Lift Hill Questions

[Funeralboy]

HI All, I been a viewer of the forums for a while here but this is my first post. Forgive me if this post is not in the correction section or has already been addressed at some point.

I went to Great America a lot as a kid but then stopped for like 20 years. Went back last year when my 6 year old daughter could ride most of the rides. Ended up going back 6 times last year and four so far this year..she can't get enough.

Anyway, I have two questions that I cannot seem to find answers to so I thought I would seek the advice of those wiser than myself.

1) The Demon does this thing that I call the demon pause. On the lift hill there is always a split second pause where it seems the chain is going to stop. It doesn't seem to be related to the train engaging or disengaging the chain and seems to happen at random spots on the hill. Anybody know what that is?

2) On BTR, if the train were stopped on the lift hill and needed to be evacuated how would they go about that? The only set of stairs is on the right and if you are on the far left it seems a little difficult to access those stairs and the platform underneath looks like a decent drop.

Any answers would be appreciated. Thank you in advance, hope to hop on here more often with some informed statements and not what are probably idiotic questions such as above!

[Guy_With_A_Stick]

Demon is probably due to age, and Batman(and Superman as well) have an elevator-type platform that can move under the lift. They go one row at a time. Once everyone is on the stairs from that row, they move to the next row, and repeat. You can see the platform just under the transition from flat to slope before the lift.

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[FParker185]

Demon slowdown started when they installed the lift motor from ShockWave, it's variable speed, most SF coasters slow down at the top of the lift, shaves a mph or 2 off the ride, every little bit helps in the maintenance department, especially on such an old ride.. Viper's is also especially pronounced unless you ride in the first i wanna say 20 min or so of the day when the slowdown doesn't happen to help get the ride warmed up.

Also the reason they put the variable speed motor on Demon from ShockWave is to save energy, on all the other rides, when there is no train on the lift the speed is reduced greatly to save power. The old one ran at full speed all the time weather a train was going up it or not.

[CoasterDemon]

The weird thing that happens near the top of Demon's lift - it's GREAT! Love it. Makes it more interesting and unique. Almost feels like the Demon knows you are there and is trying to play with you. It's an added feature!

[aaron60060]

^^This. I think the pause definitely adds a a bit of thrill / scare to the ride, especially for first timers. Love it on the Demon as well as on the Eagle.

-Aaron

[CoasterCale]

Personally Eagle doesn't pause. The only thing I notice is the cars lift, freaking people out. The GP doesn't exactly know that there are three sets of wheels to prevent derailing.