Kingda Ka

On June 6, 2005, during the first few weeks of Kingda Ka's operation, a malfunction occurred during a test run without passengers on-board the train.  The liner that surrounds the launch cable came loose and slowed the train.  During a normal launch, brake fins pop up on the launch track after the train passes.  The fins are designed to keep trains from rolling backward into the launching station in case the train does not clear the top of the tower.  On this occasion, because the train was moving so slowly, dozens of fins popped up in front of the train and further slowed the train.  The fins were damaged when they tried to stop the train from traveling forward.  Additionally, the launch cable was damaged and pieces of metal flew out of the bottom of the train.  The ride was closed for two months so repairs could be made.  The ride was closed for three months in 2009, allegedly due to a lightning strike.  I am somewhat skeptical about the cause of this extended closure because I am certain that this structure gets hit by lightning all of the time.  There is no way a 450-foot-tall metal structure can avoid lightning!

©2018 by Joel A. Rogers.