American Eagle: Backwards Blue Starting August 8th

[tribar]

Does running AE backwards make the coaster rougher.

[DeathbyDinn]

^ Didn't feel noticeably rougher on any of my rides.

[Cole]

^^Just a little. Its more forceful than anything.

[onyxhotel08]

I wonder why the park decided against having it run backward till it closed for the season?

[BP317]

We need to remember SF is a business first, they are going to do what they need to do to increase attendance. They know they are going to get crowds during summer and Fright Fest, the backwards Eagle promotion this year was to bridge that gap and get people to come back for another visit between the two busy times. Seems like a pretty good idea considering at least when I was there Eagle had a really long line.

[Necropolis]

^Definitely a great explanation!

[onyxhotel08]

We need to remember SF is a business first, they are going to do what they need to do to increase attendance. They know they are going to get crowds during summer and Fright Fest, the backwards Eagle promotion this year was to bridge that gap and get people to come back for another visit between the two busy times. Seems like a pretty good idea considering at least when I was there Eagle had a really long line.

It is just silly to change it back when the park closes for only 2 weeks. They should be worrying about making FF as good as possible instead of changing the best promotional plan they had in quite some time.

[DeathbyDinn]

The park did a Q&A on Twitter today, and I was very happy to see this!

[bludowise68]

It is impossible having blue side running backwards again in 2012 with X-Flight. is it true? what day did it start and what day is it end? does any body know about then.

[DejaVu2001]

^ Say what? Seriously dude, please go back to school and learn about grammar and how to write sentences that other people can actually follow.

And no, Blue side will not run backwards during the 2012 season. That tweet is referring to future seasons. And right now the big rumor is that Blue side will run backwards for 2 months in 2013 (well, actually that's just a small part of the "big" rumor).

[Johnny.Ink]

^ Say what? Seriously dude, please go back to school and learn about grammar and how to write sentences that other people can actually follow.

And no, Blue side will not run backwards during the 2012 season. That tweet is referring to future seasons. And right now the big rumor is that Blue side will run backwards for 2 months in 2013 (well, actually that's just a small part of the "big" rumor).

I know when I brought up the "BIG" rumor some time back most shot it down. It would seem that if the big one hits, why not run blue backwards the entire season?

[Ace]

With eagle blue confirmed to be backward sometime in the future, and the rumors (however unpopular) of Batman running backwards one must wonder if they will make a marketing campaign of this run a few rides backwards.

[bludowise68]

i would say a 50/50 chance having blue side running for next year maybe and also maybe having Batman going backwards too. they were saying that at Six Flags St. Louis having a test run.

[Coaster Justin]

I hope they retrack both sides of the smaller helix's before turning the trains around. The small helix before the brakes is no longer tolerable (At least to me)

[Muck Finnesota]

(well, actually that's just a small part of the "big" rumor).

Any of the People Who Know (TM) care to enlighten those of us not privy as to what this rumor entails? I fear that it involves Batman and the direction the train is facing, but I'd love to be able to give SFGAm's front office more credit that. There are plenty of other rides in the park that could be tinkered with- why mess with the one that's already the best in the park as it currently stands?

[Johnny.Ink]

(well, actually that's just a small part of the "big" rumor).

Any of the People Who Know (TM) care to enlighten those of us not privy as to what this rumor entails? I fear that it involves Batman and the direction the train is facing, but I'd love to be able to give SFGAm's front office more credit that. There are plenty of other rides in the park that could be tinkered with- why mess with the one that's already the best in the park as it currently stands?

The "Big" rumor as I was told by multiple different park employees (including the Lemon Chill Guy ) is that next year is the American Eagle's swan song - then it goes away for a new ride.

And yes, we know about the city saying you can't build anything closer then 100 feet to Washington Street. I'm not saying I truly believe it, because let's face it, why in the hell would Great America take away their signature ride.

I have some ideas that would be badass, ala Rocky Mountain topper track, new PTC trains, or my faveorite, a new American Eagle ride ala Evel Knievel at Six Flags STL, just bigger. Or an Iron Rattler type American Eagle.

But the Eagle going away after the 2013 season is the "big" rumor.

[Muck Finnesota]

(well, actually that's just a small part of the "big" rumor).

Any of the People Who Know (TM) care to enlighten those of us not privy as to what this rumor entails? I fear that it involves Batman and the direction the train is facing, but I'd love to be able to give SFGAm's front office more credit that. There are plenty of other rides in the park that could be tinkered with- why mess with the one that's already the best in the park as it currently stands?

