39 replies to this topic

[Wolfman]

Well, yeah. But I don't think that videos of rides should include a quickly panned camera, sweeping the queue, back and forth, and 5 minutes of boring footage, before they get on the trains. I almost fell asleep before the actual coaster.

[Woodpecker]

I don't think it's going to be as big or elaborate as Expedition Everest. Alton Towers has to obey very strict planning laws: no coasters above the treeline, and there are noise limits on the park as well out of consideration to the neighbouring village. That's why Nemesis is built into the ground. Oblivion is about as high as they can get away with. In fact, the top track of the Corkscrew (lift and turnaround) was painted green and brown to blend in with the trees, since the Corkscrew was built before they made the treeline restriction, and Alton management didn't want to demolish the ride when it came into force.

Edited by Woodpecker, 29 January 2009 - 11:34 AM.

[rcthelp]

Yes if you look at the planning application, the whole of the new coaster will be lower than Corkscrew was at its highest point.

If that layout is to be believed [it isn't part of the planning application, and the source is not verified], the existence of the switch back suggests to me that it will be quite a 'gentle' coaster.

[Wolfman]

This is just the above view. It doesn't show any elevations to the track. But it seems that the squiggly part just may be a corkscrew element. But that's just a half-hearted opinion. But I think rcthelp is right. This is just a general drawing. It amounts to nothing more than a sketch on a paper napkin. Still, even though it may be a small coaster... Alton Towers always seems to do things in a big way. It'll be interesting to see what evolves from this generalistic plan.

Edited by Wolfman, 29 January 2009 - 04:47 PM.

[Woodpecker]

I thought they were corkscrews as well, but then I realised: why would they replace a Corkscrew coaster with a Corkscrew coaster?

[mushroomer]

Painting the top green and brown? Doesn't that seem a bit fishy...and cheap


Anyways, If the Alton Towers corkscrew was like the Vancouver Playland corkscrew, It was pretty gentil. Maybe they wanted something more intense? Probably not, I think they needed some sort of coaster for the whole family, because their last 2 coasters, Rita and Air, are pretty wild. I don't think those are corkscrews, I think theyre gentil turns



And AT doesnt have a bobsled, now do they? I have an idea what its going to be....

[Woodpecker]

Hasn't building Bobsleds gone out of fashion?

Edited by Woodpecker, 30 January 2009 - 12:53 PM.

[mushroomer]

^ No, There's some newer ones...

[rct_noob]

But they're still 10-20 years old.

[Wolfman]

Busch Gardens took out their Corkscrew coaster... Python. Maybe these things just don't last forever. But let me ask you. IF the coaster would soon become dangerous, because of lack of replacement parts, would you still want the attraction in the park? How about if it no longer brings in the people to pay for it's maintenance? Or it just doesn't have the patronage it used to? Wouldn't you start thinking that it's become a liability instead of an asset?

Anyway, for a park to remain on the cutting edge of their entertaiment style, it seems that they would, and should, remove attractions that have served their purpose and usher in a new sort of attraction. Don't you do the same thing in RCT? When something is broken down more than up and running? When it costs more to operate than the money it brings in? Even if I liked the coaster, I'd still replace it with a couple short lived flats, until their novelty wore off, then I'd bring the same coaster back.

If you ask me, be thankful that A.T. decided to replace a coaster with another coaster. Busch Gardens decided to replace Python with some sort of interactive/animal and children's playground instead. (As if they really need another children's interactive play area.) Not another coaster that was half-thrilling, dispite it's place in history.

Which tends to make me think, that the original Marriot's Great America parks have old Arrow coasters. Now Six Flags, Great America of Gurnee has the Demon coaster. Which I'll bet will soon be removed due to age. I mean, they tried to get rid of Wizzer, (originally named "Willard's Wizzer") but retracted the operation due to public outcry. C'MON! The things are over 30 years old by now. Arrow Dynamics don't even make them anymore. I mean, would you be caught dead with a Commodore 64?

But with so many Arrow Corkscrews on their way out. You'ld think someone would snap up the parts and start using them for maintenance of one of their own Arrow Coasters. (Because the track parts are like RCT's. Like a cookie-cutter track.) OR buy one at a deep discount price and put it in another fledgling park somewhere. Or put the cars on Ebay or something. (I still think that the front cars would make a cool body for a ATC or something. And use a second car, gut it for the seats and use it for a trailer to haul camping gear.)

Edited by Wolfman, 31 January 2009 - 03:57 AM.