➡ - 🎽 👕KEEP RIDIN' COASTERS MERCH 🎢 - themeparkmerch.myspreadshop.com/ Check out some cool coaster gear for you to wear at the parks! Thank you for all of the support! - Brandon
Replacing the wooden lift structure with a truss system would help eliminate sway which would help the magnets be more precise. Then get rid of the velocity magnetics launch because they have no idea what they’re doing and contract Indrivetec for a brand new launch system. Retrack the remaining topper track with ibox. Problem solved.
Another possible option would be replacing the wooden supports on the launch with a steel support structure. A major issue with the launch is the shaking of the wooden structure, since the launch fins need to be perfectly lined up. Replacing it with a steel structure should be able to prevent this from happening
I just rode it yesterday.. it was running fine. I haven’t heard any of these rumors.. and I know many people who work at the park. I CAN tell you, the park long term isn’t looking to completely refurbish or do anything more drastic, any “big” changes have already been done, they’re just happy to have a consistent (enough) ride for now.
With SDC announcing Fire in the Hole 2.0, I imagine Herschend will still continue to work with RMC to make adjustments to Lightning Rod. Maybe even retrack the rest of the ride
Retracking the rest of the ride was all but confirmed after the president of the park rode it after the hybrid sections were put in and he said "Oh yeah, the rest of that is gonna change soon."
People hate on this coaster with that altered launch now but it’s literally still the most forceful air time I have ever gotten on a ride. It’s up there with storm chaser and other ones. Even with the slow down at the top of the hill, this thing hauls. It’s a top five roller coaster for me
First things first, Dollywood should definitely replace the remaining Topper Track. From what I've heard, these sections are rough and cause headaches for the park. Next, they should investigate what is causing major unreliability (I doubt it's the launch) and fix the issue ASAP. It could be the structural integrity of the wooden supports (in which case should be swapped out for steel supports Voyage style). Who knows? Maybe one day Lrod will be hauling the mail once more...
i think they could just change the launch track supports to a trust lift support and give the ride brand new LSMs. i think that would help out the ride a lot.
Hasn’t Lightning Rod had issues with pot holes? I would think increasing the height of the lift hill, would increase the likelihood of potholes. I doubt they would do this, but if they wanted to keep a launch, they could change the support structure on the launch to steel. I have heard the reason they have issues with the launch is, due to the wood structure, it is hard to keep the LSM fins aligned.
100% agree. The things he’s said doesn’t make much sense. I say, keep the launch. Replace all the wood with steel track and then replace the wooden lift to make it steel, once again to keep it from swaying. Thus, fixing every problem but also keeping the launch.
I don't think they will replace the launched lift with a chain. It was one of the focal points of the ride. Per the interview in "That's how we roll" documentary, they wanted to simulate the feeling of accelerating up a sand dune.
Yeah you gotta think they put in a standard lift sooner than later. I think the wooden parts of the track are a much smaller issue but could see them being replaced eventually. Stinks to lose the launch, but I think it’s necessary for this to be relevant again. That extended lift would be NUTS but I am here for it
@@ThrillsofColdplay Agree! But I'd rather ride the ride without a launch then never ride it again because it's down more than it's running with a launch. It's near impossible to get a ride on this thing now unless you're a local or spend multiple days at the park.
@@devdevthrills Except it would be an entirely different ride if they got rid of the launch. Plus what made the coaster unique would go away. Just wouldn't be Lightning Rod anymore.
@@Jadentheman yeah for sure, I’d argue it’s not Lightning Rod right now either though cuz it’s never open. I’d take a downgraded lightning Rod o can ride over one I’ll probably never get to ride again because it doesn’t open.
Maybe a cable lift instead of a chain lift? Those seem to run a bit faster than chain lifts, so it could theoretically crest the hill with a bit more speed than a chain lift would allow. But in any case, increasing the height would only increase the speed of the ride and thus the strain on the structure, which has been a big issue already
This would be difficult, as if you examine intamin's cable lifts, the cable is fished down the drop support truss (on their steel coasters) and returns back to a pulley at the bottom of a lift (at least from what I've seen). Due to lightning rod being basically built on a mountain, you would not be able to fish the cable back in the same manner, and they may have trouble fitting a 1500 horsepower motor in. I do like the idea though and could see it working, but the reliability of a custom designed cable lift system is questionable.
Dollywood went cheap with the LSMs so they should fork up the money for Indrivetec. That's my best solution without knowing what exactly the issues are.
Replace the lift hill with one of their new steel trusses to prevent sway, replace the rest of the wood track with iBox, then set the launch back to (or close to) the way it used to run
This wouldn't help reliability, but changing park policy to allow to one or two relaunch atempts after a rollback could at least help throughput slightly rather than having to take time to evac everyone and cycle it several times for a rollback.
