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Wicker Man - General Discussion - Part Two

Heard a section of trackwork is to be replaced, explaining why it was closed today. Could be wrong but I trust what I've heard. Has anyone else heard or seen anything that coincides with this?
 
Wooden rollercoasters are retracked very frequently; boards have to be replaced every so often as part of routine maintenance. Most wooden coasters will likely have had track replaced at some point in their lifetime, and many older wooden coasters will likely have had a pretty significant amount done.

For example, even though Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach opened in 1923, the chances of there being much original track left from 1923 are likely quite low...
 
It wouldn’t surprise me if the section after the s-turn drop but just before the first Wicker Man pass through was replaced, as many have said that that section of track has gotten quite rough since the ride opened, and it’s also one of the sections that likely has the most strain placed upon it in terms of forces.
EDIT: Sorry if I’ve named that element wrong; I don’t know what to call it, really. The section I’m referring to is the section shown at about 0:11 in this POV:
 
Matt N said:
It wouldn’t surprise me if the section after the s-turn drop but just before the first Wicker Man pass through was replaced, as many have said that that section of track has gotten quite rough since the ride opened, and it’s also one of the sections that likely has the most strain placed upon it in terms of forces.
EDIT: Sorry if I’ve named that element wrong; I don’t know what to call it, really. The section I’m referring to is the section shown at about 0:11 in this POV:
Click to expand...


Possibly my guess too, it's not thought to be straight track is all I've been told (which isn't a surprise), other sections that it would maybe be is the flat Turns (boring corner, into the brake run or as you come onto the lift maybe). I'm not an expert on woodies but I'd imagine flat turns cause more stress for the track that a banked one?
 
Connor98 said:
Possibly my guess too, it's not thought to be straight track is all I've been told (which isn't a surprise), other sections that it would maybe be is the flat Turns (boring corner, into the brake run or as you come onto the lift maybe). I'm not an expert on woodies but I'd imagine flat turns cause more stress for the track that a banked one?
Click to expand...
Probably, but that stretch of track is the bit where the train carries the most speed (if I had to guess where the ride hits its top speed, I’d definitely go for this stretch just before the first Wicker Man pass-through), so that’s presumably where it exerts the most strain on the structure. Would also match up with reports calling that the roughest part of the ride.

Is anyone at Towers today? Have they got the area near to Wicker Man open so we can see any work being done?
 
Matt N said:
Probably, but that stretch of track is the bit where the train carries the most speed (if I had to guess where the ride hits its top speed, I’d definitely go for this stretch just before the first Wicker Man pass-through), so that’s presumably where it exerts the most strain on the structure. Would also match up with reports calling that the roughest part of the ride.

Is anyone at Towers today? Have they got the area near to Wicker Man open so we can see any work being done?
Click to expand...

Be interesting to see who they have on site for the repair. Maybe they are waiting for GCI to arrive from the states.
 
I can imagine that eventually the ride will get retracking in its later years. I notice a small part of the Big Bob has turned green on the ram side as well so that will have to eventually be replaced as well. Look out for it when you next go to Towers!
 
I’d imagine that this may be some form of retracking, as isn’t it the steel topper on top of the wood that causes the ride to be rougher, as well being as the component that is replaced during wooden coaster retracking?

That would certainly give a valid explanation for a long piece of metal!
 
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