Vortex

[screamingnight]

I have always wondered what would happen if a wheel broke when Vortex is going through an inversion or any other part of the track. I know its kinda of a dumb question but I have always been curious and it has been driving me crazy!

[teenageninja]

More than likely nothing. There would be three other wheels of it's type (running, guide, or upstop) for that car, I dont' think it would be much of an issue.

[Braves0511]

Except when the pieces smack someone in the face...that would suck would what's left of the wheel still on the car catch the track and one tear the track and train up...but also slow it down a lot?

[Great America Guy]

^ Just like Demon at SFGAm. The broken pieces caught a track tie, thus jamming the train upside down in a loop for 4 hours.

[PKIVortex]

I have heard Vortex lossing a wheel before during the ride. I'm sure it could happen, you just don't want an axle to fail, then you would have a problem.

[TheKlockster]

Nothing would/has happen(d). They would/do close and fix it and everything would/is be peachy keen.

[flightoffear1996]

If a wheel broke the ride probaly just wouldn't make it around the course.

[pkifootballer]

The ride has 5 other wheels on the car that insure safety in the ride. Issues like that come into consideration when they build the ride; they make several modifications to the wheels so that an issue like the wheel breaking don't happen

[RailRider]

Also if properly maintained an issue with the wheels should be noticed before one either disentagrates or just falls off. Just stating the obvious.

[mutedarkness]

They should theme Vortext like Devil's flight from Final destination 3. Looks very alike

[screamingnight]

They should theme Vortext like Devil's flight from Final destination 3. Looks very alike

Nobody would ride it.

[flightoffear1996]

I would ride it but its not even close to The Vortex.

[The Interpreter]

I HAVE ridden that coaster. It's at PNE Playland in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It's quite fun, but bears little resemblance to Vortex.

For one thing, it's a Vekoma. For another, it's painted much more like the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags in New Jersey (one reason it was picked). It also used to operate at Boblo Island, near Detroit. Here's Corkscrew, the coaster in question:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig319.htm?picture=5

[flightoffear1996]

Is this a traveling coaster?

[TheKlockster]

If a wheel broke the ride probaly just wouldn't make it around the course.

Actually it does.

[Shaggy]

Vortex DOES lose wheels from time to time. Well, actually, it loses it's "tires." The wheels are coated with a rubberized polyurethane that over time wears and can strip off much like a blown tire on the road.

When I worked at PKI years ago, and was on Beast crew, we would occasionally hear one blow or hear the sound of a running train that had a blown wheel. When we heard it, we'd simply call The Vortex station and they'd cycle off the train for maintenance.

Shaggy

[TheKlockster]

Very well put. I once went in on my day off and rode Beast and heard the THWACK THWACK THWACK coming from Vortex as the train dropped. But the train was empty so they were already aware of the situation.

I saw it several times - and it typically only shuts the ride down for 5-10 minutes. The train has no problem making it around the track - even empty. But they still fix it right away.

Those little tiny wheels get HOT. Don't know how much detail I can go into - but basically the wheel has a small radius - so considering the train moves at 55mph it heats up. This can cause the vinyl or whatever it is (it feels like really really hard plastic) to heat up and come off. But theres plenty of spare wheels - as it is something that is inevitably going to happen. Some parks even give blown wheels out at enthusiast events since coaster nerds like that kind of stuff. A friend of mine has a wheel from Superman: Ride of Steel at SFNE.

[RailRider]

The wheels are either nylon or vinyl. Im surprised there hasnt been more work done in developing stronger and more durable wheels. Especially with the speeds some of the newer coasters have acheived. I would think paying a little more for wheels upfront and having them last longer would be more economical than having cheaper wheels that you replace more often.

[PKIDelirium]

The wheels are a type of nylon. Polyurethane I believe.

[TOPGUN1993]

Are these Vortex wheels? Pic

[TheKlockster]

Dunno - but this is.

[Gordon Bombay]

Vortex DOES lose wheels from time to time. Well, actually, it loses it's "tires." The wheels are coated with a rubberized polyurethane that over time wears and can strip off much like a blown tire on the road.

When I worked at PKI years ago, and was on Beast crew, we would occasionally hear one blow or hear the sound of a running train that had a blown wheel. When we heard it, we'd simply call The Vortex station and they'd cycle off the train for maintenance.

Shaggy

Speaking from similar personal experience, that is one of the the worst sounds in the world.

[TheKlockster]

I've heard worse.

[RailRider]

Seriously probably nothing more unnerving than ridding a steel multi looper when it sheds a wheel. Bet that makes a heck of a sound and racked, with a real nice thud. I always thought it would be horrible to be stuck upside down partially through an inversion just hanging in your restraints. Thats one thing I have never experienced while ridding a coaster

[flightoffear1996]

O thats pretty cool then.