@@BluesCoasters Does lightning rod typically run in the rain anyway? It could be a great enough increase in reliability to justify the upgrade. (And an enclosed launch isn't out of the picture)
Violent wood coasters with steel supports always end up rough. Having those big steel braces on the track makes it more ridged causing all the forces to be sent to the train and track. Usually the wood suppirts buckling would act like suspension on a car. But the steel stops the wood from bending causing more wear on the track it self. Look at the most intense wood coasters with steel supports. Nost of them have vecome horribley rough.
so this is the second time they're going to RMC this RMC? how many times can one RMC an RMC? can't they do a cable lift like on Millennium Force? I think the 200 foot lift hill looks terrifying
I dont think it's so much the lsm's it's more the forces from the launch are way more than expected and make the structure sway and move alot which causes mistakes alignment faults on the lsm stators
Lightning Rod was great, but my favorite is Big Bear Mountain. When we arrived, we did go for LR 1st. I told my son we needed to get in line quick before it goes down. Sure enough, within the 1st 2 hours, it went down for pretty much the rest of the day. We did get to fit in one more lap when it opened later in the evening. The line was very slow moving.
rmc really needs to get a record of keeping a ride running without people getting injured accidents or general Maintenace, RMC is like a new car company trying to make a ford pinto a 500k car but it's still a old barely running ford pinto. No wonder why cedar point tossed them out unsafe and unreliable.
My question is, if the flexing of the wooden structure under the launch is causing problems. Why didn’t they build it out of steel or replace it with steel? Also if zamperla were to refurb it they better add a spinning cheese car
So they put TTD's hydraulic launch on Lightning Rod and confuse the entire world. In all seriousness, I'd say the most reasonable and reliable way to save Lightning Rod would be add a chain lift but increase the height of the first hump such that you hit the second one with the same speed as when the orginal launch would and then it completes its layout with that original speed.
Dollywood just announced that Lightning Rod will be changing to a high speed chain system. Ride is shutting down October 30th and won't reopen until spring (2024).
I was at the park last week. Rode Lightning Rod 14x. During one of its downtime moments I struck up a conversation with a ride operator who told me a chain lift was going to replace the launch after this season. Take that with a grain of salt, but I’m glad to have ridden it with a launch before the lift was reconfigured even if the launch is a bit neutered compared to when it first opened.
I just rode Lightning Rod, I was down a couple times but I'm not clear on the issue. Sure they could replace it all with iBox but what does that solve? it sounds like the issue is with the launch system.
To be honest lighting rod having having a launch hill is what makes lighting rod lighting rod but my idea was retracking it all with stealtop and make it a giga hybrid and speed up the launch to perhaps be the fastest hybrid and tallest coastsr
Lightning Rod is the biggest mess of a coaster in the entire world in my opinion. From the beginning, it suffered extreme downtime, and literally tore itself apart over time. In my most recent visit to Dollywood about 2 months ago, it was running one train that was missing the front of the zero car. I really wish they could do something to fix it, but also keep it as an incredible coaster.
1. Expand the station to add an offload platform to be able to run two trains effectively. 2. Replace the magnetic launch fins with liquid cooled versions.
I don’t feel that converting the remaining topper track to I-box would significantly help with downtime. Dollywood is my home park and during a Q&A about Lightning Rod with management they said the biggest cause of downtime is due to the fact that the launch can only move 1/16 of an inch before it causes a fault to be detected and the ride to go down. Since the coaster has a wooden structure, and wood is constantly expanding and contracting, it doesn’t take much of a temperature change to cause the launch to shift 1/16 of an inch. This makes sense because when I’m at the park it often goes down for a bit around lunch time, when temperatures start to rise.
They have to do something. A few weeks ago when we visited it went down 3 times in a day, including rolling back as I was walking to it in the evening. I never got to ride it. Thunderhead and Big Bear were awesome though.
In June of this year I attended coaster con through American coaster enthusiasts on Tuesday of the coaster con 45 I was on lightning rod at 10am about half way up the launch hill the train stopped then roll back down then we got evacuate off which was a fun experience getting a roll back and get evacuated off
Option 4... install a truss lift hill and rework the launch. The problem is the wooden lift hill. Too much flex and misalignment. Install a truss and I box the rest of it.
Idk, but I just went today and it was down a lot. It was down 3 times the first 3 or 4 hours it was open and then went down again around 3 and was closed until 6:35 the park closed at 7. And the wait was 60-70+ minutes when it was open. I wasn’t able to get back on it this year. Me saying all this I wish they would fix this launch system, and quit letting it be “okay” to run half like it’s supposed to, be unreliable, and only running one train!
