Firehawk's Trains

[cincyboy0830]

Does anybody know if those are the original trains or are they brand new? I love how the yellow contrasts with the red track.

[Gordon Bombay]

They are the same trains that the ride used when it was known as X flight up at Geauga Lake.

[pyrocoasterkid]

They look painted though. Is that true?

[Beastly1992]

Yes, that is true.

[PKIVortex]

Painted or new fiberglass?

[BoddaH1994]

Painted or new fiberglass?

Probably new fiberglass. The trains have had a major overhaul with new restraints and a whole new wiring system.

[theparkb.]

Painted or new fiberglass?

Probably new fiberglass. The trains have had a major overhaul with new restraints and a whole new wiring system.

they were painted - no new glass

[PKIDelirium]

What's up with the kicker wheels sticking out the sides? Per the latest photos here, they're running over the concrete part of the station platform when the trains are in the station.

[theparkb.]

huh? kicker wheels? - what- u lost me

[PKIDelirium]

Small white wheels on the sides of the cars.

Seen here:

And here sticking out over the platform:

[SOB_TOM]

Those are not kicker wheels. Those actually operate the reclining action of the seats.

There are metal plates embedded in the station floor. These are driven up either pneumatically or hydraulically, pushing those wheels up. This tilts the seats to a slightly reclined, sitting up posistion. When the train dispatches, these plates withdrawl into the floor and the seats tilt to the lying down posistion.

I have heard that the origonal design of Fire-Flight had these wheels following a track all the way up the lift hill, keeping you in the sitting up posistion until you are at the top, where it would then recline, but apparently this did not work out.