The Interpreter Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 This is not a ringing endorsement of that manufacturer. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malem Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 From dollywood.com: Lightning Rod is closed today. The ride manufacturer ordered all of its roller coasters closed until further notice as a recalled mechanical part is replaced. Expanding details: Lightning Rod is closed today. Rocky Mountain Construction ordered all of its roller coasters closed until further notice as a recalled mechanical part is replaced. Please watch for updates. All of them? Anyone with a report from SDC, KK, or one of several SIX parks? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 Nothing from the following sites or Facebook accounts on their respective RMC's- Kentucky Kingdom SDC SFMM SFDK SFGAm SFNE SFoT SFFT SFM EDIT: Nothing on RMC's main webpage or FB account. EDIT2: Take this how you want, but Screamscape (I think I hear salt shakers) is saying that RMC made that order. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdawg1998 Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 I am really hoping this is not true. I was planning on going to Kentucky Kingdom on Tuesday. Please...don't be true. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted June 18, 2016 Share Posted June 18, 2016 TPR is drinking the Screamscape Kool-Aid. I know Dollywood posted that, but I'm seeing evidence of the contrary right now on the interwebs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marth555 Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 I dont see an RMC at KI anytime soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TombRaiderFTW Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 This is not a ringing endorsement of that manufacturer. I dont see an RMC at KI anytime soon I agree with marth555. If an RMC shows up at any Cedar Fair park in 2017, I would assume that it is only because the project was too far along to call it quits. This is the sort of thing that Cedar Fair has been avoiding with its choice in manufacturers. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creed Bratton Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 From Kolmarden where Wildfire is located..... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 3-5 days. In a non-Internet/non-social media world, such transparency just didn't happen. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joncars05 Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 ^ You may want to read the post above yours. And yet, things can and sometimes do change. Better to underpromise and overdeliver. Especially right now. Not good to build expectations at this point. Yeah I didn't see that! We posted nearly the same time so I missed his post because I was writing when he submitted his post. I do hope they get things ironed out. Because this ride is just awesome when its running. But when it's experiencing downtime after a certain amount of cycles and failing to open on time during the day, it's frustrating. I'm hoping this 3-5 day break will allow them to work on the ride and possible figure out the issue. Maybe they can have their EUREKA!!! moment here and did the ride for good. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Gal Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 Only lightning rod & that ride in Europe is down. Due to a faulty redesigned restraint cylinder they used on those two newest rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterOhio Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 ^ You may want to read the post above yours. And yet, things can and sometimes do change. Better to underpromise and overdeliver. Especially right now. Not good to build expectations at this point. Yeah I didn't see that! We posted nearly the same time so I missed his post because I was writing when he submitted his post. I do hope they get things ironed out. Because this ride is just awesome when its running. But when it's experiencing downtime after a certain amount of cycles and failing to open on time during the day, it's frustrating. I'm hoping this 3-5 day break will allow them to work on the ride and possible figure out the issue. Maybe they can have their EUREKA!!! moment here and did the ride for good. New rides will always have their Downtime Banshee on Opening Day experienced Downtime... Didn't Diamondback have an issue as well? The ride is new, especially with them trying new things on their restraints, they do not want a Texas Giant incident on their OWN trains. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joncars05 Posted June 19, 2016 Share Posted June 19, 2016 ^ You may want to read the post above yours. And yet, things can and sometimes do change. Better to underpromise and overdeliver. Especially right now. Not good to build expectations at this point. Yeah I didn't see that! We posted nearly the same time so I missed his post because I was writing when he submitted his post.I do hope they get things ironed out. Because this ride is just awesome when its running. But when it's experiencing downtime after a certain amount of cycles and failing to open on time during the day, it's frustrating. I'm hoping this 3-5 day break will allow them to work on the ride and possible figure out the issue. Maybe they can have their EUREKA!!! moment here and did the ride for good. New rides will always have their Downtime Banshee on Opening Day experienced Downtime... Didn't Diamondback have an issue as well? The ride is new, especially with them trying new things on their restraints, they do not want a Texas Giant incident on their OWN trains. Yes those rides have experienced downtime. The difference is both Diamondback and Banshee opened without delay. Lightning Rod was supposed to be opened in March. It was delayed until the middle of June where it "opened" yet still suffered from downtime around 50% or so. (I am not going to count this 3-5 day delay against LR because it is a manufacturer issue affecting all rides built by RMC) That is the big difference. Banshee had 2 million riders in its first year. LR is still struggling to operate for half of a day, 3 and a half month after it was supposed to open. This isn't just a "first day" jitters issue with LR. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragsterguy21 Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 Six Flags hasn't had any issues with their RMC coasters. I say coasters and not trains because of NTG. RMC didn't make the launch on LR. That was another company. I don't see any launched coaster coming to a CF park besides maybe a Mack. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 LIM/LSM technology has been around over 2 decades now. Why is RMC suddenly having problems with it? The industry has launch coasters down to a science now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldiesmann Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 It's the first launched wood coaster, though the closure this time around has nothing to do with the launch system. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AintNutinElse2Do Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Ugh, on that Toilet Paper Residue site there's a picture from an Instagram account showing lots of smoke at the start of the launch. My heart will ache if this turns into a Timber Tower situation. Don't know Huss to blame this time. Edited to add picture so you don't have to go to that Bob Avery site. Also hope this counts to give proper credit as it shows the Instagram account holder who took the picture. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creed Bratton Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 LIM/LSM technology has been around over 2 decades now. Why is RMC suddenly having problems with it? The industry has launch coasters down to a science now. It isn't RMC that's directly having issues with LIM/LSMs it's a 3rd party, I believe Velocity Magnetics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joncars05 Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Are there still people thinking this is a minor issue??? This ride is Ssssssmokin! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freaks76 Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Oh man. That does not look good. So far that coaster has just been a mess. I'm gonna be good. I just hope........ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creed Bratton Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 May need to be renamed to "Hot Mess" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vortex lover Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Well let's just say Lightning Rod has a Fear of Flight (That was terrible) Vortex Lover, sprinting to the door! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt112986 Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 Well let's just say Lightning Rod has a Fear of Flight (That was terrible) Vortex Lover, sprinting to the door! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Sprinting to the fire door? 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gad198 Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 This is not a ringing endorsement of that manufacturer. I'm glad that this was brought out, because this is one of the most overlooked things in this whole situation. There are a lot of people who are only looking at this in a vacuum - i.e., how these issues are affecting this particular ride. What some may not realize is that the whole industry is watching this saga unfold. There are two main issues here: Whether RMC is directly at fault for these setbacks are not, it's happening on one of their rides. Park operators aren't going to spend time to try and decipher which of the various parties associated with this ride are at fault. Most park operators simply see that this is an RMC coaster and it's not working as it should. This is a hit to their reputation - whether it's fair or not is another issue. RMC is now competing directly with the B&Ms of the world now. RMC coasters from the ground up now are being priced at $15 million and above. The reality is that there are only so many parks that are going to install a coaster in this price range, and RMC is competing against the best coaster manufacturer in the world - B&M. Parks want to know exactly what they're getting when they build a coaster at these price levels, and your reputation and past work goes a long way in determining who gets future business. Just ask Intamin. RMC rides are just really finicky. Outlaw Run and Goliath both suffer from frequent bouts of downtime. Three of their four 2016 rides are closed at the moment. Their trains are pretty restrictive and not really all that comfortable to ride in. I really like RMC coasters (all 6 I've ridden are in my top 30 coasters out of nearly 300) and I hope that they can right the ship, but their track record right now is cause for concern. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver2005 Posted June 21, 2016 Share Posted June 21, 2016 ^They are also competing against the wooden equivalent of B&M, GCI (since they are advertising their Topper Track as 'wood' coasters). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AintNutinElse2Do Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Doesn't seem like there was too much of a fire actually. Seems a motor overheated, not sure if one the LSM or kicker tires but see... http://www.local8now.com/content/news/Dollywood-spokesman-explains-smoke-seen-at-Lightning-Rod-383831761.html Edit: Seems Dollywood has recently filed a trademark for Camp DW. Looks like it will be kid activities. However I wonder if a campground is in the future resorts plan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengals fan Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Lightning Rod is testing again.I hope they get it figured out because it is a very fun ride. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brent Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Hearing that it's closed again. The official word is its back to technical rehearsal. It's been a rough "season" for the marque attraction for '16. If you add up all the actual run time for lightning rod since it "opened" it might add up to a week total. Oh. And don't call out Robb Alvey on TPR for not practicing what he preaches about being rude. He'll kick you off his little "chat site" quick as he can. Do as I say don't do as I do says Robb. I've never been rude or disrespectful. I guess he didn't like me pointing out that his essentially calling me stupid for highlighting the miscommunication from Dollywood about all the delays was uncalled for and exactly the type of behavior HE kicks others off for - Its a JOKE of a site anyway. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brent Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 edited 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creed Bratton Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 I'm estimating the total amount of time the ride has been up since "opening" is about 30% of the time. The current down time I've heard rumbling from is due to another restraint recall. At this point, I'd see Dollywood not paying for much of the ride at all. I'd look to see if it opens officially (without major downtime) before the 10 pm closes end. If not, I'd bet that they'd reintroduce the ride for 2017. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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