The problem with the ride isn't the wood track, or the roughness, of any of that. It's the fact that the launch is on a wooden structure. Wood sways much easier than metal which is why lrod commonly fails to engage with the launch and has a rollback. If I were Dollywood, I'd tear down the launch and make it all steel, then paint it brown.
Id assume a similar lift structure to newer rmcs, like Wildcat, the launch would be significantly more reliable, the launch is what makes the ride so unique, I dont see them removing it unless absolutely necessary
I loved the last prediction and honestly i hope for it to happen but who knows if the og layout will change? Taller elements? Inversions? idk but i loved the last prediction! Keep on the good content
If they made the rest of the layout I-box then it would be tied with Thunderhead as being my favorite ride at the park rather than simply being slightly lower than Thunderhead.
Feel like it makes more sense to leave the lift hill the same-ish and remove the hump and extend the drop off the lift into a trench/tunnel to meet back up to the current pull out of the 1st real drop.
So I was having a conversation about this on a another group, the lightning rod launch is about 45 mph from the base of the life hill, have considered the possibility of a tire drive launch part way up the life hill like Hulk at IOA which lunches at 40 mph?
I really lucked out, I've only been to Dollywood once shortly after Lightning Rod opened and rode it twice. TBH I wasn't all that impressed. It's a good ride but I actually prefer Outlaw Run. It is odd they've had this much trouble with it. If it were up to me I'd call Premier to figure it out. If anyone knows launches it would be them.
I hate the chain lift idea for many reasons. I think they should give up the hybrid concept and completely make it fully steel. Steel supports with even more trusses on the lift to reduce the sway. Amp the launch back up with the improved structure and its a win win!
couldnt they just ibox the launch to stop the warping of the wood so the magnets on the launch can be more accurate and do that truss thing theyve done on iron gwazi for the sway???
I can see them going to a chain lift and just re-profiling the first hill to be a lil taller. That way they could give it the added shove it needs to get over the second hump, while keeping the first intended speeds of the original. It would be a double down more or less.
Also, I have been to Dollywood 5 times this year and every time its been open all day with minimal closures if at all. So I’m also not completely sure where the unreliable comments are coming from. It’s as reliable as any other coaster using LSM launches. It’s down as much as something like maverick is. It’s just gotten a bad wrap after it’s first few years
Converting Lightning Rod to a hyper hybrid seems completely unfeasible. Doing so would dramatically increase the speed of the ride, probably well beyond that most of the ride's elements are designed around. The only way that kind of modification would work would be if they also substantially modified and probably also extended the layout, on top of reinforcing much of the existing support structure. While such an overhaul would be completely bonkers insane, it would basically be RMC'ing an RMC. It would turn a fantastic ride into an absolute elite one, but the cost and effort required just don't seem worth it. At that rate theyd be better off investing in a new ride altogether. Just let Intamin play around in the mountains a bit.
What about converting Lightning Rod into the first ever RMC Giga?? I know that skipping Hyper and going straight to Giga would be a huge jump but I could honestly see it happening here.
could it be possible to simply replace the current lsm system with a newer, more reliable system? i don't think newer lsm coasters tend to be as unreliable as lightning rod, so perhaps that would be the simplest solution
I know other manufacturers haven’t worked with cable lifts other than Intamin, but that could atleast get the train up the hill much faster than a chain lift. Alternatively, the lift hill could be increased a bit higher than the second hump and it would run just fine.
My predictions: 1. Remove the launch & re-profile any needed sections. I agree that if they go this route, they will need to re-work the dip section in some way. 2. replace all needed track with I-Box track and re-enforce any needed sections. This should correct the ride.
I could see them going with options 2 and 3. It'll be nostalgic to talk about how it used to be like TTD, but it'll give the coaster a life and I'm sure it will still rock.
Here is my take. I believe converting the ride into a hybrid coaster by replacing the old track with an iBox Track and reinforcing areas with steel supports in locations where riders experience high positive and high negative g-forces would result in making the ride more reliable. However, even though these modifications could contribute to Lightning Rod operating again at the intended design speed, I do not feel like these modifications are enough to make the ride more reliable, as the main issue seems to be the Launch System, which holds both uniqueness and iconic value due to its uphill launch that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Addressing the launch issue, I currently envision two potential options, both of which would only work if RMC would be willing to collaborate with another company. As Alan Schilike not only designs roller coasters for RMC but also for S&S, he could serve as a bridge for RMC to collaborate with S&S. This way, RMC could rework and redesign the ride while S&S could bring in their expertise to fix the launch by either replacing the launch with an LSM Launch or an intense Air-Launch that adds further excitement to the already insane ride experience of Lightning Rod. Alternatively, I could also see RMC working together with Vekoma on Lightning Rod, as RMC has already worked with Vekoma in the past on several projects in Europe. This way, RMC could rework and redesign the ride, while Vekoma could come in with their expertise by upgrading the Launch System to a modern LSM Launch or LAM Launch to make the ride more reliable.
