American Eagle Questions...

[i2nafish]

I don't know if this is been asked before, but I was wondering acouple of questions about AE.

1.When and why did they install what I like to call the "wings" to the sides of the train?

2.Besides the helix last year, what other sections of the ride have been retracked?

Thanks!

[Timmy179]

to answer part of your first question, the wings were installed because of some of the close encounters with supports, and idiots that stick their hands out, and i dont believe any other areas of the tracke have ever been retracked

[Papas]

The shields were installed so people don't reach out.

The ride was repainted in 1997 (not if the whole thing was retracked then but a lot was done).

[CoasterDave316]

A few years ago (2000 I believe?) parts of the blue side had some retracking done after the big helix where under the red side. And I think to this day it still remains unpainted, although im not sure.

[FParker185]

Since it opened the entire ride has been retracked(exept for maybe the lifthill). Top of the first drop to the barrel was done a long time ago and they removed the wood track in favor of steel I Beams with 2 wood laminates on top, then I think sometime between like 96 and 98 (Cant remember the exact year they started, but I'll skip draging out my notes, it was around that time possibly a year or 2 earlier) they retracked the second half of the barrel for both sides, then the net year the final helicies were retracked, then everything between the barrel and Final helix was done on Red, and Following year blue, then I think they took a year off then last off season did both sides top of the barrel to halfway through. Unless they plan to replace the laminates from the first drop to the barrel I'd think their retracking project is complete. Also all the retracking was complete, not just the top 2 laminates as some parks do now and then as a quick fix to smooth out a ride, the entire track bed and quite a few ledgers were replaced as well.

The wings were added soon after the ride opened if not before it opened to the GP, there is a very close call at the exit of the barrel, supposedly there was an error in construction, not sure though, I would think they would have fixed it when they did the retracking. I forget which side the problem is on, but with blue running backwards you can tell what side is on by looking at the wings, they are about tiwce the size on the side with the close call. It's rather funny looking once you notice it

[Chitown]

The tall wings on the Blue side were added sometime in the 90's(don't know what year). The trains on both sides at one time had no wings, no seat divider, one ratcheting lap bar, and seatbelts.

[w00dland]

If you ever ride American Eagle blue you will know right after the helix why they are there. There are two pieces of plywood seperating the two trains from eachother, and sense you are going backwards you cannot see them coming. They are so close that if you stuck your hand out you probably wouldnt have an arm at the end of the ride.

[Papas]

/\ That would be true on most all wooden coasters.

The trains on both sides at one time had no wings, no seat divider, one ratcheting lap bar, and seatbelts.

True, the shields were not there when it opened, but thanks to a world full of incompetent guests that try to get air, and 'hi five' people things like individual lapbars, shields, seatbelts (no wait Eagle doesn't have seatbelts heh) have to be added.

[twixmix0303]

Do the two pieces of plywood mentioned above have anything to do with the wall that runs between the two tracks at the exit to the helix?
----------
^ Yeah, but I can easily see Viper and AE getting seatbelts next year. The lapbars aren't as good as say, Raging Bull.

[w00dland]

Yes thats exactly what i ment by it...sorry if i confused anybody