Rocky Mountain Construction New Track Concept

[Austin]

No we're not talking about the Iron Horse, we're talking about the Topper Track System. RMC has recently designed a whole new system that is pretty much like the Iron Horse except cheaper and less extensive.

Its uses steel tracking similar to Iron Horse but it utilizes the existing wood track except 2 layers of wood are removed and replaced with the steel which is then bolted down onto the existing wood. Once it is bolted to the wood a steel cross tie is ran between the track under it and next to the wooden ledgers that will keep the existing track from rolling and keeping the new steel track on gauge. The steel track is then filled with a non-shrink mix.

For example:

http://www.rockymtnconstruction.com/images/topper08.jpg

They advertise it as a cost effective solution that requires very little maintenance.

Could we see potential rehabs on some key coasters such as Mean Streak and Son of Beast (If they plan to keep it)?

[David]

If this is reasonably priced, I can see a method like this happening to coasters like American Eagle, Colossus, Screamin' Eagle, and such. I wouldn't mind this on American Eagle. I'm sure maintenance of AE steals a huge chunk of the park's budget.

[SFNE Expert]

So this technically turns the woodie into a steel just like Texas Giant, right?

[bobbinbop20]

I wouldn't mind this on American Eagle.

This would ruin American Eagle, American eagle is NOT suppose to be smooth as glass, it's suppose to throw you around a little bit.

Why would they ruin the only coaster worth riding in the park.

Now on something like Son of Beast it would be perfect

[nitrofan]

I'll have to ride Texas Giant before I can defend this, but from what I have seen so far, this does not look like a treatment I would want to see wide-spread. Wooden coasters are all about the rough, out of control feeling you get on them. Now, certainly there is a point where a wooden coaster is too rough (Texas Giant), but most are not. If a park wanted a coaster to be smooth as glass, they would have bought a B&M.

[Changsucks]

^I agree, at first I was even skeptical over Texas Giant becoming smooth as glass, but after seeing the changes made I'm really excited for it. I can't see this on a racing woodie like American Eagle though, or on Colossus which is also rumored to get the Iron Horse treatment. Those coasters don't even have the layout for it.

I'm all for some off season retracking on noticeably rough woodies, but unless it gets unbearable I think this is unnecessary. I will be disappointed if this starts showing up everywhere.

[SFNE Expert]

Not because I'm a SFNE fanboy, but I think Cyclone needs it bad. Or it just needs to be scrapped. The ride ruined itself with its trains so its all messed up.

Rattler could also use it and Son of Beast. I don't see any coaster thats not unbearably rough not getting it.

[Changsucks]

Cyclone is really rough, and because SFNE won't remove it anytime soon, that could be a good one for this treatment.

I'm just talking about racing woodies, CCIs, etc.

[nitrofan]

Not because I'm a SFNE fanboy, but I think Cyclone needs it bad. Or it just needs to be scrapped. The ride ruined itself with its trains so its all messed up.

Rattler could also use it and Son of Beast. I don't see any coaster thats not unbearably rough not getting it.

Rattler needs to stay FAR, FAR AWAY from this system. I think they need GCI to come in and do the same thing they are doing for Thunder Road at Carowinds, but Rattler being smooth as glass would defeat the whole purpose of the ride; a crazy, out of control journey through the cliffs.

[Austin]

Well what do you guys think? Is this Topper Track system becoming over used by Six Flags?

[David]

Not. At. All. The system is being used at what three parks? Out of about 10. That's not overuse, when it's overused, you'll just feel it.

[Austin]

Six Flags has turned to it for every caster rehab project that they dont feel like putting in the time and effort to just re-track the coaster. That is overuse

[DarienLake:D]

I think Mean Streak could use something like this. I only have a problem with the way the track looks. It looks a bit unnatractive.... But since Mean Streak has a simmilar layout to old texas giant. And from my experience with that ride its kind of rough. They need a full blown rehab or something. Either something done simmilar to Texas Giant or having GCI come in and doing something.........

[mrceagle]

one thing to keep in mind that the system is not used to completely re-track a coaster. Like in situation like Cyclone at SFNE it was only use don the spots that are extremely rough and the rest of the coaster is using a traditional wood coaster style.

As for Mean streak, I personally would like to see it leveled and a new coaster built. they could then use the rest of the space for more rides, heck they could even add another coaster and it wouldn't be stacked. the coaster takes up way too much space.

[CSM0fficial]

I think this is a great system, if the park is willing to give up the roller coaster's title as a "woodie". Like mentioned, SOB could use this, but you convinced me SOB isn't going to get any more treatment. The only coasters I can give my opinion for are California coasters because.... I haven't really tried a lot out of California "/
But anyways, I think this could be good for GhostRider, IF Knott's is willing to give up that title. As for Colossus, honestly, it really isn't that bad of a coaster. And like discussed, some shaky-ness is supposed to give the woodie feeling. So I would vote against this for Colossus.