A local So Cal park has an "Out and Back" single loop coaster that had a LOT of growing pains. In the first six months the track needed to be completely re-welded, the catapult launch cable broke-twice- and the control computer would frequently throw fits. My best friend worked there and relayed all these tales of woe, and he was lucky(?) enough to be one of the "test riders". I told him when they get the thing to run for six months without a major breakdown I would ride it. It did, and I did, it is a great ride.
Some years later I worked at the same park and got to see "under the hood" of that ride, it was fascinating. Some things that blew my mind were that the train had to be positioned within 8" when at the station or the ride would shut down, the catapult cable, simply from the bounce in the lower run, had cut a groove 2 feet deep into solid concrete, the PLC control cabinet was huge, the motor for the ride spun up a (IIRC it was) 50-ton flywheel, and to boot when the ride launched the catapult clutch made the most awesome moan/howl that would be a great sound effect for Halloween.
Sadly, when the catapult was rebuilt it no longer makes that cool sound, now it just grunts.
