How cold is too cold for roller coasters?

[Aaron084]

We're planning on going to Fright Fest on Friday and the low temperature shows 34 degrees - pretty close to freezing. Do any of the coasters have a limit as to how cold of weather they can operate in? I've never been there when it's that cold.

[SFGAm Shock Wave]

Deja Vu has a tendancy to not like cold weather. Other than that, the coasters should be fine (although running slower). Deja Vu could be running though, it was open closing day 2002 when temperatures were in the low 30's.

[Bob O]

Since DejaVu doesnt like any weather, my guess if it operates it will likely bo down as often as it is working.
Hopefully the cold weather will keep crowds down and ride counts up!!

[greatamerica2003]

Deja Vu, Ragin Cajun, and Spacleys Sprocket Rockets are the three coasters that react adversely to the weather. If any were going to be closed it would be them. Whizzer is fickle too.

Other than that everything else should be running normally. Cold weather tends to affect rides in the morning, not after they have been running for 2-3 hours. So once something is moving, it tends to not have any more problems

[[jonrev]]

Whizzer and Ragin Cajun I know will never operate in rain. I dont know about cold weather.

[BP317]

DejaVu does fine in cold weather as long as its kept running and the wheels can stay warm (hence the heaters above the wheels in the station). Its the hot/humid weather that really kills Vu (if you ever see it running empty cars, its probably flying which causes it to mispark or retract).
Whizzer has issues with cold, which is why they keep the trains under the tarp when its cold as long as possible before opening.
Demon believe it or not has some valleying issues with mixed cold and condensation also.
Ricochet has huge problems with heat, the electrical system gets all screwed up and the ride fries.

[CoasterDude12-2]

Hmm..I was wondering why rides are slower in the cold..now I know. MY guess would be that a perfect operating temperature would be like 55 degrees, right?

[Chitown]

^No, 56 degrees.

Geez, get it right next time.

[CoasterDave316]

Ive rode all the coasters in 30-40 degree temperatures before. They all can and have run in cold weather before.

Just make sure you dress really warm, or else riding a coaster in 30 degree temperatures won't be much fun because you will be freezing your ass off.

[Mr. D.T.]

A simple answer to the topic:

Any time the weather is cold enough to dramatically slow down the rides. It's done that to Demon before.

[sixflagspr]

Coasters, for the most part, can operate at very cold temperatures. We change the type of wheels we use once it warms up in the summer, and again when it cools down for fall. Similar to a skateboard, we use a bit softer wheel in cooler weather to keep the coaster from going too fast, and harder in summer.

Wind is the major factor for Deja Vu. I know the second weekend of Fright Fest it had problems because of those strong gusts we had. In fact, we could not light a lot of our pyro it was so windy.

A lot of factors can contribute to a coaster's efficient running. But as far as simple temperatures are concerned, it's more about what a person can tolerate. Batman, for instance, can be brutal without a big coat!

[Ilovthevu']

^Thanks sixflagspr guy. I hope you like Great America as much as Over Georiga. I think one of the things that might happen to Deja Vu during it's cycle is on the tower, the train might actually stick to the catchcar. To me, it seemed like it was holding longer.

I know there are heaters in the station, and everyone always says that the reason is because cold weather makes it slow, or something. Couldn't the heaters just by for the workers, and the people on the train during cold weather? That thing goes freakin fast during the day, and night. People are so close to that thing to. I'm just figuring out which one seems more reasonable.

[zjohn1988]

Raging Bull is a good example of a coaster which uses winter wheels. I dont know about this year, but last year teal train had them put on before fright fest and you could easily notice the different wheels not by just looking at them, but you could hear a major difference of the train on the track.

[FParker185]

it seems this year on bull the cars 0 and 1 have the nylon wheels (it may have been 1 and 2, but either way it's 2 cars)

[zjohn1988]

on what train? ( and by 0 and 1 i take it you mean the pilot car and row 1's car?)

[Cryptkeeper]

Nylon wheels...yum!. I'll take one - no wait, make that a trainload of them. It's too bad they're not used year round on most coasters.

[Drkstarboard]

I know that they tend to go slower because the bearing on the wheels get cold. Thats the reason why they don't run Top Thrill Dragster in colder conditions and part of the reason why they don't run it in the rain (the other is obviously because rain will not tickle at 120mph).

[SFaddiction84]

In either 2002 or 2003, Six Flags great america did a "Half Price Day", it was November 2, Admission/Food, all merch EVERYTHING was Half OFf, it was freakin COLD! i had a winter jacket on, but to have the park at less then 100 or so guests and have literally walk on and re-rides on EVERY ride in the park? it was totally worth being cold

[FRD714]

We'll have to see if they open up next monday like they did last year, but I doubt it since it was Halloween.

[raginbullrider]

Was the park crowded on halloween or no i don't think it would be

[FRD714]

It was dead becuase the park made the decision to open a few days before.

[FParker185]

yeah, Nylon Wheels on cars 1 and 2 on Bull on all 3 trains.

The 0 car is the very front car of the train that has no seats, not sure if SFGAm marks it out, but at other parks with 0 car bearing rides it will be marked X-0 (X being the train number)