did beast ever run trimless?

[YoungStud]

Without a trim on the hill after the drop and left hand turn. Also at the end of the open shed going into the hard right hand turn?

The ride would have been wild if it ran that way at opening.

[TheCrypt]

The ride opened with four sets of trims. One after the first drop, one after the first left turn, one in the "shed," and one after the second lift. The trims today are in the same locations as their predecessors.

[YoungStud]

Anyone have experience riding it at opening?

[teenageninja]

Also should note that the trims used to be mechanical, not magnetic, the magnetic trims were added in 2004 maybe?

The covered portion of the "trim shed" had mechanical brakes, of which they claim slowed the ride down the same amount as the magnetic brakes do currently, it just seems worse.

As for the trims on the hills, they were also mechanical and I do think they have slowed the ride down a bit, but that's just my experience.

[Browntggrr]

Beast did run trimless prior to opening day 1979.

The ride was reported to be unbearable.

There has been some to have claimed to have had trimless rides for special park events. Claim being the key word.

Search feature:

http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/26002-beast-brakes/?hl=beast%2Btrims

http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?/topic/21796-somebody-amputated-the-beast/?hl=beast%2Btrims

[McSalsa]

The original skid brakes were replaced with the current magnetic ones for the 2002 season, following a minor incident in October 2001 where during a heavy downpour a train failed to completely stop on the final brake run and bumped into a train unloading passengers in the station. No one was seriously injured, but it was enough that it warranted the change. This was due to the original skid brakes not working as well when wet, which caused the minor incident. The main drawback from the change to skid brakes to modern fin brakes is that since the old skid brakes didn't work as well when wet, the ride ran faster after it rained. I read a few trip reports on some web site, I forget which one, from the early 2002 season and Beast actually didn't open with the park that year, but a few weeks in, for these changes.

Also, this is according to Terpy, but for a brief time early in 2002 after it had re-opened, some of the trim brakes on the ride had yet to be placed, mainly the one before the final helix. I can only imagine how violent and intense that helix must have been with no trims beforehand... UPDATE: Checked another thread and it was not the one before the helix. Sorry.

[Shaggy]

Also should note that the trims used to be mechanical, not magnetic, the magnetic trims were added in 2004 maybe?

The covered portion of the "trim shed" had mechanical brakes, of which they claim slowed the ride down the same amount as the magnetic brakes do currently, it just seems worse.

As for the trims on the hills, they were also mechanical and I do think they have slowed the ride down a bit, but that's just my experience.

The Beast ran trimless only in intial testing. Thats when it's "speed" was clocked. It's never achieved that top speed since.

I believe that until the coster was re-vamped with an updated Op panel (in the late '80s - early 1990s, I believe) the trim brakes were not mechanical. They were skids operated by counterweights. Speeds were checked throughout the day by maintenance, and the counterweights were increased, or decreased based on various conditions affecting the speed. The counterweights were... drumroll please... coffee cans with nuts and bolts in them suspended down through the lift structure by long steel wires.

I "drove" The Beast in 1998-99 prior to the change to magnetics. The operation of the skids was a bit of an art form. You had to disengage the skids by holding down the brake button, and then releasing the button at various marked points. Depending upon conditions, where you needed to release the button in order to stop the train in the proper point could change. Weather most definitely affected this - particularly on cold days when the hydraulics would take longer to raise the skids. (You had to release the button much earlier than usual.) This manual operation of the station brakes and final brake run is why they crew used the term "drive." We never "operated" The Beast... we "drove" it. Because of this learning curve, it took a long time for a newbie to test up to diving The Beast.