I think they will try everything they are able to make lightning rod work without making drastic changes like taking out the launched hill. That's one of of not THE signature of the ride, and there's nothing else like it on the planet. However, knowing what I've learned recently about how LIMs and LSMs work and what they need to work well, seems to show the oversight that RMC had with this ambitious idea. If they do make drastic changes I definitely think it's going to be a chain lift hill with more height, although I don't think it's going to be that much higher because it's going to be way too expensive to modify the rest of the ride just to make a taller height lift hill. I think what they would do with the chain lift idea is bring it high enough to match the original ferocity that followed, and then reprofile the first drop to keep it exciting and still safe.
Seeing as RMC used a company to build the launch that never had before this ride that’s the issue. How about contact the company that does the lsm launches for Intamin, Gerstlauer or Vekoma and just swap that out; since those launch systems never seem to have the issues this one does.
A) Swap the chain lift for a Cable lift aka Intamin. B) Increase the lift height minimum needed to clear next hill. C) Then install brakes for poor choice in B.
Why instead of retracking over half the track would you not just make the launch the steel track which would get rid of their launch issue. Because isn’t the issue have to do with the flex in the wood. Nothing makes sense anymore.
Removing the launched lift hill would make it like the 3rd best coaster in the park. The whole point of the ride is the launch uphill. I rather them just remove the ride vs a chain lift hill. Bigger drop might negate the removal of the launch but the stress of the increased speed might be an issue as well. Just a big mess.
I rode it for the first time this year and replaced it with a chain lift would make sense, honestly the launch felt really pointless. I don't know if lighting rod is just significant tamer now then it used to be but honestly I was really disappointed in it, it's probably the lowest ranked rmc I've been on. I think they could have some trouble selling removing the lanch as a positive since the launch is advertised in all the marketing and merch for it, but if they make it taller that would probably help them sell it as a positive
➡ - 🎽 👕KEEP RIDIN' COASTERS MERCH 🎢 - themeparkmerch.myspreadshop.com/ Check out some cool coaster gear for you to wear at the parks! Thank you for all of the support! - Brandon
Replacing the wooden lift structure with a truss system would help eliminate sway which would help the magnets be more precise. Then get rid of the velocity magnetics launch because they have no idea what they’re doing and contract Indrivetec for a brand new launch system. Retrack the remaining topper track with ibox. Problem solved.
InDriveTec should’ve been used to begin with 😕
100000% agreed it would also look so cool
The Velocity Magnets system was one of the very first things replaced ages ago.
@@ItsDannyRobbins really? replaced when and with what?
Another possible option would be replacing the wooden supports on the launch with a steel support structure. A major issue with the launch is the shaking of the wooden structure, since the launch fins need to be perfectly lined up. Replacing it with a steel structure should be able to prevent this from happening
This makes the most sense vs what this video has said.
@@Jake-um5fx Sometimes what he says never makes sense tbh...
Yes came to put the same. Use the Truss hill like they just used to Wildcat's Revenge, problem solved and probably cheaper than making 1 big hill.
Ok
Yes. This is what I thought he was saving until last.
I just rode it yesterday.. it was running fine. I haven’t heard any of these rumors.. and I know many people who work at the park.
I CAN tell you, the park long term isn’t looking to completely refurbish or do anything more drastic, any “big” changes have already been done, they’re just happy to have a consistent (enough) ride for now.
With SDC announcing Fire in the Hole 2.0, I imagine Herschend will still continue to work with RMC to make adjustments to Lightning Rod. Maybe even retrack the rest of the ride
Agreed
Put in some more to make it a little longer.
I’d definitely love to see that happen.
I agree!
Retracking the rest of the ride was all but confirmed after the president of the park rode it after the hybrid sections were put in and he said "Oh yeah, the rest of that is gonna change soon."
I think the best solution is to replace the structure of the launch hill as the sway jeopardizes the required preciseness of the LSM.
But what iff the launch not strong g enuff. I feel like making o e drop n taller then ibox it is the wave hole track new wildcat hershey park
@@neochoc2005What
Wow. Maybe a new launch system.
I would like to see that before it gets torn down
That’s what it really needs or at least the lift should have been rebuilt fully as steel.
Tire drive launch
People hate on this coaster with that altered launch now but it’s literally still the most forceful air time I have ever gotten on a ride. It’s up there with storm chaser and other ones. Even with the slow down at the top of the hill, this thing hauls. It’s a top five roller coaster for me
It’s sooo good! I still love it!
