Overview The common denominator – apart from the fact that Magnum XL-200 and Steel Force are steel hypercoasters – is that both were record breakers when they opened. Magnum, located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH and manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, was the first hypercoaster to be erected. Steel Force, located at Dorney Park in Allentown, PA and manufactured by D.H. Morgan, was the first coaster on the East Coast to break the 200-foot barrier. Magnum opened in 1989 and Steel Force opened in 1997. Layout, Elements and Theming Steel Force, with an out and back layout, boasts 5,600 feet of track with two 120-foot tunnels. Magnum likewise features an out and back layout with 5,106 feet of track and three tunnels. So in terms of layout and length, the two are roughly equivalent. Neither coaster displays any discernible theme. Steel Force operates with three trains consisting of six cars comprised of three rows seating two across for a total capacity of 36 riders. Magnum has exactly the same configuration. Restraints on both consist of a lap bar and seat belt; another common feature is that they have tracks of similar color – Magnum’s is a reddish orange and Steel Force’s is red bordering on orange – with blue tunnels. It’s worth mentioning that the cars on Steel Force are boxy and spacious, so much so that I swear one could fit a suitcase into them. They look outdated in comparison with later hypercoasters. Note that the photos of Magnum were taken after dark so that the actual colors did not come out exactly right. Photo by Bobbie Butterfield – Steel Force
Dru August 1, 2018 Until Judy gave me the skinny on exactly where to sit on steel force I was not impressed. I found that the air was to jerky to be thoroughly enjoyable. But after sitting in the right seat I loved it! I don’t know if the same rules apply for magnum. I definitely liked steal force better because of the way it uses the hilly terrain at Dorney. Especially the way it dives down the hill in the helix near Hydra. That spot is the highlight of the ride for me! The views of the beach and the water park are nice on magnum but steel forces’ layout is way better in my opinion. Reply
Eric August 2, 2018 Both are decent hypers; the hops on the return trip yield nice airtime on both, though on Magnum it’s too forceful and my thighs SMASH against the lapbar. If Cedar Point were smart, they’d replace those stupid old trains with new ones from B&M (like Nagashima Spa Land did with SD2K). I’m curious as to how Mamba and Wild Thing compare to these Morgan-built rides….. Reply
Jon August 10, 2018 But Eric, the aesthetics… Haha. However I do wonder if newer Steel Dragon 2000-esque trains would alleviate some of Magnum’s bumpiness. Reply
Jon August 10, 2018 Having also ridden Magnum a few weeks ago, I can confirm it is not a comfortable experience. There is no gradual parabolic peak to any of its airtime hills, which means you get thrown into those lap bars with vicious force. The sudden transitions feel like a coaster out of Roller Coaster Tycoon. Aesthetically, it is still a beautiful ride — with the location, the trains, and the station all visual treats. However, it is definitely a relic of a bygone era. Remember watching coaster shows as a kid and seeing enthusiasts thoroughly enjoying the ride… which makes me wonder if its gotten worse with time or people just had a different tolerance for painful airtime. Haven’t been on Steel Force in a few years, but if it rides anything close to the way it did back then, the Dorney Darling takes the cake. Reply
Coasterman October 17, 2019 Coasters have always been subjective when it comes to enjoyment, fear, and excitement. Some people enjoy smooth, others enjoy rough. It’s not a matter of tolerance because rough is rough. The ride doesn’t change from person to person, aside from their weight differences maybe, but that’s a minor difference. It’s more about attitude and what you’re wanting out of a coaster. In general, coasters do not scare me so it becomes a matter of excitement. Smooth coasters are not as exciting as rough ones to me. I prefer it to feel like the coaster is coming apart with all the sounds and shakes that go with it. I definitely like old wooden coasters that feel completely out of control. Not to say I don’t enjoy the smooth coasters, but they lack that extra bit of sensory overload because the crazy sounds and shakes aren’t there to up the overall sensory experience. Reply
Brian MacDonald August 20, 2018 I have now ridden both coasters, and I agree with your assessment. The roughness of Magnum makes Steel Force the clear winner. I realize I’m not adding much to the conversation, but I’m just thrilled to participate in a coaster matchup where I’ve ridden both coasters in question. Reply
