Magnum XL-200

Magnum XL-200, colloquially known as simply Magnum, is a steel roller coaster built by Arrow Dynamics at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. When it opened in 1989, it was the tallest, fastest, and steepest complete-circuit roller coaster in the world as well as the first hypercoaster – a roller coaster that exceeds 200 feet (61 m) in height.[1] Some have credited Magnum with starting a period in the industry known as the roller coaster wars, in which amusement parks competed with one another at a rapid pace to build the next tallest and fastest roller coaster.[2][3] More than 40 million people had ridden Magnum as of 2009.[4]

Magnum XL-200
Cedar Point
Location	Cedar Point
Coordinates	41°29′7.25″N 82°41′10″W
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 6, 1989 (1989-05-06)
Cost	US$ 8,000,000
General statistics
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Ron Toomer
Model	Hyper Coaster
Track layout	Out and Back
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	205 ft (62 m)
Drop	194.7 ft (59.3 m)
Length	5,106 ft (1,556 m)
Speed	72 mph (116 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	2:00
Max vertical angle	60°
Capacity	2,000 riders per hour
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	3 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 36 riders per train.
Fast Lane available
Magnum XL-200 at RCDB Pictures of Magnum XL-200 at RCDB

Magnum XL-200 held the title of tallest roller coaster in the world until 1994 when Pepsi Max Big One opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the United Kingdom. Amusement Today presented Magnum with its "Best Steel Roller Coaster" Golden Ticket Award for three consecutive years from 1998 to 2000. As of 2014, it was ranked thirteenth in the world by the same publication.[5]

History

Background

By the mid-1980s, Cedar Point had grown into a successful collection of roller coasters and other smaller rides on the shores of Lake Erie. Dick Kinzel took over as president and CEO of Cedar Fair, the company that operates the park, in 1986. In 1988, Kinzel saw a report on CNN about the opening of a new coaster in Japan called Bandit at Yomiuriland that emphasized height and speed but had no inversions.[6] Kinzel wanted to introduce a similar coaster that emphasized steep drops and negative g-forces over inversions and spins, which were common at the time. It had been 10 years since the last major addition, Gemini, was introduced. Cedar Point asked for proposals from TOGO, Dinn Corporation, Intamin and Arrow Dynamics to build a roller coaster without inversions or over-the-shoulder restraints. They chose Arrow, which proposed a 187 feet (57 m)-tall coaster. That got Cedar Point's management interested in breaking the 200-foot (61 m) barrier, partly because of the publicity to be gained from building the first roller coaster to do so. The name Magnum XL-200 was chosen because Magnum, P.I. was popular at the time and Cedar Point's management wanted to incorporate the height into the name.[7] The original proposal was to cost $7.5 million, but was raised to $8 million after the height was extended to 200 feet (61 m).[7][8]

Opening

Entrance sign introduced on Magnum's 20th anniversary in 2009

Magnum XL-200 was announced on August 16, 1988, and construction began shortly thereafter.[9] Following its completion in 1989, Kinzel was one of the first people to ride the coaster, boarding the train after one test cycle.[10] It officially opened to the public on May 6, 1989 as the world's tallest, fastest and steepest complete-circuit roller coaster. It was measured for the Guinness Book of World Records on June 2.[11][12] Cedar Point set a record attendance in 1989, due in part to the introduction of the Magnum.[4]

Magnum was awarded the ACE Roller Coaster Landmark award on June 21, 2004.[13] Magnum has been repainted once in its history. The original track color was scarlet red, but the park started painting Magnum Molly orange in 2005. The job was completed in 2006.[14] Cedar Point celebrated Magnum's 20th anniversary on opening day in 2009 with a ceremony and an appearance by Ron Toomer, its designer. A new entrance sign was also introduced.[3][15]

Magnum XL-200 has been the target of false rumors since 1998 claiming the structure was sinking due to unstable ground. The rumors supposedly started as an April Fools' Day joke in an Ohio newspaper, but quickly spread via the Internet. Cedar Point quickly denounced such rumors.[4][16]

Ride experience

Layout

Magnum XL-200 is classified as a hypercoaster and an out and back roller coaster. After the train departs the station, it travels west over the walkway leading to Cedar Point Shores. It then makes a slight decline and a 90-degree turn to the right and begins the 205-foot (62 m) climb to the top of the chain lift hill, which operates at a speed of 6 mph (9.7 km/h). The train descends 194.7 feet (59.3 m) at a 60-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 72 miles per hour (116 km/h). The train then ascends a 157-foot (48 m) camelback hill, curving to the left into the first tunnel. Coming out of the tunnel, the train ascends a third, 80-foot (24 m)-tall hill. After the third hill, it enters a set of trim brakes and a pretzel-shaped turnaround where it curves to the left toward the beach and then left again into another tunnel. The train then traverses over seven airtime hills and a third tunnel into a mid-course brake run. The train turns left and goes back over the walkway to Cedar Point Shores. It then turns right and enters the brake run, followed by a 90 degree right turn back into the station.[2][17][18] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes.[1]