The "Big" rumor as I was told by multiple different park employees (including the Lemon Chill Guy ) is that next year is the American Eagle's swan song - then it goes away for a new ride...

...But the Eagle going away after the 2013 season is the "big" rumor.

If that's the case, I would be stunned if Rocky Mountain wasn't somehow involved. Too bad...although it does fall in line with the chain's mindset of trumpeting smaller (monetary) investments as major additions.* I got a chance to ride a partially modified Georgia Cyclone this year, and the topper track does make a difference. It used to be one of my favorites, but unfortunately it has gotten a little rough. The portion of the ride that was worked on rides great. Hopefully anything that's done to Eagle doesn't go beyond getting fitted with topper track.

*It started with the east coast Bizarro re-themes, where a different coat of paint, loud noises violating your ears, and fire were seemingly enough to market long-standing rides as new, continuing on through ride relocations that made little sense (two full circuit inverted coasters at La Ronde, two boomerang coasters at SFNE, and what was almost two standup coasters at our very own park), turning roller coaster trains backwards and marketing them as new (Freeze, Superman), and Starflyers for everyone (essentially putting a Wave Swinger on stilts and marketing it as then end all, be all of thrill rides)! As annoying as I find this, it works. I can't fault a corporation for finding an effective low-cost way to make a buck, and milking it for all it's worth.

[Muck Finnesota]

(well, actually that's just a small part of the "big" rumor).

Any of the People Who Know (TM) care to enlighten those of us not privy as to what this rumor entails? I fear that it involves Batman and the direction the train is facing, but I'd love to be able to give SFGAm's front office more credit that. There are plenty of other rides in the park that could be tinkered with- why mess with the one that's already the best in the park as it currently stands?

The "Big" rumor as I was told by multiple different park employees (including the Lemon Chill Guy ) is that next year is the American Eagle's swan song - then it goes away for a new ride...

...But the Eagle going away after the 2013 season is the "big" rumor.

If that's the case, I would be stunned if Rocky Mountain wasn't somehow involved. Too bad...although it does fall in line with the chain's mindset of trumpeting smaller (monetary) investments as major additions.* I got a chance to ride a partially modified Georgia Cyclone this year, and the topper track does make a difference. It used to be one of my favorites, but unfortunately it has gotten a little rough. The portion of the ride that was worked on rides great. Hopefully anything that's done to Eagle doesn't go beyond getting fitted with topper track.

*It started with the east coast Bizarro re-themes, where a different coat of paint, loud noises violating your ears, and fire were seemingly enough to market long-standing rides as new, continuing on through ride relocations that made little sense (two full circuit inverted coasters at La Ronde, two boomerang coasters at SFNE, and what was almost two standup coasters at our very own park), turning roller coaster trains backwards and marketing them as new (Freeze, Superman), and Starflyers for everyone (essentially putting a Wave Swinger on stilts and marketing it as then end all, be all of thrill rides)! As annoying as I find this, it works. I can't fault a corporation for finding an effective low-cost way to make a buck, and milking it for all it's worth.

[DejaVu2001]

Once again, American Eagle is NOT going anywhere. Any employee that told you that is either trying to mess with you, or has no idea what they're talking about.

[GayCoasterGuy]

We all know how rumors get started http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... WCCo#t=36s

We never really know what's going to happen. Who would have ever thunk SF would spend 10 million on a ride that was already rated #1 coaster in the world to make it better? (the high head rests didn't make it better, unfortunately). Or spend $10 million on a ride that was once rated #1 in the world and actually made it better?

[Luxornv]

^^Just a little. Its more forceful than anything.

It cannot be more forceful just by changing the direction. You have essentially the same train, which is the same mass and length. We'll assume the mass of the passengers stays the same too since it will still be the same group of people riding. It may seem to be more forceful because you're going in a direction you are not accustomed to and experiencing the forces in a different way than most other coasters. There is also the element of surprise. When you see what's coming, you may brace for it. However, you really can't see what's coming when the train is reversed. If you're not expecting a drop or something, then it may seem more forceful than normal.

The only thing that really changes is the aerodynamics of the train, and that won't create a noticeable effect to the riders. It has been previously mentioned that running the trains backwards wears out the track more than forwards. I thought this was due to the way the wheels articulate. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.