The Loch Ness Monster

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I can understand that, yeah, someday it'll probably make more sense for the park to remove her than to keep her. However, I think that given how iconic and historically important the ride is, Busch should at least replace her with a close substitute (interlocking loops and tunnel included).

I still hope that day is very very far off.
 
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Which replacement parts has BGW had to manufacture themselves, which otherwise would have been supplied by Arrow, but are no longer available from S&S-Sansei?

Given the several dozens of still-running Arrow coasters in the world, I doubt those parks are all suffering for lack of components.

The park has used non-Arrow-lineage suppliers like B&M for rather fundamental work on the ride in the past. In fact, that is not at all uncommon in the industry. Virtually every major name has supplied, brokered, revised, subcontracted, etc. on rides other than their own.
 
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I was under the impression S&S was the supplier for the new trains they brought in for the 40th anniversary. I know S&S bought out Arrow and their catalog back in '02. So I'm not so sure about the "manufacturing replacement parts themselves" comment.
 
I would add that they had a lot of spare parts in the maintenance bay from BBW, when I took the Roller Coaster tour a few years ago. I’m not sure how applicable that is anymore, of course. Additionally, they told us at the time that they could keep Nessie running for a long time.
 
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I would think, if anything, replacing track portions would be the most labor intensive being welded together vs the modern bolt method. And maybe some of the maintenance track set-up might cause a headache or two.
 
I was under the impression that the trolley part of the train was original and it was just a body's that were replaced to raise the seat height to mitigate head-banging and the bodies were supplied by S&S I was told this by an operator who has worked Loch Ness for the past four season's and now works at griffon currently I may be misinformed but that seems logical and less expensive
 
Nicole said:
I would add that they had a lot of spare parts in the maintenance bay from BBW, when I took the Roller Coaster tour a few years ago. I’m not sure how applicable that is anymore, of course. Additionally, they told us at the time that they could keep Nessie running for a long time.
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Also there is a manufacture in Richmond that makes some specific part. It is also worth noting that the likely largly eliminate the need for hard to get parts with the new trains.
 
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GrandpaD said:
I was under the impression S&S was the supplier for the new trains they brought in for the 40th anniversary. I know S&S bought out Arrow and their catalog back in '02. So I'm not so sure about the "manufacturing replacement parts themselves" comment.
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I actually have evidence to support my comment.

I got this information from a coaster tour that was filmed. The engineer said it himself. Let me dig it up..
 
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View: https://youtu.be/P_VANzXpFpQ


Here we go. Around 10:45 if the time didn't propagate.

"We actually have to make our own parts. This is the only maintainence bay where we can openly weld." He goes on the explain a bit further.

I try not to say things that I don't have factual evidence to back up. I don't always succeed but at least I try.

Bonus: a bit later in the video, the same engineer states that the new brakes made timing difficult and quotes this as the reason the coaster doesn't do simultaneous loops anymore. I've previously seen people suggest the structural integrity of the coaster as the reason.
 
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The video I linked actually mentions python. One of the trains running on Nessie is actually a former python train.

Regardless, the point is Nessie requires a lot more hands on work (welding) than other coasters.
 
My impression from talking to the guys in the Nessie bay was that they enjoy maintaining her. I’m not saying that the park won’t one day view the coaster as too onerous to keep, but I didn’t get the sense that the maintenance crew objected to the requirements.
 
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sunchild said:
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View: https://youtu.be/8f5g9WgIgJg

Here ya go
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Well, I'm not sure why but when he mentioned the thing about it being next to you it was gonna be like the one from the sign. I always thought it was gonna look like a legit sea monster for some reason.
 
Nicole said:
My impression from talking to the guys in the Nessie bay was that they enjoy maintaining her. I’m not saying that the park won’t one day view the coaster as too onerous to keep, but I didn’t get the sense that the maintenance crew objected to the requirements.
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As a navy certified smaw, gtaw and gmaw welder. Ill donate my time to keep her alive. It be a pleasure to weld on my favorite coaster. Via sonographic and radiographic weld testing and liquid penetrant inspection we can keep her alive forever bits and pieces can be replaced as needed
 
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Okay this is something I've always heard about Loch Ness that the last piece of track from the second loop before the brakes from the factory went to the left and not the right towards the station when it came in from manufacturing and they used heat and pressure to bend it towards the station does anyone know if this is a rumor or actually true something I've always wanted to know. also anyone have a number of how many arrows are still standing that are fully welded and not bolted together?
 
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