Griffon

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I honestly would've been completely fine with a SheiKra clone. I prefer the second drop into a tunnel and giant sweeping turn into the water brake. On Griffon, it definitely feels like you're doing the same thing twice with the drop/loop combo. Not to mention this wouldn't have touched the look of Alpengeist and Loch Ness on the Rhine.

People talk about Griffon "using the Rhine" it really doesn't. The valley of the second dive is nearly at ground level about 30-40 feet above the surface of the water.

Very cool find!
 
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CoasterMac said:
Would have been awesome to combine the two.
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I feel like they could have. Instead of rolling out of the first Immelmann like it does not, do it like Valravn does, have the Immelmann exit more to the left (and I mean way to the left), and then bank right into the mcbr. This would put you in such an angle in which you drop, do the second immelannn (the valleys of both elements underground) and then make a sweeping left overbank into the splashdown, and then do the helix finale like Sheikra. Boom. Best of both worlds.
 
chrisorris24 said:
Yep on a concrete ledge outside Drachen fire’s station. I was 17 at the time working as a ride operator on Apollo’s chariot.

I was fascinated with Drachen, while exploring outside DF station one evening while in the park as a guest I found a binder sitting on the ledge of the station. Inside were multiple lighting schematics for curse of Darkastle. As well as multiple plan alternatives for 2007 attraction. Multiple variations of how they may develop the new France area (games, rock climbing, food)

The most exciting was the document that I scanned that you see. Rumors were already going around Busch that we may get a dive coaster. This was almost guaranteed proof. I was an idiot and posted about it on a coaster forum at the time. Word got around to the park and I got a call down to corporate office.

At first they played it really cool, they just wanted the binder back, which I complied with. Afterwards, they suspended me while Busch in St. Louis contemplated my employment. I was terminated a few days later, and went off to enjoy my freshman year at Virginia Tech.
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Not your fault that Drachen's station and maintenance bay are the best of the park's semi-abandoned explorations.
 
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The concept looks better integrated with the village than Griffon does. I prefer Sheikra slightly over Griffon because its built into the land better. Griffon stands out way too much. Maybe the park was trying to go for that, but it doesn't feel like it was built with the rest of the French village in mind.

I love the way the splash is up against the main pathway like Sheikra's and the tunnel concept is really neat. I would've still stretched the ride to run to the river and try to keep the pathway over the first drop.
 
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I like Sheikra's layout better than Griffon, but Griffon's placement is really good. I'm trying to picture what would be lost with Sheikra's layout and I think there would be a clean sightline from parts of Germany to France, so I like that it preserves some of those trees.

However, I don't love Griffon's interaction with the Rhine. I wonder if they had a chance to do it over if they would still do that. Especially if it's getting built today. For reference my first visit to BGW was pre-Griffon and getting down to the Rhine was nice with the interaction and there's almost too much of it now. It's like there was a mandate for a while that every coaster touches it.

All and all though, I do think this is one of the better B&M Dives out there still. The placement and views are a major part of that, especially at the top of the main lift. But I agree with those that don't love the repeated dive loops and that feel it's basically two of the same short runs that it's something that pulls it down. Personally I wish there were more of this model to compare it to in order to understand better what it's capable of and what can be different.
 
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In a dream world, I think Griffon could improve by coming out of the first immelmann, and turning further to the left before the brakes. If you dropped to the Rhine more toward where LNM exits the station, you could turn right (toward Alpengeist) and stay low to the river, maybe bouncing bank to bank and be back up to dry land before ruining the view of the interlocking loops of LNM. You’d probably need a launch from the river, perhaps swing through an immelmann, decide if you need the water brakes (which are fun, especially for my young non-riders), and return to station.

I am one that ranks Griffon fairly low. As soon as it starts doing anything exciting, it’s on its way to slow down. It just never gets to anything of substance. Blah blah blah, Iron Gwazi clone replacement, or whatever. 🤣
 
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Ok I went for a second ride and walked straight on. So I guess its effectiveness truly depends on how many people are waiting. Still not a good system though.
 
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It’s split into two isn’t it? Quick queue skips the main queue and puts you into the station lines. Single rider goes left and around by accessibility area. Only if the single rider line backs way up is it a problem but a knowledgeable QQ rider would know to move through the backup into the main station.
 
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The only way loading single riders on after the entrance gates close actually helps capacity is if it can be done fast enough to get the dispatch out in time. Maxing out dispatches per hour is a far more important metric than filling every seat for maximizing capacity (assuming most of the seats are being filled naturally.)
If management cared about throughput, they would be a lot better off running three trains efficiently rather than having a single rider line. (Does Griffon ever run three trains anymore? I don't go on busy days.)
Chungulatron said:
...but a knowledgeable QQ rider would know...
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Prior knowledge should not be a prerequisite to properly utilize a queue.
 
I am happy to report they have come up with a better solution for single riders (at least on busy days).

They have a grouper outside the station (much like DarKoaster) that will ask how many are in your group. If you have Quick Queue, they’ll scan it and let you straight into the station and I think they’ll let you choose a row. If you are a single rider, you’ll proceed ahead to the end of the station next to the RAP area and a ride op will let you on as seats are available. It’s much better than the confusion of figuring out who’s single and who’s Quick Queue in a tiny area.
 
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Does Griffon ever run 3 trains anymore? Haven't seen it in years. Nessie, Apollo, and Alpengiest all usually have short waits even without their third trains, but Griffon can really get some long lines, and could definitely use that third train during the summer.
 
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