On the coldest day I ever worked (Oct 1999) I was driving Beast while it was literally snowing. Because of the conditions, a wood maintenance crew member was stationed in the booth as a back-up. Trains were consistantly sliding partially out of the station due to brake delays. At one point while I was driving, the train slid all the way out, rounded the corner and made it's way to the base of the lift hill. This, obviously created a blocking set-up and the ride had to be stopped and re-set by wood maintenance. I'll never forget the looks of the faces of folks as they passed through the station, past the drivers booth and rounded the corner. It was a "What the....!!!" reaction. I literally had my hands in the air (I had long before engaged the brakes, but the hydraulics were too cold and didn't raise) saying "It's not me! It's not me!" LOL. The maintenance guy, Doug, just laughed and said something like "Hope they liked it the first time... because theyre getting a bonus round!"

I still have my Beast Op Manual, btw...

On a simular note... when Racer and Scooby Doo opened - they opened with manual skids - literally an in-station lever that was pulled back and forth to engage/disengage.

[YoungStud]

Great stuff,

The ride op manually applied the brakes by watching a camera showing The Beast on course? I always thought once the train left the station the computer did it all.

[tuxedoman52]

Without a trim on the hill after the drop and left hand turn. Also at the end of the open shed going into the hard right hand turn?

The ride would have been wild if it ran that way at opening.

I believe that they put in the trim brakes on the first hill after the left turn prior to the 2011 season. I could be wrong though. I had not noticed them until 2011.

[Shaggy]

Great stuff,

The ride op manually applied the brakes by watching a camera showing The Beast on course? I always thought once the train left the station the computer did it all.

In my tenure... yes you watched the camera and monitored the block indicators. You had to wait until the next two blocks ahead were clear before you would release the train from the station. (That was typically when the train had cleared lift #1. There were two blocks between the station and drop then. The block indicators were on the panel as well... illuminated lights. ) You could release the train from the station early (if you and the rear queue side op was also pressing the brake release button) but it would cause a block set-up and the coaster would automatically e-stop.

Prior to the computerized panel, in the early years, there wasn't a camera. There was a block indicator in the booth that showed where trains wree by illuminating the blocks on an acrylic panel with the layout drawn on it. For lift #1, the rear exit-side checker monitored the train as it went up the lift. For lift #2, because of the absence of a camera, there was a staffed ride op position to the right of the lift. That way they could monitor trains as they climbed. This was a rotational position that became obsolete when cameras were installed.

[YoungStud]

I started riding in 04, it was always there.

[jasonondropzone]

I'm not totally for sure, but I don't like how as you're going through the covered section after the first hill, it slows down a lot. I don't remember it doing that in 2011, not sure about 2012 as I didn't get a ride in on The Beast.

[tuxedoman52]

I also think that the "shed part" of the ride should have trim brakes way earlier because you pick up alot of speed and then it just slows down right when you are going in to a turn which is uncomfortable enough already so we don't need our head banging back going into that turn. Talk about a run-on sentence,

[Shaggy]

Just remember that The Beast that runs today is a different creature than what was originally built. The abrupt brakes it currently uses, IMO, detract terribly from the ride. However today's technology, insurace and safety regulations require them.

[Vortex]

When it started to rain we used to run to The Beast. You got one wild ride with air time. One time we made it almost all the way up the second lift hill.

[TheCrypt]

I'm not totally for sure, but I don't like how as you're going through the covered section after the first hill, it slows down a lot. I don't remember it doing that in 2011, not sure about 2012 as I didn't get a ride in on The Beast.

I don't mind it slowing down, but I just wish it could be less aggressive. I have to brace myself every time it comes or else my head goes right into the headrest in front of me.

[KI FANATIC 37]

I'm not totally for sure, but I don't like how as you're going through the covered section after the first hill, it slows down a lot. I don't remember it doing that in 2011, not sure about 2012 as I didn't get a ride in on The Beast.

I don't mind it slowing down, but I just wish it could be less aggressive. I have to brace myself every time it comes or else my head goes right into the headrest in front of me.

But thats what I like about The Beast! Its a different ride every time!

[Shaggy]

There's an art to riding Beast. When I was on crew, we took routine test rides. I learned exactly how to brace myself before each sharp moment, as well as the exact place to lean forward a few inches when entering the double helix. I use the technique to this day... it's like riding a bike whenever I get on... just natural.