First things first, Dollywood should definitely replace the remaining Topper Track. From what I've heard, these sections are rough and cause headaches for the park. Next, they should investigate what is causing major unreliability (I doubt it's the launch) and fix the issue ASAP. It could be the structural integrity of the wooden supports (in which case should be swapped out for steel supports Voyage style). Who knows? Maybe one day Lrod will be hauling the mail once more...
i think they could just change the launch track supports to a trust lift support and give the ride brand new LSMs. i think that would help out the ride a lot.
I don’t see why they can’t just get a new more reliable launch system
Hasn’t Lightning Rod had issues with pot holes? I would think increasing the height of the lift hill, would increase the likelihood of potholes. I doubt they would do this, but if they wanted to keep a launch, they could change the support structure on the launch to steel. I have heard the reason they have issues with the launch is, due to the wood structure, it is hard to keep the LSM fins aligned.
100% agree. The things he’s said doesn’t make much sense. I say, keep the launch. Replace all the wood with steel track and then replace the wooden lift to make it steel, once again to keep it from swaying. Thus, fixing every problem but also keeping the launch.
the mjaor issue with LR is the launch system the launch system has always been this coaster biggiest issue
rumor is dollywood wants the liuanch gone @@MatthewCofer
There's just one pot hole after the first turn but it's not to bad. Just in the back cars.
It needs a full i box retrack
I don't think they will replace the launched lift with a chain. It was one of the focal points of the ride. Per the interview in "That's how we roll" documentary, they wanted to simulate the feeling of accelerating up a sand dune.
Yeah you gotta think they put in a standard lift sooner than later. I think the wooden parts of the track are a much smaller issue but could see them being replaced eventually. Stinks to lose the launch, but I think it’s necessary for this to be relevant again.
That extended lift would be NUTS but I am here for it
That would suck if the launch goes away
@@ThrillsofColdplay Agree! But I'd rather ride the ride without a launch then never ride it again because it's down more than it's running with a launch. It's near impossible to get a ride on this thing now unless you're a local or spend multiple days at the park.
@@devdevthrills Except it would be an entirely different ride if they got rid of the launch. Plus what made the coaster unique would go away. Just wouldn't be Lightning Rod anymore.
@@Jadentheman yeah for sure, I’d argue it’s not Lightning Rod right now either though cuz it’s never open. I’d take a downgraded lightning Rod o can ride over one I’ll probably never get to ride again because it doesn’t open.
Maybe a cable lift instead of a chain lift? Those seem to run a bit faster than chain lifts, so it could theoretically crest the hill with a bit more speed than a chain lift would allow. But in any case, increasing the height would only increase the speed of the ride and thus the strain on the structure, which has been a big issue already
This would be difficult, as if you examine intamin's cable lifts, the cable is fished down the drop support truss (on their steel coasters) and returns back to a pulley at the bottom of a lift (at least from what I've seen). Due to lightning rod being basically built on a mountain, you would not be able to fish the cable back in the same manner, and they may have trouble fitting a 1500 horsepower motor in. I do like the idea though and could see it working, but the reliability of a custom designed cable lift system is questionable.
Dollywood went cheap with the LSMs so they should fork up the money for Indrivetec. That's my best solution without knowing what exactly the issues are.
Replace the lift hill with one of their new steel trusses to prevent sway, replace the rest of the wood track with iBox, then set the launch back to (or close to) the way it used to run
This wouldn't help reliability, but changing park policy to allow to one or two relaunch atempts after a rollback could at least help throughput slightly rather than having to take time to evac everyone and cycle it several times for a rollback.
I was just at dollywood and lightening rod had 2 trains running
I wonder how reliable a tire launch system would be? Something like Incredible Hulk. Any thoughts, Brandon?
Great idea! Could work!
I haven’t ridden Lightning Rod yet but I have ridden Incredible Hulk so I think that would be cool
Problem with tire drive launches is that they can’t run in the rain
@@BluesCoasters Does lightning rod typically run in the rain anyway? It could be a great enough increase in reliability to justify the upgrade. (And an enclosed launch isn't out of the picture)
@@nesmanmain0001 it does but on one train since the holding break before the station are just drive tires it can slip easily.
Violent wood coasters with steel supports always end up rough. Having those big steel braces on the track makes it more ridged causing all the forces to be sent to the train and track. Usually the wood suppirts buckling would act like suspension on a car. But the steel stops the wood from bending causing more wear on the track it self. Look at the most intense wood coasters with steel supports. Nost of them have vecome horribley rough.
Lrod was easily already going over 80+ at the bottom of the ‘Dolly’ with the original launch speed. And yes, those two hills are nicknamed the ‘Dolly’
Ode to Parton humps
so this is the second time they're going to RMC this RMC? how many times can one RMC an RMC? can't they do a cable lift like on Millennium Force? I think the 200 foot lift hill looks terrifying
I feel like its slightly possible to replace the structure under the launch with a steel truss to make it more rigid and thus reliable
RMC works in Europe close with Vekoma, why not replace the LSM's with those from Vekoma?
