Xcelerator is a launched steel roller coaster, located at Knott's Berry Farm, in California, USA.
USA.
The ride is well known for being the world's first roller coaster to feature a hydraulic
launch system, in which riders are quickly and consistently accelerated to a high speed.
On top of this, Xcelerator was one of the first roller coasters to feature the now iconic
top hat element, providing guests with both fantastic views and small amounts of airtime.
The ride opened to the public on the 22nd of June 2002.
It was built at the cost of 13 Million USD, by Swiss roller coaster company, Intamin.
It was Intamin who first invented, and popularised, the widely used hydraulic launch system.
Instead of using magnets or a large weight, to accelerate the train to its maximum speed,
hydraulic launches use a cable winch system.
Before the launch occurs, a catch car hooks onto the underside of the train.
While guests board the vehicle's, electrical energy is gradually stored within large hydraulic
pumps.
As the train launches, the energy is released from the pumps, causing the cable, and train,
to be pulled along the launch straight.
This method allows for Xcelerator to launch from 0, to 132kmh (82mph), in approximately
2.3 seconds.
Once riders have made reached their top speed, and traversed the launch straight, they begin
the steep climb.
The trains ascend vertically to the maximum height of 62.5m, 205ft.
At this point, guests slowly navigate the rides top hat element, before plummeting back
down towards the ground.
The trains fall, at the maximum angle of 90 degrees, and enter a large, left-hand overbanked
turn.
This leads riders into a second overbanked turn, this time to the right, before allowing
them to slide into the ride's final brake run.
Even though the full experience only lasts for approximately 25 seconds, guests navigate
over 670m (2200ft) of track.
From beginning to end, Xcelerator is a fast paced, thrilling, roller coaster.
The ride also has a theme to match.
Xcelerator is loosely themed to retro drag racing, which can be seen within the design
of the trains and station building.
The rides station resembles american retro architecture of the 1950s, while the cars
imitate that of a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air.
The trains themselves feature 5 cars, each of which seat riders in two rows of two.
This leads to a total of 20 guests per train.
A maximum of 2 trains can navigate the circuit at any one point in time, resulting in a theoretical
throughput of 1330 riders per hour.
Unfortunately however, the Intamin hydraulic launch coaster model is not known for it's
high throughput and excellent reliability.
Xcelerator, and the many rides around the globe similar to it, often suffer from large
amounts of downtime.
The complicated nature of the launch can cause the ride system to easily run into errors,
resulting in the attraction shutting down.
This downtime is natural, and well established in the world of roller coaster safety.
Nevertheless, when operating, Xcelerator is a fantastic experience from start to finish.
Because of this, several parks have adopted the technology to develop taller and faster
rides, often pushing the limits of both engineering and thrills.
Although, despite being the prototype model; many prefer Xcelerator due to its comfortable
lap bar restraints, and seemingly snappier initial launch.
Ultimately, the final question remains:
What's your opinion?
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