SKY ROCKET
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
APRIL 13, 2010 |
| Welcome back to another construction update for Kennywood's newest coaster, Sky Rocket. Although no new track has been put up since the last update, vertical construction has now continued, this time in the area of the station. In the past few days, the transfer track has been installed and supports for the launch have began popping up. Also, with the latest shipment of track it looks as if most of the track for the coaster is now on site with the exception of two or three pieces. |
| |
|
To start this update off, we'll take a look at the progress they have made on the station area. As you can see the transfer/station track is now installed along with a few supports for the final brake run. |
| |
|
Along with the station, they have also installed the supports for the turn out of the station as well as several supports for the launch. |
| |
|
A Closer look at the progress they have made on this area. This picture gives you a really good idea of how high the station is going to be off the ground. You certainly aren't going to miss this when you walk out of the tunnel and into the park! |
| |
|
With the recent holdup on the other end of the construction site, my intuition leads me to believe they are going to begin working backwards to where they left off at the bunny hills. This would include both brake runs at the end of the coaster. One thing to note in this picture is the funky suppport in the center of the shot. Obviously this support is like this so they could avoid digging near the tunnel. |
| |
|
Several new pieces of track have also showed up on site, including this one which most definitely belongs to the barrel roll, the coasters second inversion. |
| |
|
Based on the numbers on the other track pieces, I'm assuming this is the approach to the barrel roll. No sign of pieces S18 or S20 though so it's kinda hard to tell. |
| |
|
Another piece for the barrel roll. Like I said, these are some of the last pieces of track for the coaster. I'm going to predict that all the track should be on site after the next shipment. |
| |
|
This is the piece I've been waiting to see on site. This piece belongs to the first drop and is the first piece of the pullout heading back to the ground. As you can see, my initial concern about how long the trains will be vertical was correct, and it doesn't look like the train will be vertical for very long much like the approach to the first hill. |
| |
|
It's hard to tell by this angle, but this pieces almost certainly belongs to the bottom of the first drop. It could also be the lead into the inverted top hat, but I'm putting my money on it being for the bottom of the first drop. |
| |
|
Now don't get too excited now! This container DOES NOT contain Sky Rocket trains. This cargo container actually is the coaster's PLC which is where all the coaster's computers are located. We have heard that this will be located under the ride's station. |
| |
|
Another view of the cargo container. Once again, no trains are inside but we have heard that trains should be arriving soon. When they do however, they will most likely be stored inside park grounds. Bummer! |
| |
|
And we'll close up this update with a look at several supports heading to the construction site. I'm pretty certain these belong to the final brake run and confirms my prediction that they are going to work backwards from the station to where they left off at the bunny hills. |
| |
Thanks for checking out today's Sky Rocket Construction Update brought to you by Kennywood Connection. Stay tuned for another update in the coming days as more supports and track start to rise at Kennywood!
|
Thank you to KWC member Myself for providing the pictures used in today's construction update! |