[thedevariouseffect]

With the ride being almost fully automated now and the PLC implementing most of the features, are they eddy current magnetic brakes (do not require power/friction) or do the brakes engage one queue from the PLC?

If engaged they may be able to be over-ridden. For instance on mean streak, if the train is stopped in the transfers it engages the PLC to go into transfer run, which means empty train, which means no trims to complete the course. One neat little trick there, had that luxury a few times

[Fire-Beast-OF FEAR]

I've ridden The Beast semi-un-trimed recently. Although when the train hit the trims it was less prevalent than with them, it did not improve the overall scope of the ride. For comparison it was more like Diamondback when the trim is cut back then like Mean Streak when it changes the entire ride. What The Beast needs to improve upon is the time it takes to move one train loaded out of the station and the next train to unload into the station. Converting the ride to an all magnetic and tire system similar to Millennium Force would help this drastically. After working at The Racer (a ride with a similar issue and can be fixed in the same way) the four things that limit capacity the most are attempting to fit larger guests into the required two clicks, height checks and "angry dads", disabled accommodations, and waiting for trains to get into the station. It's just wasted time.

[YoungStud]

Their magnetic brakes, you cannot turn them on or off. How did you have a semi untrimmed ride?

[Fire-Beast-OF FEAR]

I rode it during employee rides day, six days before opening day 2013. segments of the magnetic brakes were removed physically from the tracks placed off to the catwalks were the magnetic fins could not pass through as many brakes as it does in normal operation. In my opinion the brakes were removed to figure out how much they need to adjust the brakes for the next season. If you look keenly you can see on the second chain lift and to the right you can see parts of the second trim run having many blank spaces were the former trims were.

[PKIVortex]

They remove some of the magnetic breaks in the spring and then again the fall, as to make sure the trains makes it around the track!

[Hank]

There is a You Tube video called Testing The Beast. You will see - there are no trims after the second lift hill going into the helix. Also, there is a video of KI people discussing their first ride on The Beast - it had no trims.

[Fire-Beast-OF FEAR]

^There better not be a video of people riding the Breast.

[Hank]

Oooops! However, that could be fun! You could keep abreast of things! Maybe play tit for tat? Or Boobytrap! Or titillywinks! Shop for new door knockers. Purchase a melon or two. Get a jug for some drinking. Have a little cream in your voffee.

[TheBEASTunchained]

I don't mind it slowing down, but I just wish it could be less aggressive. I have to brace myself every time it comes or else my head goes right into the headrest in front of me.

Less aggressive? What do you expect from a roller coaster called The Beast?.....The Beast is very wild, That's his nature and it wouldn't be the same if he wasn't.

There's an art to riding Beast. When I was on crew, we took routine test rides. I learned exactly how to brace myself before each sharp moment, as well as the exact place to lean forward a few inches when entering the double helix. I use the technique to this day... it's like riding a bike whenever I get on... just natural.

Very glad that you brought this up, Its a great point. After riding The Beast enough you just "learn how to ride it" and I also have to agree with you about it coming natural....I mean...I guess its a way of trying to tame The Beast that one learns over time! Because we all know that taming The Beast isn't easy....just ask Mr. Eichleman...It took him a while but he tamed it.....

[Browntggrr]

There is a You Tube video called Testing The Beast.

I love that video.

I purchased it on EBay many years ago as a beta tape, found an old beta player at work, recorded the beta version to a VHS, then sent it to *I believe* BoddaH.

The beta player then died after making the last copy.

Good times!

[fryoj]

When it started to rain we used to run to The Beast. You got one wild ride with air time. One time we made it almost all the way up the second lift hill.

I remember those days. Anytime it looked like rain everyone would run over there to beat the rush. Good times.

[Dom497]

Their magnetic brakes, you cannot turn them on or off. How did you have a semi untrimmed ride?

Leviathan at CW has magnetic trims and they can be "shut off" by moving away from each other so The Beast could use something similar even though it is a wood coaster.