Trains

Riders coming back to the station

Magnum XL-200 has three white-and-black trains. Each train has red, black or blue striping at the front.[19] Each train has six cars; riders are arranged two-across in three rows for a total of 36 riders per train.[11] Magnum was the first coaster in which Arrow Dynamics used its Hypercoaster trains, which were subsequently installed on dozens of other new rides. Riders are secured by a single lap bar and a seat belt.[20]

When Magnum XL-200 opened, it used pads similar to those still in use on Gemini. Shortly after its debut, however, these up-stop plates were replaced with more traditional up-stop wheels that stops excess wear and tear[21]

Track

Magnum XL-200's steel track is 5,106 feet (1,556 m) in length, and its main hill is approximately 205 feet (62 m) high.[1] Magnum XL-200 originally had a scarlet red track with silver supports. The track was repainted Molly orange in 2005, but the supports remained silver.[14] The track consists of a tubular steel spine connected by struts to tubular steel running rails.[20] When it opened, a steel out and back roller coaster without any loops was unheard of. Magnum's track is not smooth, partly because its pieces were welded together and unassisted by computer design.[22][23] The track sections range from 2 to 200 feet (0.61 to 60.96 m) and are supported by 157 structural columns.[8]

Accident

On May 26, 2007, one of the coaster's trains collided with another at less than 10 miles per hour (16 km/h), causing minor damage to both trains and minor injuries to at least three passengers. Two people were taken to a first aid station, and a third person was taken to a local hospital because of an asthma attack. The ride reopened the next day and park spokesman Robin Innes said the accident was caused by rain: "We think it was just caused by excessive moisture on the tracks due to the heavy rain storms we had in the morning" he said.[24]

Awards and rankings

Magnum's ACE Landmark sign

Magnum XL-200 was designated an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark on June 21, 2004, at the 27th Annual Convention of the American Coaster Enthusiasts. It received the designation for inspiring more than a dozen similar rides on three continents and for being the first hypercoaster.[13]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters

Year	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Ranking	1[25]	1[26]	1[27]	3[28]	3[29]	4[30]	3[31]	3[32]	3[33]	5[34]	7[35]	9[36]	8[37]	10[38]	8[39]	9[40]	13[5]	15[41]	15[42]	23[43]	14[44]	18[45]

NAPHA Survey: Favorite Steel Roller Coaster
Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Ranking	2[46]	2[46]	3[46]	3[46]	2[46]	2[46]	N/A

Records

Preceded by Great American Scream Machine	World's Tallest Complete Circuit Roller Coaster May 1989 – May 1994	Succeeded by Big One
Preceded by Shockwave	World's Longest Roller Coaster Drop May 1989 – May 1991	Succeeded by Steel Phantom
Preceded by Bandit	World's Fastest Roller Coaster May 1989 – May 1991

References

1. "Magnum XL-200 stats and info". Ultimate Roller Coaster. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
2. "Magnum XL-200". Experience the Point. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
3. "Magnum XL-200 20th anniversary ceremony". PointBuzz. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
4. "A Blast from the Past Part 3". News Plus Notes. November 12, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
5. "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
6. Holmes, Scott; Holmes, Carol (2009). "20 Years of Magnum". RollerCoaster! Magazine. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts. 30 (4): 4–11. ISSN 0896-7261.
7. "A Blast from the Past Part. 1". News Plus Notes. October 29, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
8. "A Blast from the Past Part. 2". News Plus Notes. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
9. "Ohio roller coaster to be fastest ride". Associated Press. August 17, 1988. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
10. Chavezblade, Jon (December 25, 2011). "Kinzel reflects on wild ride". Toledo Blade. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
11. Marden, Duane. "Magnum XL-200  (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
12. "PointBuzz Timeline". PointBuzz. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
13. "ACE Coaster Landmark". American Coaster Enthusiasts. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
14. "Magnum XL-200 gets repainted". Cedar Point. Archived from the original on May 5, 2006. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
15. "It's opening weekend at Cedar Point". Associated Press. May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on May 18, 2009. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
16. "Is Magnum XL-200 sinking?". Cedarpoint.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved December 16, 2007.
17. "Magnum XL-200 POV". 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
18. "Brakes and Lift Hill". Coaster-Net. January 1, 2011. Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
19. "Magnum XL-200 Red Train". Themeparkcritic. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
20. "Arrow Dyanamics Hypercoasters". Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
21. Sandy, Adam (2006). "Roller Coaster History — Late Eighties". Ultimate RollerCoaster. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
22. Borgen, Andrew. "Magnum XL-200 (CP Guide)". Retrieved November 23, 2012.
23. "Super Coasters: Magnum XL-200". National Geographic. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
24. "Rain blamed for Magnum malfunction". Sandusky Register. May 28, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
25. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 1998. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
26. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 1999. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
27. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
28. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
29. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
30. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
31. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 18–19B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
32. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
33. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
34. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
35. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
36. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
37. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
38. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
39. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
40. "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
41. "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
42. "2016 top 50 steel roller coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
43. "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
44. "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
45. "2019 Top Steel". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
46. "NAPHA 2005–2011 Survey Results". National Amusement Park Historical Association. Retrieved May 27, 2012.

External links

• Cedarpoint.com - Magnum XL-200's official page
• Magnum XL-200 1987 News Broadcasts
• Magnum XL-200 at Coaster-Net
• Magnum XL-200 at The Point Online