I dont think it's so much the lsm's it's more the forces from the launch are way more than expected and make the structure sway and move alot which causes mistakes alignment faults on the lsm stators
Lightning Rod was great, but my favorite is Big Bear Mountain. When we arrived, we did go for LR 1st. I told my son we needed to get in line quick before it goes down. Sure enough, within the 1st 2 hours, it went down for pretty much the rest of the day. We did get to fit in one more lap when it opened later in the evening. The line was very slow moving.
rmc really needs to get a record of keeping a ride running without people getting injured accidents or general Maintenace, RMC is like a new car company trying to make a ford pinto a 500k car but it's still a old barely running ford pinto. No wonder why cedar point tossed them out unsafe and unreliable.
I've long said everyone loves a Schilke design-- until they have to pay for it.
What's odd about it is Six Flags built a ton of them and we never really heard anything negative, outside of the Texas Giant incident.
@@oblivieon1567 same
Twisted Colossus runs just fine. 🤷🏻♂️
My question is, if the flexing of the wooden structure under the launch is causing problems. Why didn’t they build it out of steel or replace it with steel?
Also if zamperla were to refurb it they better add a spinning cheese car
Im going to Dollywood in early October… do you think it will still be open then?
7:17 exactly what I was thinking
RMC Lightning Rod confirmed
After top thrill 2, I’m over getting my hopes up
So they put TTD's hydraulic launch on Lightning Rod and confuse the entire world.
In all seriousness, I'd say the most reasonable and reliable way to save Lightning Rod would be add a chain lift but increase the height of the first hump such that you hit the second one with the same speed as when the orginal launch would and then it completes its layout with that original speed.
Dollywood just announced that Lightning Rod will be changing to a high speed chain system. Ride is shutting down October 30th and won't reopen until spring (2024).
Beautiful
I hope i can get back to Dollywood before it closes. Every ride counts
I really wanna know how they make that cinnamon bread, it looks sooooo good 😭
I got so distracted thinking about that cinnamon bread recipe. 😉🤔
What about the idea of a cable lift system or a lift system like i305? Those are pretty quick.
Maybe so
Why’d you reupload the first Dollywood ranking video?
messed up on a 1 graphic smh
I was at the park last week. Rode Lightning Rod 14x. During one of its downtime moments I struck up a conversation with a ride operator who told me a chain lift was going to replace the launch after this season. Take that with a grain of salt, but I’m glad to have ridden it with a launch before the lift was reconfigured even if the launch is a bit neutered compared to when it first opened.
I just rode Lightning Rod, I was down a couple times but I'm not clear on the issue. Sure they could replace it all with iBox but what does that solve? it sounds like the issue is with the launch system.
What if Ty hey added a pre-drop. I’m just saying that could have some crazy airtime.
Would be wild!
To be honest lighting rod having having a launch hill is what makes lighting rod lighting rod but my idea was retracking it all with stealtop and make it a giga hybrid and speed up the launch to perhaps be the fastest hybrid and tallest coastsr
Lightning Rod is the biggest mess of a coaster in the entire world in my opinion. From the beginning, it suffered extreme downtime, and literally tore itself apart over time. In my most recent visit to Dollywood about 2 months ago, it was running one train that was missing the front of the zero car. I really wish they could do something to fix it, but also keep it as an incredible coaster.
Dont believe theyve had the fronts on any of the trains in years
1. Expand the station to add an offload platform to be able to run two trains effectively. 2. Replace the magnetic launch fins with liquid cooled versions.
Add a chain lift and make the lift hill taller…
I don’t feel that converting the remaining topper track to I-box would significantly help with downtime. Dollywood is my home park and during a Q&A about Lightning Rod with management they said the biggest cause of downtime is due to the fact that the launch can only move 1/16 of an inch before it causes a fault to be detected and the ride to go down. Since the coaster has a wooden structure, and wood is constantly expanding and contracting, it doesn’t take much of a temperature change to cause the launch to shift 1/16 of an inch. This makes sense because when I’m at the park it often goes down for a bit around lunch time, when temperatures start to rise.
They have to do something. A few weeks ago when we visited it went down 3 times in a day, including rolling back as I was walking to it in the evening. I never got to ride it. Thunderhead and Big Bear were awesome though.
Really wondering how these RMC's will stand the test of time
Or maybe they could use a more stable steel structure like Zadra and change the launch system?
