. If we were truly looking at minimal new layout work (that is, staying to the honest and true launch, top hat, brakes) layout, they could very well not begin any noticeable construction until June/July.

Again, apart of the fascination of really not knowing what will be going in. Maverick had footers laid at the beginning of the 2006 season, an entire year before opening; MF and TTD were in the same boat and even had track construction commence July/August the year before opening.
 
sneakycoasters said:
It's insane the amount that has been removed. Makes me think it is more likely to be some different layout, maybe with a swing launch as people have discussed.
Dont see why else they'd remove so much of the layout otherwise.
Click to expand...
I don't think the amount of track that has been removed should be surprising regardless of whether or not the layout is changing at all. All of the track that's been removed incorporated the launch system, braking system, and/or drive wheels to move/stop the train in places such as the stations. While no details have been confirmed, I think everybody expects/knows that a new launch system is on the way and it's expected that new trains are on the way. Therefore, it makes sense to expect a new braking system as well. And given those expected changes to the launch/braking configuration, it doesn't make sense to keep track with drive tires located in a position that might not line up with skid plates on new trains.
 
To be honest, seeing as no new footers have been added, and only the parts of the track that have the ride hardware fitted (launch, brakes, drive tyres) have been removed, I would argue that this could just be to add new track that correctly fits the new pieces of hardware on.

Seeing as this ride will have new trains with a new launch/slow down system, it may be far more cost effective to fit custom built track that houses said hardware on instead of retrofitting the old track.
 
The original track was carefully disassembled and shipped. This heavily implies the ride will use all the old track, likely without any layout changes.
 
Today is Winter Chill Out at the park, and there's some dot-connecting happening.

Track and supports have been removed from a section of Iron Dragon.
20230225_112622.jpg

While not all that unusual by itself, the location is extremely interesting:
1677343027968.png
Directly behind the station, EXACTLY WHERE A BACKWARDS SPIKE WOULD BE PLACED.

Combine this 'news' with the permit filed above, as well as a [seemingly] piledriver machine at the ride...
https://twitter.com/x/status/1629512058839392259

Gears are about to start turning. And it SURE SEEMS like a spike is happening.
 
Definitely looks like all signs are pointing to a spike! Think this is definitely the best option for the project too. If it was just a question of retrofitting LSMs, the (albeit more reliable) new ride would always be in the shadow of its former self. A swing launch would sufficiently differentiate the new ride from the original TTD and even have a good chance of being a better ride experience.

If Intamin aren't involved in the project, the question is who's building all the new track? Are Zamperla, a company who have yet to even build a coaster over 120ft, really going to build a 400ft+ spike with (hopefully) a giant airtime hill? They don't exactly have a reputation for smoothness either and at the kinds of speeds we're expecting, anything less than perfection will get very rough very quickly. Let's not forget that unless they're replacing the entire top hat, they'd have to manufacture track to another manufacturers' specifications too.

Fully expecting this to be some sort of crazy frankencoaster with all sorts of manufacturers and subcontractors involved. Can't help but feel going back to Intamin would have been less of a risk. 20 years is a long time to hold a grudge!

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 
MLDesigns said:
Today is Winter Chill Out at the park, and there's some dot-connecting happening.

Track and supports have been removed from a section of Iron Dragon.
View attachment 23311

While not all that unusual by itself, the location is extremely interesting:
View attachment 23312
Directly behind the station, EXACTLY WHERE A BACKWARDS SPIKE WOULD BE PLACED.

Combine this 'news' with the permit filed above, as well as a [seemingly] piledriver machine at the ride...
https://twitter.com/x/status/1629512058839392259

Gears are about to start turning. And it SURE SEEMS like a spike is happening.
Click to expand...
Curious and curiouser. Let's see if Cedar Fair tries to break the height record with that spike (doubt it).
 
It would make sense if they were as maybe that's why intamin are apparently not involved? As they surely have a contract with six flags to build the tallest in the world at that six flags park so maybe it would infringe
 
holtjammy16 said:
It would make sense if they were as maybe that's why intamin are apparently not involved? As they surely have a contract with six flags to build the tallest in the world at that six flags park so maybe it would infringe
Click to expand...
That is unfortunately flawed thinking as Intamin is right now actively working on the 607 ft tall Falcon's Flight at Six Flags Qiddiya (not a Six Flags park btw, so no contract to the chain). Also the prospect of this being both a Zamperla job and reaching immense new heights and speeds sounds a bit like having and eating your cake. If, of course, ElToroRyan's "source" is to be taken in full seriousness - and if he was smart then he'd stop talking, because this kind of crap has repercussions.
 
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