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Kingda Ka's Short Lived Perk - 4 Train Operations - Pros, Cons, Block Zones, and How It Worked

ElToroRyan

57,067 views

Kingda Ka debuted a unique method of operating 4 train operations through 4 different statin positions. In this video, we take in-depth look at how Ka's 4 train operations worked, the pros and cons of it, and why the ride ultimately dropped to a completely different method of operating 3 trains.

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Video Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Origins
04:53 - How It Worked
11:00 - The Pros of 4 Train Ops
12:58 - Rider Capacity
16:00 - The Cons of 4 Train Ops
19:41 - Change to 3 Train Ops
23:04 - The Sad Part
24:15 - Conclusion

Thumbnail taken by Nathan Brown - https://cyclonic.smugmug.com/Amusemen...

Video Sources:
Menachem Piekarski - kingda ka six flags great adventures
Fredrik Åman - Kingda ka roller coaster
Enrique Zevallos - more of kingda ka
itismer0b - kingda ka
Lore - kingda ka raw footage
maximlife23 - Kingda Ka
deniboy2br - KINGDA KA -Six Flags Great Adventure,Jacks...
Christi S - Kingda Ka
rhyss101 - Kingda Ka 2
5niper13 - Six flags kingda ka
EldiabloSincolaA - KINDA KA THE RIDE SIX FLAGS LUZ BIRTHDAY 2010
Alex Brown - kingda ka
Chris Chavan - Kingda Ka B-Roll
Funda Turan - King Da Ka - Six Flags
mudvayneimn - More Kingda Ka
pepanpapadakis - KINGDA KA Six Flags Great Adventure aside
techhidotnet - Great Adventure Oct 3 2009 Vurtua Day Al o...
Jay Mark - KINGDA KA
KWOTE SCRIPTURES - Frightened girl on King Da Ka - Six Flags ...
KWOTE SCRIPTURES - Frightened girl on King Da Ka - Six Flags ...
Coaster Crusader - Kingda Ka Closing Day (4K OFF Ride POV)- S...
Yang Hu - Kangda Ka in Six Flags

20 Comments

@TheKiddo2468 1 year ago (edited)

I love the trees in the animation at 2:10 wildly swaying as a train passes by

@thepolicyoftruth 1 year ago

the kingdaryan saga continues

@mikeyg9958 1 year ago

This coaster really was a work of art.

@lowkae3677 1 year ago (edited)

It sounds like the park was proud of having the ride, especially after TTD closed. Such a shame that the ride's closure is essentially collateral damage from the merger. I still wonder why the park wasn't allowed to tell us ahead of time.

@BillieFeelsEverything 8 months ago

This is why your channel stands out. You took something most people only remember as “that insane launch coaster” and broke it down into operations, block zones, capacity, and real-world limitations without losing the emotional weight of what Kingda Ka meant. The four-train ops explanation was fascinating, but that final section really hit — you could feel how much respect you have for the ride and the people who ran it. Technical, honest, and genuinely heartfelt. One of your best videos.

@IdrisHayward 1 year ago (edited)

Having worked on Kingda Ka the year it opened, this bought back some good memories. Thank you!

@mulinhuan8410 1 year ago

To add to that last part, I was told by many crew members at Ka earlier in 2024 that the ride was going to get double sided lockers (like El Toro) next season. But later in the season when I asked the same question I got much more vague and unclear answers. I know that regular operators are not the best sources for everything but still. Now looking back, it all makes sense now, very sad.

@roberttore3442 1 year ago

"Pissed and heartbroken". Yep, that sums it up for me, too. SFGA knew they had an iconic ride and treated Ka as such. They loved Kingsa Ka as we enthusiasts loved it. Cedar Fair just wanted to pacify shareholders. I'm having a really hard time financially supporting Cedar Fair these days.

@PruneJuice100 1 year ago

That rant at the end healed my soul a little bit. My exact thoughts

@pappaslivery 1 year ago

For those of you who may not know, a blockhead zone is the area between the cedar Fair I mean six flags board members ears

@daniscool8 1 year ago

My first trip to great adventure was in 2010. You are right the 4 train ops added to ka’s aura. Really made it feel like the biggest ride in the the world. Great adventure’s aura will be 100x worse without ka standing over the parking lot

@tauthoodie7939 1 year ago

The coaster that will replace Kingda Ka must have a sign that explains what a block zone is for those who are unfamiliar with a block zone…

@almonddsoappツ 4 months ago

4:58 our favorite part!

@karlb1114 1 year ago

I worked at SFGA in 07-08, and 4 train operation was something to witness. Our crew was so dedicated. Was my best job EVER! sad...

@ZMSaypol 1 year ago

Up in the op booth (at least this year), there was a little paper that said the throughout target number for however many trains were running. The only one I remember is the 972 with 3 trains. The crew during the final weekend was absolutely incredible, they got 978 people in an hour with only 2 trains!

@Starlit43 1 year ago (edited)

I really wanted them to go back to using all 4 trains at the same time.

@thefergyfilms 1 year ago

With El Toro getting a little pissed at the end, something I've never heard him do, now I want just a video detailing the behind the scenes beef of the park vs Cedar Fair management

@ZMSaypol 1 year ago (edited)

7:07 fun fact, this layout was directly related to the designated positions of the trains on the storage bays. Blue and orange left front and back respectively, and teal and green right front and back respectively. When you parked on the start block, you could actually see a maintenance guy’s notes that detailed which train went on which storage bay which I thought was pretty funny