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Mean Streak RMC Conversion Update #4: Mid-Course Progress
Well, it happened.
You know that feeling you get when you see something you imagined in your mind come to life? Well, that's how coaster enthusiasts, myself included, should be feeling. Cedar Point has remained tight-lipped about the Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) conversion of their defunct wooden coaster, Mean Streak. But, only to an extent. Park staff have hinted at the conversion, including Tony Clark, who acknowledged tweets on Twitter asking about the matter. Now, the park just gave the largest clue in the history of this project, yet Cedar Point didn't say a word, but rather gave the clue through the actions of RMC. RMC has completed the bottom portion of a drop in a part of the new layout for RMC Mean Streak and the track leading into the element succeeding it. From what can be seen, ledgers without track on them at the top of the picture are banked outward, meaning that the element right after the first drop is gonna be something that we never expected.
I would like to address a rumor going around while I'm on the topic of RMC Mean Streak. Many people have been claiming that RMC Mean Streak will have a launched lift hill similar to Lightning Rod at Dollywood, and these people often use the launch they are speaking of as a reason for RMC Mean Streak not making rapid progress, and also why it isn't opening for another almost year-and a-half. Now, that would make sense as we've seen the prototype launched lift hill on Lightning Rod was not exactly successful, so waiting until 2018 when RMC could sort out the issues, along with the third party contractor that was hired for the launch, would provide a better and more reliable launch system. However, it's not happening.
As many of you may know, roller coasters with any type of launch system may roll back due to adverse conditions or improper power supply, meaning that a flat section of track would be required for the train to rollback on. As seen on Lightning Rod, the lift hill and a small section of flat track preceding it are used as a rollback block, and it's good that they are present as the launch on Lightning Rod is not the most reliable, as trains rollback on the launch almost daily. RMC Mean Streak would also need the same setup if it were to have an uphill launch, but, it doesn't. RMC Mean Streak's lift hill is preceded by a small series of bunny hills, so a launch would not work properly. Expect RMC Mean Streak to have a chain lift. Nonetheless, this coaster is one of the most anticipated in history.
Excited yet? You should be.
Read the other articles covering the RMC conversion of Mean Streak here.
Stay tuned to the Roller Coaster Daily Blog for more information about the Mean Streak RMC conversion by following us on Instagram (@rollercoasterdaily) and Facebook (Roller Coaster Daily), and following Chief Editor Caleb Keithley on Twitter (@calebkeithley). You can instantly follow these accounts by going to the social media logos at the top of the page.
Thanks to @sher.ry.ann for bringing these photos to my attention!
Photos courtesy of Mark McCreery
