top of page
Writer's picturePittsburgh Thrills

Creating the Perfect Coaster from Kennywood's Coasters

Kennywood has 8 total coasters. This isn't the best, but it is better than other parks. I love 7 of them, and the other one is just a kiddie coaster. Today, I wanted to create a layout that would be perfect.


Here are the rules:

-Each RCDB Listed Element can be used once.

-There must be elements from at least 5 of the coasters.

-This doesn't have to be realistic.

-If RCDB doesn't list the element, but the element is major, I can use it.

-There must be between 10 and 20 elements on the list.


Part 1: Layout


Element 1: Steel Curtain's Lift


This is the tallest and, in my opinion, most terrifying lift at Kennywood. This lift is 220 feet tall, and it goes slowly. It also has Renegade by Styx playing on the lift, which would make the experience better.


Element 2: Steel Curtain's Drachen Fire Dive Drop


This element, named after Drachen Fire from Busch Gardens Williamsburg, is a type of drop where you go through a corkscrew into the drop. This also takes place 197 feet above the ground, making it the world's tallest inversion. This element actually feels dangerous from the heights, and it is part of why I love Steel Curtain.


Element 3: Phantom's Revenge's Second Hill/Drop


This is part of why Phantom's Revenge is so well known. You go up a hill, which is probably around 105 feet tall. You then turn a little bit before plunging into the ravine. You go through a 232 foot tall drop, which includes going through Thunderbolt's structure. The drop also provides some strong floater airtime in the back row.


Element 4: Phantom's Revenge's Turnaround


After Phantom's Revenge dives into the ravine, it goes through a long, forceful, scenic turnaround. It also dives under Thunderbolt again, including some sustained ejector airtime under Thunderbolt. It then turns up into the finale of the ride.


Elements 5-7: Steel Curtain's Turnaround


I want to include this as 1 element, but considering how many elements are packed into it, I have to include multiple spots here. You go up into a floater airtime hill. Then, when you are still out of your seat, you go through a dive loop. There is a small straight section before a Zero G-Stall over the midways.


Element 8-9: Steel Curtain's Finale


Steel Curtain, after the Zero G-Stall, goes up an airtime hill, then goes through a corkscrew. It then turns some before a cutback, which leads to the brakes. For the fictional coaster, it is going to just be a mid-course break run.


Element 10: Jackrabbit's Double Down


After Jackrabbit goes up its lift, it goes into an airtime packed double down. Good thing that John A. Miller used his first installation of the Under Friction (Upstop) Wheels, because if those weren't there, then the ride would probably be illegal.


Element 10: Thunderbolt's Helix


After Thunderbolt's drop, it goes through a massive helix. This is a double helix with 2 airtime moments in it. It then goes into a mid-course brake run.


Element 11: Thunderbolt's Finale


On Thunderbolt, after a 90 foot drop into the ravine, you go through a turnaround that leads to one last dip before the end of the ride.


Element 12: Racer's Ejector Drop


At the very end of Racer, after you just experienced a (mostly) family friendly ride, you go into one ejector airtime moment. It isn't sustained for that long, but it is a good finale.


Element 13: Skyrocket's Launch


This launch brings you from 0-50 miles per hour in less than 3 seconds. This launch feels very forceful, and I really enjoy it. Now, this launch will be slightly faster than Skyrocket's actual launch, but it will still be similar to Skyrocket's launch


Element 13: Steel Curtain's Sea Serpent Roll


I am choosing this because it is a tall inversion, but it probably wouldn't be too tall. It is a fun inversion.


Element 14: Skyrocket's Tophat


This is a bit of a weird placement, but it would be good. It provides sustained ejector airtime, and I would love it to be here.


Element 15/16: Skyrocket's Cutback and Zero G-Roll


These elements are taken back-to-back. You just get off of the Tophat, and you go through a Cutback. After the Cutback is a fun Zero G-Roll.


Element 17: Phantom's Revenge's Finale


This will be the finale of this ride. You go through several ejector airtime hills. This leads into the final brake run.


Element 18: Steel Curtain's Final Brake Run


To end this ride, you go through Steel Curtain's Final Brake Run. I just chose this since it is the least sudden brake run.


Part 2: Trains


Of all the trains in the park, there are only 2 sets of trains that can safely go through inversions. These trains are the trains on Skyrocket and Steel Curtain. All the other ones basically just have a buzz bar.


Personally, I prefer Steel Curtain's trains, as they are much better looking and are more comfortable. For this, we are going to use trains similar to those on Steel Curtain.


Part 3: Track Type


The ride will take element designs from each coaster, but that doesn't mean that the original track designs will be completely reused. There are 3 types of incompatible tracks. We need to select one to use, so I select the Steel Curtain/Skyrocket track type. These are higher stress track designs, and I find them to be very smooth.


Now, if the track type doesn't need to be reused from something else in the park, then I would use a different design. My choices would be either RMC iBox/Topper Track, Modern Intamin Track, or B&M Box Track.


My final choice is the Intamin Modern Track and the Steel Curtain Track. These tracks appear interchangeable, so I choose them both.


Part 5: Paint Color


I think that it should have a similar paint job to Phantom's Revenge. It will have better maintained paint.

1 view0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Kennywood 2022 Predictions

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about the future of Kennywood. Furthermore, I've been talking a lot with a friend who works at the...

Comments


bottom of page