Xcelerator

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Xcelerator
An Xcelerator train being launched
Location	Knott's Berry Farm
Park Section	The Boardwalk
Type	Steel - Launched
Status	Open
Opened	June 22, 2002
Manufacturer	Intamin AG
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Accelerator Coaster
Track layout	Dual Overbank Figure 8
Lift/launch system	Hydraulic launch
Height	205 ft (62.5 m)
Length	2202 ft (671.2 m)
Max speed	82 mph (132 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:02 (22 seconds from launch to brakes)
Max Vertical Angle	90 degrees
Capacity	1330 riders per hour
Cost	$13,000,000 USD
Acceleration	0 − 82 mph in 2.3 seconds
Xcelerator at RCDB
Pictures of Xcelerator at RCDB

Xcelerator is a steel launched roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. Xcelerator was Intamin AG's first hydraulically-launched coaster.

[edit] The Ride

Xcelerator's powerful hydraulic catapult motor accelerates the train to 82 MPH in 2.3 seconds. It only uses 157 feet of track to launch the train, making Xcelerator's launch one of the shortest, fastest, and most intense in the world. The hydraulic catapult motor achieves a maximum of 10,000 horsepower while accelerating the train. In order for a train to launch, it must "drift" back to "hook" into the catch car. A pin on the third car will drop, the brakes will lower while the train rolls back to hook, and the pin will then hook into the catch car -- which is over 7 feet long. Once connected, the motor will pull the catch car over nylon runners and launch the train. In order to stop the catch car, it passes over its own set of magnetic brakes. If the train is lightly loaded, the motor has to work harder to attain launch speed. Oftentimes the catch car may over shoot its ending position and down itself if it cannot attain the speed within parameters. The train must also clear the launch track within three seconds, or the ride will down itself and produce a short shot.

After launch, the train then crests a 205 ft tophat element, soars through two overbanked turns, and glides to a smooth stop over mounted magnetic brakes. The magnetic braking system consists of mounted magnetic calipers on the trains themselves, and copper alloy fins mounted onto the track. These alloy fins on the launch lower when launching as to not interfere with the train during launch, then to slow the train in case of a short shot, they raise section by section after the train has passed them. Other than several brake fins on the brake block, all other fins are stationary and cannot be lowered.

[edit] The Trains

Xcelerator's Red Train exits the first overbanked turn.

The ride has two trains: Purple Train and Red Train. The trains themselves have spring loaded wheel assemblies and are standard Intamin trains with specially crafted shells to make them look like 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertibles. Each train is 5 cars long and holds 20 passengers. A maximum of 2 trains may be operated at any given time. During the slow season, its not uncommon to see only one train in use; but during the summer and peak season, both trains are normally used.

[edit] Restraints

Xcelerator's trains use hydraulically-operated T-Bar lapbar restraints. These restraints appeared on Intamin's earlier accelerator coasters, but over-the-shoulder restraints are now the norm on any new accelerator coaster due to safety concerns. Xcelerator also has special meters installed on its restraints. The meter must show all green in order for a guest to ride. If the meter shows red, the guest cannot ride the attraction. The attraction also has seatbelts, which must be buckled before an operator pulls down on the lapbar. Failure to do so slows the load time of the attraction considerably.

[edit] Limitations

[edit] Short Shots

Every once in a while, a train will not attain enough speed to make it over the initial 205 foot tophat element. Instead, the train will partially ascend the tower, stall, and then roll back into magnetic brake fins situated on the launch track. This is known as a short shot or rollback, and is part of the normal design of the ride. A rollback can cause Xcelerator to close for an indefinite amount of time, while the ride is reset and a sufficient number of test launches are performed. While rain is usually the biggest culprit, it is not the only variable that will produce a short shot. Weight, frequency of launching, outside temperature, and overheating will also produce a short shot.

[edit] Weather

Xcelerator will not operate in the rain -- not even a drizzle. This is a direct result of the design of Intamin's launching mechanism. (Not to mention how painful it is for guests to have rain hit them in the face at 82 mph.) Once a shower clears, the ride must cycle several test shots without any problems before it can reopen.

[edit] Interesting Facts

Xcelerator's former Yellow Train (since repainted) cruises to a smooth stop on the magnetic brake run.

• Xcelerator opened June 22nd, 2002.
• Originally, Xcelerator's Red Train was a different color. When Xcelerator first opened, the Red Train was all yellow with red flames along the side. During one of the ride's rehabs, the yellow-colored train was repainted red and given orange flames, closely mimicking the style of the Purple Train.
• When the ride first opened, guests were not allowed to bring loose articles into the queue line. However, after the ride's second or third season, this rule was relaxed and guests were given cubbies in which to store their loose articles.
• Xcelerator's track color is actually Coral. While it may look pink during the day, at nighttime the track is distinctly more orange when lights shine on it.
• Xcelerator's "Christmas tree" starting lights are not synched with the ride itself. Occasionally, one may see the train leave the station on the second or third yellow light. Other times, the train may launch a full second after the green.
• Xcelerator was the fourth Intamin installation at Knott's. The other three were: The Sky Cabin, Bigfoot Rapids, and Perilous Plunge.
• Like many of Intamin's other similarly-sized accelererator coasters, Xcelerator launches right out of the station. In contrast, Top Thrill Dragster and Kingda Ka advance their trains from the station to the launch area before launching them. This is likely done to increase capacity, as Top Thrill Dragster can load two of its trains at once and Kingda Ka can load all four at once.

[edit] Xcelerator's Connection to TTD and Kingda Ka

Xcelerator paved the way for the two tallest and fastest coasters in the world: Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point and later Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure. While these coasters are over twice as tall and 1.5 times as fast as Xcelerator, their operation is exactly the same - just on a larger scale.

[edit] External links

• Xcelerator Pictures on Ultimate Rollercoaster.com.