Loch Ness Monster (roller coaster)

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Loch Ness Monster
The interlocking vertical loops
Location	Busch Gardens Europe
Park Section	Heatherdowns
Type	Steel - Sit down
Status	Open
Opened	1978
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Ron Toomer
Model	Custom Looping Coaster
Track layout	Terrain
Height	130 feet (39.6 m)
Drop	114 feet (34.7 m)
Length	3,240 feet (987.6 m)
Max speed	60 mile per hour (96.6 km/h)
Inversions	2
Duration	2:10
Max Vertical Angle	55 degrees
Max G force	3.5
Height Restriction	48 inches (121.9 cm)
Loch Ness Monster at RCDB
Pictures of Loch Ness Monster at RCDB

The Loch Ness Monster is a fairly large roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Europe (also known as Busch Gardens Williamsburg). Designed by Ron Toomer of Arrow Dynamics, the Loch Ness Monster was the first, and is the only coaster still operating, to feature interlocking loops. The Loch Ness Monster remains, even after more than 25 years of operation, a crowd favorite at Busch Gardens along with the Big Bad Wolf, Apollo's Chariot, and Alpengeist.

1 Ride Layout
2 Ride Elements
3 Trivia
4 External links

[edit] Ride Layout

After departing from the station, the train goes through a series of small and insignificant turns before reaching the hill (which is to the right of the station). As the train makes its way over the hill, a small and tight turn brings it to the fairly large drop. Riders are then taken down the drop, the track rounding out right at the river underneath. A large upwards hill with a turn brings riders to the first of the two loops. After going through the loop, the train makes a turn within seconds into a covered tunnel/helix. As the train exits the tunnel at the end of the helix a small brake run slows the train so it can ascend the second lift (which is not nearly as big as the first). The train makes a wide turn after the lift and drops downward into the second loop. As it exits the loop, the on-ride photo is taken. The train then goes uphill once more before being brought to a stop by the final brake run.

[edit] Ride Elements

Interlocking loops
Enclosed helix
Two lift hills

[edit] Trivia

The world's first and only existing roller coaster to feature interlocking loops. Worlds of Fun's Orient Express was the second but after 2003, the Loch Ness Monster's title of sole coaster with interlocking loops was returned.
In 1993 more themeing was added to the ride. Lights, mist, sounds, and a lit up portrait of a Loch Ness Monster (at the end of the tunnel) was added. But eventualy it all stopped working and it was all shut off.