View source for X2 (roller coaster)

{{Short description|Roller coaster at Magic Mountain}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:X2 (roller coaster)}}
{{distinguish|text=[[X (roller coaster)]], an indoor roller coaster in Thorpe Park, England}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
|name=X2
|previousnames={{nowrap|X (2001–2007)}}
|image=X2-firstdrop.jpg
|caption= X2's first drop
|location=Six Flags Magic Mountain         <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
|section= Baja Ridge          <!--Must not be linked.-->
|type=Steel             <!--Must be "Steel" or "Wood", nothing else. Must not be linked.-->
|type2=4th Dimension
|status=Operating
|soft_opened = {{Start date|2001|12|24}}
|opened= {{Start date|2002|01|12}}
|year= 2002
|closed=
|manufacturer=Arrow Dynamics   <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
|designer=[[Alan Schilke]]<br>[[Renato Manzoni]]
|model=4th Dimension Coaster
|lift=Chain Lift
|height_ft=175      <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
|drop_ft=215         <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
|length_ft=3610           <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
|speed_mph= 76          <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
|inversions=2
|angle=88.5
<!--Do not include "degrees", it is added automatically.-->
|capacity=1600<ref name="XFacts">[http://www.rcdb.com/id750.htm X Facts Sheet] {{webarchive |url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060516030458/http://www.rcdb.com/id750.htm |date=May 16, 2006 }} ''Roller Coaster Database'' Retrieved 2007-11-04</ref>
|cost= $45,000,000 USD to build (2002)<br>$10,000,000 USD to renovate (2008)
|acceleration=
|gforce=4Gs
|restriction_in= 48      <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
|trains=3
|carspertrain=7
|ridersperrow=4
|rowspercar=1
|virtual_queue_name=Single Reservation [[Flash Pass]] only
|virtual_queue_image=Fastpass availability icon.svg
|single_rider=
|accessible=
|transfer_accessible=available
|virtual_queue_status=available     <!--should be available if above fields are used-->
|rcdb_number=750      <!--The number in the URL of the coaster's RCDB page-->
|coordinates={{coord|34.421005|-118.592885|region:US_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
}}
'''X2''' (formerly known as '''X''') is a [[steel roller coaster]] at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] in [[Valencia, California|Valencia]], [[California]]. It was the world's first [[fourth-dimension roller coaster]] and was the final roller coaster installed by ride manufacturer [[Arrow Dynamics]]. The ride is unique in that the trains' seats pitch 360 degrees forwards and in reverse independent of the main chassis. The coaster initially opened to the public on January 12, 2002; numerous issues delayed it from debuting in 2001 as was originally anticipated. On December 2, 2007, the ride closed for its transformation into X2. It was completely repainted, received new third-generation trains, and featured new special effects including onboard audio, fog effects, and a pair of [[flame throwers]]. The ride reopened on May 24, 2008, following the upgrades.
==History==
[[File:X overview - Six Flags Magic Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|An overview of the track when the ride was known as X.]]
On December 19, 2000, Six Flags Magic Mountain announced that it would be adding three roller coasters for the 2001 season as part of a $30 million expansion: [[Goliath (Six Flags New England)|Déjà Vu]], [[Magic Flyer (roller coaster)|Goliath Jr.]] and the original X. This would bring the total to 15, beating the world coaster capital, [[Cedar Point]].<ref>{{cite news|date=December 20, 2000|title=Coaster war heating up|work=The Times Recorder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80550737/coaster-war-heating-up/|access-date=August 9, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> X was a prototype 4th Dimension roller coaster by [[Arrow Dynamics]].<ref name="RCDB">{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=X2|location=Six Flags Magic Mountain|url=https://rcdb.com/750.htm|accessdate=August 9, 2021}}</ref>
The ride was planned to open in the summer of 2001, but the opening was delayed when it suffered design flaws.<ref name="TheCoasterGuy">{{cite web|last=Dahlin|first=Kurt|title=X2 Roller Coaster At Six Flags Magic Mountain|url=http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2012/01/12/ride-profile-x2/|publisher=The Coaster Guy|access-date=August 9, 2021|date=January 12, 2012}}</ref> X opened for passholders on December 24, 2001, and officially opened on January 12, 2002.<ref name="RCDB" /> A month before opening, Arrow Dynamics filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] due to the ride's misjudged costs stemming from Six Flags asking for a much larger ride than Arrow had successfully prototyped (This is covered in the 2016 documentary The Legacy of Arrow Development).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Legacy of Arrow Development|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGKgVxx5Wu8&ab_channel=AmericanCoasterEnthusiasts}}</ref> The manufacturer had lost millions of dollars on the project.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 9, 2002|title=Utah-based rollercoaster maker may be sold|work=The Daily Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74121042/utah-based-rollercoaster-maker-may-be/|access-date=August 9, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
