Quote:
Originally posted by M. Krass
They are pneumatic. They're designed to be in a normally 'closed' position, as well, so that should the ride experience a loss of power midway through a launch, the brakes default to the 'closed' position and can stop the train.
The magnets in each brake unit are not alike. They each have varying mixture of metals that affect the force they exert on the train. The brakes closest to the station are the most powerful.
If Intamin, the company responsible for designing Top Thrill Dragster, is using the same braking system that's in place on their megacoasters (Superman: Ride of Steel near Rochester, NY, near Washington D.C., and near Springfield, MA as well as some others) it'd be interesting to note that the FESTO pneumatic valves we receive in our kit of parts are used to control the braking cylinders.
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All correct, M... including the FESTO parts. I'm not sure if they were the exact valves we used, but I did see numerous parts labeled "FESTO" when I got a look at the track. You're right about them being normally closed, too. When the car is in the station, the cylinders are all up, then they all drop in unison 3 seconds before launch, and as the car moves by, they raise up in about 5 segments immediately after the car has passed.