The future of magnets and the roller coaster

[inspace]

I learned about MAGLEV trains (Magnetic Levitation train, which float on air and don't make contact with the track) in the 80's I have thought it would be amazing if someone would impliment this technology in the construction of a roller coaster. MAGLEV trains travel up to 300 miles per hour and the only friction that slows them is created from air resistance. I wonder how long it will be before the use of electomagnets on roller coaster surpasses the use of Linear Induction Motors and move on to utilize Magnetic Levitation Technology. There would be definate challenges involved such as having to build the coasters bigger and enclosing the coaster cars because of the speed, but I feel like the end result would be worth the hassle. There are other MAGLEV projects under development around the world. The biggest deturant currently has been cost. In 2004 the first commercial passenger MAGLEV train opened in Shanghai, China. It is the fastest passenger train in the world. China paid 10 Billion for their passanger size train which travels around 250 mph and covers the 20 mile journey between Pudong Interational Airport and Long Yang Road subway station on the outskirts of downtown in 7 minutes. It is said to be a very smooth ride/flight. The same trip takes 45 minutes by car.

[Gangsta Fruit 26]

That would be so gangsta if some dude created a ride like that

[FRD714]

Maybe someday sfgam will be the first to get a coaster like this.

[CoastsToCoasters]

Uh, yeah....no.
Not anytime soon. You dont hear much about the darn trains now, and you hope to see a coaster travel at that velocity, and oh yes....not be fixed to a track....

No, I think itll be way too long for us to see that, if that at all. It sounds too high in price and risky. Sorry, but dont count on a "maglev coaster" bud

MOD EDIT

[Galvan]

^ Please leave your negitive comments to yourself or use the PMs, and let the mods do the moderating thanks

[FParker185]

MagLev coaster is not physically possible.

Only reason it works on trains is it's long flat sections of track, if you were to introduce lateral and vertical forces, it'd bang all over the place as the magnetic field could not keep the coaster train in line with the track.

[inspace]

I didnt mean that it would be a coaster that would be at all comparable to what we are used to or that it would happen anytime in the near future; however i am positive we will see some sort of maglev coaster down the line, despite the opinions of the pesimist posters. It would obviously have to be somewhat flat, perhaps with rolling hills and no sharp curves, or maybe their use would be better to move you from one side of the park to the other like the train at sfgam.

[spanky21142]

Just to let everyone know this topic was brought up on Coasterbuzz a few years ago. I am not sure if it is still being worked on with S&S buying Arrow and all.

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?m ... picID=5686

[Trailblazer Tony]

I think this would be cool for Ohio. Since Cedar Fair owns Cedar Point and Geauga Lake, that would be the perfect thing to connect the parks and help Geauga Lake's attendance issues. That would be exciting!