X:\ No Way Out
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| X:\ No Way Out | |
| Location | Thorpe Park |
|---|---|
| Park Section | Lost City |
| Type | Steel |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | 1996 |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Designer | Vekoma |
| Model | Enigma |
| Track layout | Modified Engima |
| Height | 42 feet (12.8 m) |
| Length | 1,312 feet (399.9 m) |
| Max speed | 27.7 mile per hour (44.6 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Capacity | 1,000 riders per hour |
| X:\ No Way Out at Theme Park Junkies | |
| X:\ No Way Out at RCDB | |
| Pictures of X:\ No Way Out at RCDB | |
X:\ No Way Out is a roller coaster located in the Lost City area of Thorpe Park, England. It was the park's very first non-powered Roller-Coaster. Marketed as the "world's first backwards roller coaster in the dark", and was built themed around the idea of 'being trapped in a computer virus'. The ride is situated inside a blue and terracotta pyramid. The ride once had a longer queue line, but this has been modified to accommodate for the 'Hell Gate' Fright Night maze. The original roller coaster had many sections of themeing, but over the past few years, these have mainly been removed, or simply broken. The ride has seen several modifications for the 2007 season, including improved queueline lighting, new video and sound effects and a new control cabin.
[edit] The Original Ride
As you approach the entrance you queue up in an outside queue. You are then let in the building by a staff member, following the narrow corridors, until you eventually get to a small queue outside the station. Depending on the popularity of the ride, a small room with a staff member inside takes loose items. You then walk through into the compact station, and stand behind the air gates. The empty train then rolls in backwards from the exit platform into the station. The air gates are opened, and you take your seat in what seems to be a very roomy type of train. You lower the lapbars, and they are checked. The air gates are closed,and a recording plays "Attention all Riders. Please remain seated throughout the duration of the ride". Just as the second recording starts, the train is shot off backwards into the pitch black darkness. it is sooooo scary and you better watch out!
The train curves, straight into the drive tyre lift hill. A strobe light flashes, lighting up the whole pyramid. You are immediately sent into a helix, and over a small top hat, straight into the first set of brakes. Depending on whether they are working, pipes of air must squirt above from you as the train shudders back and forth. The train then shoots off backwards again. This is said to be the most thrilling part of the ride if you're sitting at the front, as you a flung forward. Another second brake run then occurs while strobe lights flash. The ride is then sent into a short brake run, then sent into the unloading station, as a recording plays "The ride has come to an end. Please exit to your left".
Ride photography was available from ride opening up until the end of the 2005 season, and the photo unit is now disused.
Strangly this ride has one of the highest amounts of downtime because of customer sickness in the park. This is thought to be due to the effects of being taken backwards whilst in the dark.
[edit] 2007 Revamp
X:\No Way Out closed on Sunday 18th February 2007 and reopened on 17th March 2007 with several modifications.
A new queueline video explains that the buidling is a former Technology Research Centre that closed after an unspecified incident occured. The centre has been reopened for tourists using the old transport shuttles, and that guests should board these for a tour around the centre. The new premise is that the computer controlling the shuttles encounters a critical error as the shuttle departs the station, and the ride experience is the result of the X operating team trying to regain control of the train.
