It may be relatively small and offer a relatively short ride, but the Wooden Warrior is surprisingly powerful and, pound for pound, it’s one of the best wooden roller coasters. It’s remarkably smooth too, thanks to its Timberliner train prototype.
Initial information
- Excitement scale (0 = Wimpy !, 10 = Yikes!: 5
- Typical wooden roller coaster thrills, but relatively toned down due to its small stature and steady ride.
- Revision Date: August 2012
- Mountain type: wood
- Top speed: 35 mph
- Height restriction: 54 inches (42 ‘accompanied by an adult)
- Lift hill height: 33 feet
- Drop: 45 feet
- Runway length: 1250 feet
- Driving time: 57 seconds
- Manufacturer: The Gravity Group
- Location: Quassy Amusement Park
Unique cars. Unique ride
From the moment passengers enter the charging station and climb into one of the Wooden Warrior seats, it is evident that this is no ordinary roller coaster. Instead of the typical lap bars, seat belts or other restraints, the sleek blue train has curved bars that swing horizontally and cleverly accommodate everyone from toddlers to adults with stomach problems. There is no need to staple riders of any size; The unique retention system, using hydraulic controls, offers a comfortable experience.
Horizontal grab bars are among the innovations featured on the Timberliner ride train. We’ll get to the other behind-the-scenes engineering breakthroughs for the roller coaster later; For now, let’s focus on the journey it offers.
As you exit the station, the train locks onto the chain and goes up a small hill 33 feet in elevation. As you climb, it’s natural to assume that a fairly tame ride awaits you, perhaps something similar to the Barnstormer at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom or a similar junior roller coaster. It is a reasonable assumption. The Wooden Warrior’s height, drop, and top speed place it firmly in the junior or family coaster category. Assume at your own risk.
After a short turn, the train picks up speed, drops 45 feet (the lift is built on top of a small hill, which accounts for the difference between the height of the hill and the first drop), and immediately rises to deliver the first of many, incongruously forceful bursts of delusional airtime. Before passengers can say, “What just happened?” the train turns left and climbs for a welcoming second of airtime out of its seat. Roaring up and down as it passed through Quassy’s picnic grounds, Wooden Warrior fires into a small covered tunnel section.
Emerge briefly, turn, and enter a second short tunnel.
The roller coaster then delivers its second largest drop, followed by another satisfying lift towards the roller coaster gods. This is followed by four small camel hills, each punctuated by an airtime rush, and a propeller that returns passengers to the station. Barely 57 seconds into their journey, the radiant and overjoyed riders wonder what just happened. Let me try to answer that.
Smooth operator
Let’s go back to the Timberliner train. Most wooden roller coasters offer a distinctive ride for rough use. Roller coaster fans wouldn’t want it any other way. But many woodies don’t age well, ending up overemphasizing the rough in the rough-and-tumble ratio. I’ve been on some lame rides that left my internal organs like a bad James Bond martini: violently shaken and shaken.
To help calm the churning and shaking, one manufacturer has focused on the track and developed a pre-made plug-and-play design. The innovative concept, used on a handful of roller coasters, including El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure, has produced highly advertised rides. The Gravity Group, which designed and built Wooden Warrior, focuses on the train.
Traditional wooden roller coaster trains have fixed wheels. When they approach a curve in the track, they want to continue in a straight line. This can cause a difficult journey, especially over time. According to Korey Kiepert, engineer and partner at The Gravity Group, Timberliner trains have a steerable wheel system with tie rods that can navigate curves. Each row of seats has its own set of wheels and can be moved independently of the rest of the train. “It reduces friction,” he says, “and eliminates the usual confusion that cyclists feel.” And how.
Other than El Toro, I have never had a smoother wooden roller coaster experience.
Turning and banking aboard the Wooden Warrior, I felt the typical wooden roller coaster dynamics. I could feel the flexible wooden structure breathing and I experienced the lateral forces that pushed me slightly from here to there. But there were none of the shaking, unwanted vibrations, or the occasional high-intensity sizzle that woodies often impart. It was solid as a rock, smooth and precise.
Quassy is only the second roller coaster in the world to feature Timberliner trains. (The first is in Sweden). “We were contacted by The Gravity Group,” says Ron Gustafson, the park’s director of marketing, “and asked if we would be guinea pigs.” It is a gamble that has paid off for the small park. In the same way that the trains do not exceed the passengers, they also do not exceed the track. Kiepert says they exert 50% less vertical force and 66% less lateral force on the track. While forests are notoriously delicate and expensive to maintain, Wooden Warrior has had relatively low maintenance costs, according to Gustafson.
Quassy has been delighted with Wooden Warrior. President and owner Eric Anderson says that when he was planning the addition to the park, he wanted to build a ride that could serve as a child’s first wooden roller coaster. After mounting it for the first time, he modified his target audience to “a very brave boy.”
How much do I adore the Wooden Warrior? I rank it among the best wooden roller coasters in North America. About.com readers love the ride, too. It was voted the Best New Roller Coaster of 2011 at the Readers’ Choice Awards.
Timberliner trains do not necessarily guarantee a solid and smooth roller coaster experience. I had high hopes for another little New England roller coaster made by The Gravity Group, Roar-O-Saurus at Story Land in New Hampshire. Unfortunately, he didn’t live up to the high bar set by Wooden Warrior. Read my Roar-O-Saurus review.
