Busch Gardens Williamsburg Project 2024: Loch Ness Monster Renovation

[Jwanger93]

I’m still new to all the dynamics of coasters, but what is preventing them from using the mcbr as a trim brake during peak guest times and using it to make the timing correct at slower points in guest visit numbers. In this day in age I would think it would be to bgw benefit to have it happen some times for the social media content. I get on TikTok and see something awesome on a new coaster some where and next thing you know I’m planing my visit. I just think if we had the ability for people to capture content of the dualing trains it would be incredible for the park. Even if it didn’t always happen.

 

[Zachary]

I don't know and don't have details on the particularities of LNM's setup.

My guess would be that some sort of switchable system with two operating modes—one with and one without the MCBR—could...

1. Require a full controls and programming rebuild (disclaimer: unclear if this is planned anyway for this project or not, this could be inconsequential if it is)
2. Increase initial costs of the change notably (disclaimer: I have next to zero idea how ride programming contracts work in this industry)
3. Require the park to maintain additional ride hardware on the MCBR that they wouldn't otherwise need to if it was operating solely as a trim brake (disclaimer: no idea if major hardware changes to the braking system on the MCBR are actually planned or if this will only be a programming adjustment)
4. Require significantly more testing and adjusting after the change is put into place and/or balloon the complexity of morning checks and tests (disclaimer: in case it isn't clear by this point, I don't know)

It could be any of those things, it could be none of those things, or not could be some mix in between.

In my perfect world, I would like to see Nessie get a third train again and have some sort of duel system in place where, when three trains are in operation, the MCBR acts as a MCBR and, when only two trains are running, it switches to using the MCBR as a trim exclusively. I just don't know if that is a financially feasible thing to ask for though. And, especially right now, when Nessie only has two trains (with no signs that BGW would consider buying a third again), I fully understand making the basic, "pull the plug on the MCBR" change. A train stopping on Nessie's MCBR is, legitimately, not a good thing—even worse if they need to evac from there. I think the expectation is that converting it to a trim will decrease complexity in operations and testing while increasing uptime and recovery time from certain types of shutdowns.

Again, to be clear, I very much don't have the answers—but there are a collection of random thoughts that have been going through my head on this issue over the last few months.

 

[Jwanger93]

I love that answer, I can only dream someone from the park that any kind of influence is thinking the same way.

 

[Coolguy15]

A train stopping on Nessie's MCBR is, legitimately, not a good thing—even worse if they need to evac from there

Isn't there a winch on that MCBR in case it does stop?

 

[Jwanger93]

Little more movement today, no attached documents yet, but the description and the “new building or structure” title would make it seem (barring them making huge ride altering changes), that they are installing a roof/building over the final brake run/ transfer track?

 

[Zachary]

they are installing a roof/building over the final brake run/ transfer track

Confirmed.

 

[horsesboy]

Little more movement today, no attached documents yet, but the description and the “new building or structure” title would make it seem (barring them making huge ride altering changes), that they are installing a roof/building over the final brake run/ transfer track?

Pretty wise decision on their part in regards to train storage I just hope they spend the dough to make it fit in with the existing structure.

 

[Jwanger93]

Confirmed.

I really feel like a genius when I figure something so simple out Haha. Thanks for the conformation be here with my tin foil hat scouring the internet for any bgw information I can uncover.

Pretty wise decision on their part in regards to train storage I just hope they spend the dough to make it fit in with the existing structure.

The train storage is already existing under the loading platform, this would be just before entering the platform when the track switches to move the trains inside.

 

[Zachary]

From what I've seen, when only one train is in operation, the park often stores the other on the transfer track itself so that they don't have to winch it up/down into the maintenance bay.

 

[horsesboy]

The train storage is already existing under the loading platform, this would be just before entering the platform when the track switches to move the trains inside.

Yes they can store one down there but in recent years they have only done so when they are bringing it down for maintenance. Day to day storage has been on the transfer track for many years. There is really no reason not to cover that and protect the train from some weathering.

 

[Jwanger93]

I didn’t know they didn’t store them nightly. So Pure speculation here nothing else, zero chance they are about to implement on ride audio and they are using that to justify keeping the trains under roof for the sake of the electronics ?

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

Has this been posted yet? Seems to be hinting at a full redo of the caves, or more

 

[Zachary]

I didn’t know they didn’t store them nightly. So Pure speculation here nothing else, zero chance they are about to implement on ride audio and they are using that to justify keeping the trains under roof for the sake of the electronics ?

No on-board audio is planned.

Has this been posted yet? Seems to be hinting at a full redo of the caves, or more
View attachment 30491

Tunnel work is one of the first things that was surfaced in permits. Discussion should be somewhere a handful of pages back.

 

[Jwanger93]

Discussion should be somewhere a handful of pages back.

I posted the permit, on that just stated that they were installing a steel deck about the track and additional bracing, don’t know if you have more information then that to share, your photo looks more insider then my public forum search

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

Tunnel work is one of the first things that was surfaced in permits. Discussion should be somewhere a handful of pages back.

I figured, since it says "development" it meant an area that hadn't had a building - for example, the middle of the mountain. I figured maybe they were converting it from caves to a mountain - instead of dipping in the middle it'd rise up similar to a real mountain

 

[AIR]

The transfer track cover is more likely to block flying objects from Alpengeist and less train preservation.

Although, protecting the trains is definitely a plus!

 

[Zachary]

Per what I've heard, I don't expect any notable change to the shape of the donut cave. I expect some light restoration to the exterior and some internal, structural alterations alongside the installation of new effects.

 

[Jwanger93]

for example, the middle of the mountain.

I could be wrong I don’t know where you got your image from, but I almost think that might be a survey request slip or a survey/gps report and I think it just used the center of the mountain for the reference point for those gps cords

 

[horsesboy]

I could be wrong I don’t know where you got your image from, but I almost think that might be a survey request slip or a survey/gps report and I think it just used the center of the mountain for the reference point for those gps cords

yeah that looks like a utilities marking request that should extend out from the center a decent way past the existing structure. Pretty standard for construction and not an indication a replacement.

 

[Jonesta6]

The transfer track cover is more likely to block flying objects from Alpengeist and less train preservation.

Although, protecting the trains is definitely a plus!

Is there an issue with Alpie's Cobra roll kicking crap to Nessie?

Seems like a cheaper and less distracting solution would be adding netting to Alpie's track like exists in other sections than to add a structure to Nessie.

Methinks this is more to do with covered train storage as others have suggested. I too hope they match the style and color of the station or at least make it look like a natural extension and not a cheap addition.