Xcelerator facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Xcelerator |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Knott's Berry Farm | |
| Location | Knott's Berry Farm |
| Park section | The Boardwalk |
| Coordinates | 33°50′45″N 118°00′03″W / 33.84583°N 118.00083°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | June 22, 2002 |
| Cost | $13,000,000 |
| Replaced | Windjammer Surf Racers |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Accelerator Coaster |
| Track layout | Dual Overbank Figure 8 |
| Lift/launch system | Hydraulic catch car launch |
| Height | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Length | 2,202 ft (671 m) |
| Speed | 82 mph (132 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:02 (25 seconds from launch to brakes) |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
| Capacity | 1,330 riders per hour |
| Acceleration | 0 − 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3 seconds |
| Height restriction | 52 in (132 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane available |
|
| Xcelerator at RCDB | |
Xcelerator is a super-fast steel roller coaster located at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It was built by a company called Intamin. This ride is known for its amazing launch, which sends riders zooming forward!
The Ride Experience
When you get on Xcelerator, your train connects to a special "catch car" under the track. This car pulls the train back a little bit. Then, in just 2.3 seconds, the train is launched forward! It reaches a speed of 82 miles per hour (132 km/h) right from the start.
After the launch, the train races over a tall, 205-foot (62 m) tower. This part is called a "top hat" element because of its shape. Next, the train goes through two turns that are tilted a lot, called "overbanked turns." One turn is 110 feet high, and the next is 95 feet high. Finally, the train slows down smoothly using special magnetic brakes.
Common Ride Issues
Sometimes, a train might not go fast enough to make it all the way over the 215-foot (66 m) top hat tower. If this happens, the train will try to go up the tower, stop, and then roll backward to the station. This is a normal part of the ride's design and is called a "shortshot."
When a shortshot happens, the ride usually closes for a short time. This allows the park staff to reset and test the roller coaster several times. Only after these tests is it safe to open the ride again. Several things can cause a shortshot. These include rain, the total weight of the riders, how many times the ride has launched, the outside temperature, and if the ride's parts get too hot.
Xcelerator will not operate when it is raining. This is to prevent shortshots from happening when the launch track is wet. The track needs to be completely dry before the roller coaster can be tested and opened again.
Images for kids
-
Xcelerator's Red Train exits the first overbanked turn.
-
Xcelerator's former Yellow Train (since repainted) cruises to a smooth stop on the magnetic brake run.
