Top Thrill Dragster

A long catch car is located within the launch track.  It used to attach the trains to the launching system at the base of the tower.  Two steel cables that run from the launch equipment pull the catch car forward.  A large pulley near the station allows a cable to run from the base of the tower, change direction around the pulley, and attach to the rear of the catch car.  This allows the catch car to be pulled backward after a launch in order to reset it for the next ride cycle.

I used to think that the catch car hooked up to the front of the train, but I was incorrect.  It actually clicks into the third car!  Under that third car, a Launch Dog is installed.  The Launch Dog is a hinged metal hook that attaches to the catch car.  It is held up in the retracted position by a permanent magnet mounted on the bottom of the car.  An electro-magnet can be turned on which overrides the permanent magnet and allows the dog to drop down before launch.  The Dog is forced up when released by the catch car.  Being retracted and held in place again by the magnet prevents the Launch Dog from reconnecting to the catch car in the event of a rollback.

©2021 by Joel A. Rogers.