In June of this year I attended coaster con through American coaster enthusiasts on Tuesday of the coaster con 45 I was on lightning rod at 10am about half way up the launch hill the train stopped then roll back down then we got evacuate off which was a fun experience getting a roll back and get evacuated off
Absolutely love your last option. You should get on the phone with Dollywood right now. 2 Words Absolutely Outstanding
went on opening weekend this year and it was running 2 trains
250-ft, 80-mph Lightning Rod? Yes, please! 🙏 🤞 👍
Option 4... install a truss lift hill and rework the launch. The problem is the wooden lift hill. Too much flex and misalignment. Install a truss and I box the rest of it.
Idk, but I just went today and it was down a lot. It was down 3 times the first 3 or 4 hours it was open and then went down again around 3 and was closed until 6:35 the park closed at 7. And the wait was 60-70+ minutes when it was open. I wasn’t able to get back on it this year. Me saying all this I wish they would fix this launch system, and quit letting it be “okay” to run half like it’s supposed to, be unreliable, and only running one train!
Let's hope because it was down for days when I was there
They should replace the launch with all steel to prevent the lsm's from flexing out of position with temperature changes.
The problem with the ride isn't the wood track, or the roughness, of any of that. It's the fact that the launch is on a wooden structure. Wood sways much easier than metal which is why lrod commonly fails to engage with the launch and has a rollback. If I were Dollywood, I'd tear down the launch and make it all steel, then paint it brown.
Id assume a similar lift structure to newer rmcs, like Wildcat, the launch would be significantly more reliable, the launch is what makes the ride so unique, I dont see them removing it unless absolutely necessary
Use the same chain that is used on Tornado at Bakken. A super large version of that would solve all their problems! Simple and genius!
I loved the last prediction and honestly i hope for it to happen but who knows if the og layout will change? Taller elements? Inversions? idk but i loved the last prediction! Keep on the good content
Thank you! :)
So if zamperla adds a reverse spike to it...would it be a real lightning rod???
Lol
If they made the rest of the layout I-box then it would be tied with Thunderhead as being my favorite ride at the park rather than simply being slightly lower than Thunderhead.
Feel like it makes more sense to leave the lift hill the same-ish and remove the hump and extend the drop off the lift into a trench/tunnel to meet back up to the current pull out of the 1st real drop.
Specifically, WHY is the coaster running only 1 train so often? You didn’t explain the exact cause of that or what would be the solution for that.
So I was having a conversation about this on a another group, the lightning rod launch is about 45 mph from the base of the life hill, have considered the possibility of a tire drive launch part way up the life hill like Hulk at IOA which lunches at 40 mph?
Could very well happen
I really lucked out, I've only been to Dollywood once shortly after Lightning Rod opened and rode it twice. TBH I wasn't all that impressed. It's a good ride but I actually prefer Outlaw Run. It is odd they've had this much trouble with it. If it were up to me I'd call Premier to figure it out. If anyone knows launches it would be them.
Very good points!
I hate the chain lift idea for many reasons. I think they should give up the hybrid concept and completely make it fully steel. Steel supports with even more trusses on the lift to reduce the sway. Amp the launch back up with the improved structure and its a win win!
Could they add a chain and lower the 2nd hump into a stall drop?
couldnt they just ibox the launch to stop the warping of the wood so the magnets on the launch can be more accurate and do that truss thing theyve done on iron gwazi for the sway???
Time to replace the launch with a lift hill
I think Dollywood put a cable Lift instead of a chain they also put inversions in it
I can see them going to a chain lift and just re-profiling the first hill to be a lil taller. That way they could give it the added shove it needs to get over the second hump, while keeping the first intended speeds of the original. It would be a double down more or less.
A, install a steel truss lift
B, continue iboxing the rest of the layout.
C, consider steel support beams in high stress areas ala Gwazi.
Done.
Also, I have been to Dollywood 5 times this year and every time its been open all day with minimal closures if at all. So I’m also not completely sure where the unreliable comments are coming from. It’s as reliable as any other coaster using LSM launches. It’s down as much as something like maverick is. It’s just gotten a bad wrap after it’s first few years
I think they are going to replace the launch system and then replace all the wood track to make it a complete hybrid!
Converting Lightning Rod to a hyper hybrid seems completely unfeasible. Doing so would dramatically increase the speed of the ride, probably well beyond that most of the ride's elements are designed around. The only way that kind of modification would work would be if they also substantially modified and probably also extended the layout, on top of reinforcing much of the existing support structure. While such an overhaul would be completely bonkers insane, it would basically be RMC'ing an RMC. It would turn a fantastic ride into an absolute elite one, but the cost and effort required just don't seem worth it. At that rate theyd be better off investing in a new ride altogether. Just let Intamin play around in the mountains a bit.
I would love for a intamin terrain coaster :)
RMC the RMC! Love your idea, Brandon. I vote Option 3 and making it a larger first drop.