X was closed indefinitely in June 2002 due to issues with the trains. It was discovered that one of the coach seats that flipped riders was not moving smoothly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-03-me-xride3-story.html|title=Design Flaw Shuts Down Magic Mountain Ride - Los Angeles Times|date=3 July 2002}}</ref> The ride reopened on August 13, 2002 after modifications were made to make it reliable.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 14, 2002|title=X coaster rolls at Six Flags Magic Mountain|work=Visalia Times-Delta|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81382815/x-coaster-rolls-at-six-flags-magic/|access-date=August 9, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="RCDB" />
On February 8, 2003, [[Super Bowl]] MVP [[Dexter Jackson (safety)|Dexter Jackson]] took a ride on X as part of a victory celebration of the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] football team.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mook|first=Judy|date=February 9, 2003|title=An MVP experiences the X|work=The Signal|publisher=Signal Staff Writer|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91081929/an-mvp-experiences-the-x/|access-date=December 24, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
[[Image:X2-newtrain.jpg|right|thumb|One of the new trains during testing]]
On November 1, 2007, [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] announced a redesign. X closed on December 2, 2007, to be redesigned including new trains with a pneumatic restraint system (an improvement over the original mechanically operated restraints that would frequently jam), a new color scheme of red track and black supports (originally pink track and yellow supports), and an all-new, innovative state-of-the-art visual, audio and sensory effects. In a projected $10 million investment, X reopened on May 24, 2008, as X2.<ref name="X2">[http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/rides/X2.aspx X launches into a new galaxy, becoming X2.] ''Six Flags'' Retrieved 2007-11-02</ref> Six Flags Magic Mountain hired S&S Arrow to build new trains for X2.<ref>{{cite web|title=YouTube - X2 Trains (Theme Park Review)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooTbx_AwyFk}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref> The new trains are lighter to reduce the amount of wear and downtime. X2 also took on a new load/unload method and third train to increase the ride capacity by 50%. Testing of the trains began on March 6, 2008.<ref name="X2Transformation">[http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/rides/X2transformation.aspx X is taken to the next dimension with the first test ride of X2] ''Six Flags'' Retrieved 2015-11-30</ref>
The attraction was closed in 2013 due to a broken chain lift.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insanitylurksinside.com/2013/09/six-flags-magic-mountain-x2-is-down.html|title=Six Flags Magic Mountain- X2 is Down - InSanity lurks Inside}}</ref> It reopened in January 2014 with only a single train.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parkjourney.com/six-flags/six-flags-magic-mountain-update-x2-back-open-bugs-bunny-world-construction-update-scrambler-refurbishment|title=Six Flags Magic Mountain update - X2 back open. Bugs Bunny World construction update. Scrambler Refurbishment.}}</ref>
==Ride experience==
The {{cvt|3,610.|ft}} long layout features two inversions including a skydive, two "[[raven turn]]s", one backflip, and a twisting front flip. Each car on the train spins on its own independent axis 360 degrees forward or backward, which is being controlled by the outer rails of the track. Unlike traditional roller coasters, [[4th Dimension roller coaster]]s like X2 have four rails.
===Layout===
After departing from the loading station, the ride makes a 180-degree turn traveling over the queue and onto the lift hill. After ascending {{convert|175|ft}}, the train enters a pre-drop and then ascends an additional {{convert|15|ft}} to a maximum height of {{convert|190.|ft}}. During this lift, riders are facing backwards. The first drop is {{cvt|215|ft}} and is sloped at 88.5 degrees, at the base of which ride vehicles attain a maximum speed of {{cvt|76|mph}}.
