Six Flags Magic Mountain's X2 Trains - Backstage Tour Photos & Video

Hello everyone!

I want to share with you all some photos we took during a backstage tour of Six Flags Magic Mountain's new trains for X2.

The following photos and video were shot today in the transfer shed of X2. So far 2 rows of cars have been delivered. The paint job or the "X change operation" is nearing completion and the park is anticipating a Spring 2008 re-opening.

Check out both the photos and there is a link to our video where park General Manager Tim Burkhart explains more in depth some of the changes to the new trains.

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From outside the park you can see that almost all the track is now red. The "X Change Operation" which will take X from being girly pink & yellow to manly red & black is almost done!

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If you look REAL close, you can still see some yellow left.

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum...ins_16_193.jpg
Wait a second! That's a trash bag with a wheel sticking out! You can't fool me!!!

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Oh. *blush* I see. There really IS a train under there!

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So Tim Burkhart, SFMM General Manager explained that one of the main differences was converting the old "Pickle Forks" into "Pickle Spoons." (The actual technical term. We're not making this up! Someone went through YEARS of engineering school for this so please don't make fun of their names!)

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Here you can see the old "Pickle Forks" that the seats rest on...

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum...ins_03_381.jpg
The new "Pickle Spoon" is one giant piece, and while lighter than the old pickle fork, should be more stable and make for a smoother ride.

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The wheels...while yes they are still round...note that the assembly is one solid piece on the new train...

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum...ins_28_140.jpg
...Whereas on the old trains there were a lot more welds and bolts that held it together.

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You can see here where many changes were made to help lighten up the trains. All those holes used to be solid on the old trains.

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Here's some bolts.

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Here's some steel!

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New train.....old train!

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Yup. When it opens it's going to launch at 85MPH! Didn't you hear about that part? Ok, ok, I'm just kidding!

To download the video, an interview with park General Manager Tim Burkhart who goes in more detail about the changes to the trains, click here:
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum...trains_534.zip

Hope you all enjoy the pics!

--Robb

Thanks for the Pics. Looks like the TLC that a ride like X should have had from the start. Definitely my fave at SFMM. Now if only they can get rid of the trashy gangs of teenagers that hang out there, it would be a awesome park.

Pretty awesome! I can't wait to ride it!

Is that the "Whipper Snapper" Location from National Lampoon's Vacation? Are they going to change the Spanish Villa motif to something more fitting the X2! Logo's they have on the banner?

I never thought the pink and yellow were "girly". Just because something is pink doesn't mean it's girly. I always thought it was unique since you don't see too many coasters with those colors. But I do like the new red and black color scheme and the colors of the new trains. Though now we'll have three coasters with red tracks, four if you count Tatsu's red rails. I just think it's better if each coaster had it's own color. Ninja could be black. It is called "the blackbelt of coasters" yet the track is red. Viper is great the way it is.

I'm not complaining or anything, but I am wondering why this thread was moved into this forum instead of staying in the "non-Disney parks" thread where the thread subject line is "News, Gossip and Rumors for the other parks: Universal, Sea World, Six Flags, etc."

Just curious.

--Robb

^^ I think it's sort of one of those topics that straddle both forums, but I think it has to do with the fact that the links, etc. are promoting your site, which the mods just stick into the "Community Outpost" forum. Like the "we have information on <insert topic here> on our site, come to our site" threads are usually moved here. I guess the best thing to do would be to PM a mod (or Dustysage) on that issue and they can explain better.

BTW thanks SO MUCH for the pics, they are excellent and it will be exciting to ride X again this summer. It is my favorite ride, but for the last 5-6 visits to SFMM over the last few years the damn thing has been closed. Hopefully the new trains will be less buggy.

^ Gotcha. I removed the links to the forum. So if you guys want to download the video directly, now you can! =)

Hope that helps.

--Robb