What about converting Lightning Rod into the first ever RMC Giga?? I know that skipping Hyper and going straight to Giga would be a huge jump but I could honestly see it happening here.
Ha love it
could it be possible to simply replace the current lsm system with a newer, more reliable system? i don't think newer lsm coasters tend to be as unreliable as lightning rod, so perhaps that would be the simplest solution
I know other manufacturers haven’t worked with cable lifts other than Intamin, but that could atleast get the train up the hill much faster than a chain lift. Alternatively, the lift hill could be increased a bit higher than the second hump and it would run just fine.
My predictions:
1. Remove the launch & re-profile any needed sections. I agree that if they go this route, they will need to re-work the dip section in some way.
2. replace all needed track with I-Box track and re-enforce any needed sections.
This should correct the ride.
I would replace the launch with a cable lift system. That way you can almost match the speed of the launch. I do love your hyper idea.
I must’ve went on a lucky day, it had 3 hours worth of downtime but had 2 trains all day. I got a total of 4 rides that day
I could see them going with options 2 and 3. It'll be nostalgic to talk about how it used to be like TTD, but it'll give the coaster a life and I'm sure it will still rock.
If that thing had a 250' drop the quad would rip people in half at the torso. Even now that thing still packs a major punch.
Here is my take. I believe converting the ride into a hybrid coaster by replacing the old track with an iBox Track and reinforcing areas with steel supports in locations where riders experience high positive and high negative g-forces would result in making the ride more reliable.
However, even though these modifications could contribute to Lightning Rod operating again at the intended design speed, I do not feel like these modifications are enough to make the ride more reliable, as the main issue seems to be the Launch System, which holds both uniqueness and iconic value due to its uphill launch that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Addressing the launch issue, I currently envision two potential options, both of which would only work if RMC would be willing to collaborate with another company.
As Alan Schilike not only designs roller coasters for RMC but also for S&S, he could serve as a bridge for RMC to collaborate with S&S. This way, RMC could rework and redesign the ride while S&S could bring in their expertise to fix the launch by either replacing the launch with an LSM Launch or an intense Air-Launch that adds further excitement to the already insane ride experience of Lightning Rod.
Alternatively, I could also see RMC working together with Vekoma on Lightning Rod, as RMC has already worked with Vekoma in the past on several projects in Europe. This way, RMC could rework and redesign the ride, while Vekoma could come in with their expertise by upgrading the Launch System to a modern LSM Launch or LAM Launch to make the ride more reliable.
I think they will try everything they are able to make lightning rod work without making drastic changes like taking out the launched hill. That's one of of not THE signature of the ride, and there's nothing else like it on the planet. However, knowing what I've learned recently about how LIMs and LSMs work and what they need to work well, seems to show the oversight that RMC had with this ambitious idea.
If they do make drastic changes I definitely think it's going to be a chain lift hill with more height, although I don't think it's going to be that much higher because it's going to be way too expensive to modify the rest of the ride just to make a taller height lift hill. I think what they would do with the chain lift idea is bring it high enough to match the original ferocity that followed, and then reprofile the first drop to keep it exciting and still safe.
Seeing as RMC used a company to build the launch that never had before this ride that’s the issue. How about contact the company that does the lsm launches for Intamin, Gerstlauer or Vekoma and just swap that out; since those launch systems never seem to have the issues this one does.
A) Swap the chain lift for a Cable lift aka Intamin. B) Increase the lift height minimum needed to clear next hill. C) Then install brakes for poor choice in B.
Why instead of retracking over half the track would you not just make the launch the steel track which would get rid of their launch issue. Because isn’t the issue have to do with the flex in the wood. Nothing makes sense anymore.
That’s easy. Keep the launch replace the rest of the wood track with the eye box track, and then we’re set
Removing the launched lift hill would make it like the 3rd best coaster in the park. The whole point of the ride is the launch uphill. I rather them just remove the ride vs a chain lift hill. Bigger drop might negate the removal of the launch but the stress of the increased speed might be an issue as well. Just a big mess.
Personally, I think they should remove the wood supports on the launch and replace it with steel and replace all the topper track with ibox.
I rode it for the first time this year and replaced it with a chain lift would make sense, honestly the launch felt really pointless. I don't know if lighting rod is just significant tamer now then it used to be but honestly I was really disappointed in it, it's probably the lowest ranked rmc I've been on. I think they could have some trouble selling removing the lanch as a positive since the launch is advertised in all the marketing and merch for it, but if they make it taller that would probably help them sell it as a positive
Rode this for the 1st time this year and wow this thing is amazing.
I heard there were some rumors that of it changing the launch to a lift hill.
I was at great adventure today (sfga) and ka broke down not once not twice but 3 times during the day and el toro got stuck on its lift 💀
Bummer sorry