During the initial drop, the seat assembly is rotated so that riders are positioned facing the ground. There is a pool of fog at the base of the drop, however this effect has not worked in many years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=X2 launches at Six Flags Magic Mountain [with video] |url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200805/767/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Theme Park Insider}}</ref> The train then enters an inside raven turn, where the cars are rotated again halfway through the loop to create a "lie-to-fly" maneuver; riders transition from lying on their backs facing backward to a prone position, facing forward. After exiting the raven turn, the trains traverse a hill, during which the seat assemblies rotate backward 360 degrees, simulating a backflip. This is followed by a sweeping fan turn and a half twist "fly-to-lie" maneuver, in which riders flip forward 180 degrees to return to the original position of laying on their backs. Flame throwing special effects can be seen overhead as the train enters an outside raven turn, with a brief pop of fog at the valley, immediately followed by another half twist. The track levels out and the train enters the final brake run before returning to the station.<ref name="TheCoasterGuy" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WTD0Hc9anw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/8WTD0Hc9anw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=X2 Front Row POV Extreme Roller Coaster Six Flags Magic Mountain|date=May 15, 2010|website=TheCoasterViews|via=[[YouTube]]|access-date=July 5, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Trains===
X2 is a unique prototype design in which the seats can rotate forward or backward 360 degrees in a controlled spin. This is achieved by having four rails on the track. The two rails that control the spin of the seats move up and down relative to the main track and spin the seats using a [[rack and pinion]] [[gear]] mechanism.<ref name="How X2 Rotates">[http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/reviews/x/x_sfmm_train.shtml How X2 Rotates]</ref>  These "rotation" rails don't support the train. The other two rails are for the weight-bearing wheels, capable of supporting these heavy trains.
Weighing {{cvt|5|t}}, each vehicle has a wing-shaped design that spans {{convert|20|ft|m}}. Riders sit on the outside of the coaster track in pairs. Four, {{Convert|1|ft|m|adj=on}} tall rack gears move up and down following the profile of the seat rotation rails below the vehicle. This gear rotates the seats forwards and backward throughout the ride.
The ride also has an on-board audio soundtrack that features five songs heard throughout the ride:
* [[Harry Connick, Jr.|Harry Connick Jr.]] - "[[It Had to Be You (album)|It Had To Be You]]" (heard as the train exits the station)
* Portions of [[R. Lee Ermey]]'s speech from ''[[Full Metal Jacket]]'' along with various movie quotes (heard on the lift hill)
* [[Metallica]] - "[[Enter Sandman]]" (heard on the lift hill)
* [[Aerosmith]] - "[[Love in an Elevator]]" (heard right as the train crests the first drop)
* [[Beastie Boys]] - "[[Sabotage (Beastie Boys song)|Sabotage]]" (heard throughout the ride)
* [[Rage Against the Machine]] - "[[Wake Up (Rage Against the Machine song)|Wake Up]]" (heard after the train hits the final brake run)
==Similar roller coasters==
[[Image:Eejanaika coaster FujiQ 1024.jpg|left|thumb|Eejanaika is a similar roller coaster to X2, located in Japan]]
S&S Arrow opened the second roller coaster of this type, [[Eejanaika (roller coaster)|Eejanaika]] at [[Fuji-Q Highland]] in [[Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi|Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan]]. [[Ee ja nai ka|Eejanaika]] (a word with a complex social and political background in Japan) has several meanings, however, "Isn’t it great" or “Who cares” are some relevant meanings. This second 4th Dimension coaster is very similar to X2, but differs in height (Eejanaika is {{convert|250|ft|m}} tall), and some elements are altered, such as the first 'half-half' element, in which the trains rotate on the track one half turn as the seats also rotate one-half turn, has now been replaced with a 'full-full' element, in which the train rotates on the track for one full turn as the seats rotate one full turn. The turn back towards the lift hill on ''Eejanaika'' is a true overbanked turn, while on X2 this turn was not. [[Dinoconda]], a third 4th Dimension coaster, opened at Dinosaur Valley in Shanghai, China in May 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-dinoconda-4d-coaster-dino-land-china-05201210-pg,0,5604322.photogallery|title=Photos: Dinoconda 4-D coaster at China's Dino Land}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==Awards==
{{GTA table
| type       = steel
| accessdate = September 14, 2015
| 2002       = 20
| 2003       = 15
| 2004       = 15
| 2005       = 32
| 2006       = 30
| 2007       = 17
| 2008       = 16
| 2009       = 13
| 2010       = 15
| 2011       = 16
| 2012       = 18
| 2013       = 16
| 2014       = 18
| 2015       = 20
| 2016       = 23
| 2017       = 25
| 2018       = 31
| 2019       = 23 (tie)
| 2021       = 26 (tie)
| 2022       = 32
| 2023       = 21
|2024=32 (tie)}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|X² (roller coaster)}}
*[https://www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/attractions/x2-coaster Official X2 page]
{{SFMM Coasters}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:X2 (roller coaster)}}
[[Category:Roller coasters operated by Six Flags]]
[[Category:Roller coasters introduced in 2002]]
[[Category:Six Flags Magic Mountain]]
[[Category:Roller coasters in California]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in California]]
[[es:Montaña rusa 4ª dimensión]]