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JR Villain Double Loop User is Offline Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 257 Location: Cortland, Ohio	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:47 am    Post subject: · Quote Thanks for again for the pictures Dave and the information you provided as to Double Loop and Villain.  I'm just puzzled as you what you said about Double Loop that the rails were spreading...what does that mean?  May sound like a stupid question, but I just cannot figure it out. _________________ "What we do in life, echoes in eternity."
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Ricochet Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 46	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:18 am    Post subject: · Quote I'm sorry. Those pics are the most heartbreaking things I've ever seen on the web. For a place I only came to love last year, they have to be killing those who knew the park for so many more years. Really depressing. Good night GL. Good night.
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IloveGeauga Head Spin User is Offline Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Posts: 646 Location: Toledo, Ohio	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:18 am    Post subject: · Quote Oh, Dave....you're killing me here.... I do appreciate the pics, but they do bring tears to my eyes. My question to you is this:  I realize you have a job to do, but does it break your heart to do what you have to do to these coasters?  Keep in mind, we are not blaming you at all.  Did you find it a little bit hard to start the teardown?
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coasterdad Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 2140	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:37 am    Post subject: · Quote Dave - the pictures are much appreciated but obviously hard to look at. I have heard something similar to what you said about Double Loop before. I guess the old Arrows do not last forever. Please feel free to post any other picture's you have. Did you get any video? Also, I have heard that the log ride is being moved which is a good thing. Do you have any idea who purchased it? _________________ GL's demise was caused by one mans foolish greed. In the end the truth will come out as it always does.
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BlueStreak81 Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 133	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:57 am    Post subject: · Quote Thank you Dave.  You have helped a lot of us put some closure to the closing of the park.  I'm also very glad to hear about the Pepsi Plunge being relocated.  I remember waiting in line for the ride as a young kid and being able to see one of the ride operators switching the cars from one flume to the next by this control switch he had.  That was one of my favorites.  Sorry that you have to be a part of the wrecking crew.  I think the saddest pictures were seeing the pieces of the DL being dumped into the scrap yard.  The first time I remember seeing the DL was being mesmorized by how the track went below ground.  I remember just starring at the coaster cars going into that pit area and then resurfacing again.
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Thunderhawk26 Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 19 Location: Between 6 Hills and 8 Hills, Ohio	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:09 am    Post subject: · Quote Dave- It wouldn't be "great", but it would in some way be comforting if you could keep updated pics with the rest of the park, as the rest of us can only see from outside the gates. _________________ 1888-2007 They say everything happens for a reason- I can't figure this one out
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missgl Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 37	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:45 am    Post subject: · Quote What mesmerizing yet tragic pictures.  I just cannot comprehend how fast this is happening.
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Skyglider Thunderhawk User is Offline Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 1082	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:57 am    Post subject: · Quote daveb86 wrote: For all of those that were wondering why the double loop and the villian were not saved, the double loop was past its day, the steel rails were slowly spreading apart from the constant beating of the cars. I was able to visualy see this spreading on the number 2 loop. it was a wonder they were still running it. They said if they had spread one more milllimeter they would have had to shut the coaster down for good anyway. I also understand that the age and condition of the Double Loop control system was a concern that weighed against relocation.  With Cedar Fair running the park, the Double Loop, like Hay Baler, was probably living on borrowed time and close to the end of the line in 2007, even if the park had not closed. _________________ "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." Cedar Fair Spokesman Innes on Big Dipper, 12th oldest roller coaster on Earth.
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John Peck Double Loop User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 279 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:57 am    Post subject: · Quote Thank you, Dave. I cannot believe how awesome those pictures are, but i did feel my heart sink when i saw those. It is not uncommon on "any" coaster to have parts re-engineered. Vortex at PKI had some work done this off-season, and Magnum has had it's first drop bottom-out replaced a couple years ago and Raptor it's cobra roll. Even if DL was saved, the price for a new second loop would have been in the hundreds of thousands. Worth it? I think not. _________________ "The Devil will find work for idle hands to do. I stole and then I lied just because you asked me to"
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Gunkey Monkey Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1102 Location: Cleveland, Ohio	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:24 pm    Post subject: · Quote Dave, I'd like to say a BIG thank you for sharing your photos. I am grateful that you are willing to show us what's going on from the inside. As much as it hurts to see two well-regarded rides come down, you took some truly outstanding shots (the photos from the top of Double Loop's lift and the view of Villain from up on the far turn is absolutely stunning). _________________ On September 21, 2007, a historic 119-year old amusement park had been secretly murdered. Never forget it.
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ScrewCrew88 Splash Landing User is Offline Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 105	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:10 pm    Post subject: · Quote JRVillian to answer your question about the rails "spreading": The running rails, the part that a coaster train travels on, has a set distance between each rail known as the "gauge" that must be maintained for a ride to operate safely.  So for an example, lets say it is 36" from rail-to-rail.  This distance matches the distance between the road wheels of a coaster train, those are the large visible wheels on a coaster train sitting on top of the track you see.  These two running rails are supported by steel bracing, the "U" shaped part of the track that attaches to the coaster "spine" which is the large singular tubing part.  As coasters age, the width between the "running rails" slowly increases due to the constant force of the trains, especially in high G-force areas like loops, spirals, the bottom of a large drop, etc. Over time, the width between the running rails expands or widens to a point where the train would fall between the rails if the problem is not corrected.  Double Loop was nearing that point along with having had other fatigue issues.  These things can be determined by visual inspection, like Dave noticed, or by bringing in X-ray equipment which is typically done on older steel coasters each year to find invisible cracks and other steel fatigue issues. Today's modern rollercoasters are no longer welded together like the Double Loop was.  Remember, it was built in 1977, the design of these types of rides was in its infancy back in those days.  Today, steel coasters are bolted together in sections, thus tear down and moving is much easier and it also allows for sections to be taken out and replaced if there are any structural issues. Hope that answered your question!
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John Peck Double Loop User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 279 Location: Columbus, Ohio USA	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:24 pm    Post subject: · Quote ^ Yes, thats true, but Double loop arrived together in track sections which was then welded one piece after another. In 1977, Im pretty sure the track bending and welding was done at Arrows headquarters. Fact of the matter is, is this could happen to any coaster because all those track ties are welded to one center bended peice, and then those are welded to the rail.
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Gunkey Monkey Site Admin User is Offline Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 1102 Location: Cleveland, Ohio	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:00 pm    Post subject: · Quote My question is how are the parks with Arrow coasters able to make the adjustments and/or replacements of the track?  With Arrow out of business, and I highly doubt S&S is doing it since they took over the company, are they having other companies do it based on blueprints? _________________ On September 21, 2007, a historic 119-year old amusement park had been secretly murdered. Never forget it.
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B-rad Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 28	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:11 pm    Post subject: Thanks man · Quote Thank you Dave...  you've helped many of use attain closure.  Unfortunately no one will ever be able to fill the void in our hearts that CF has created by killing our beloved GL.  Thanks again! Oh, and keep'em comin' if you can! _________________ Karma is a B*tch, and CF u just got a boat load of bad stuff coming ur way!  Burn CF!  BURN!
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PKIDelirium Beaver Land Mine Ride User is Offline Joined: 03 Jul 2007 Posts: 83 Location: Xenia, Ohio	Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:34 pm    Post subject: · Quote S&S does in fact provide service for Arrow coasters. _________________ Donald KIExtreme.com - The In-Depth Guide to Kings Island
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