Vortex Fenders

[israel09]

This might be a dumb question, but Im bored.

Why does Vortex have fenders over the wheels? It never goes in mud or water or anything, lol

[KI FANATIC 37]

I think so if their is an accident and the trains hit each other that would cause it to absorb the shock more.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm not sure what you're talking about?

[israel09]

yeah, i should have been more specific, lol my bad.

but if you ever look just before you get on , it even says "do not step on the fenders". which just made it even more interesting.

i found a photo of it, look closely at the part above the wheels. thats the thing i'm talking about, http://www.flickr.com/photos/29396436@N03/4460123870/

[RWildman424]

I assume the rails are greased periodically. They are probably there to keep the guests grease free when this is done. Another possibility is to keep shrapnel down if one were to fall apart. It happens occasionally.

[Buckeye Brad]

I'll take a guess...in addition to the answers listed above, the fenders keep "foreign objects" (hats, animals, etc.) from getting jammed between the wheels and the track.

[Browntggrr]

I assume the rails are greased periodically.

Do you mean the steel rails the trains are attached to?

[AZ Kinda Guy]

The fenders are there to keep a blown out wheel from hitting guests.