Batman & Robin: The Chiller
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| Batman and Robin: The Chiller | ||
 Chiller's main, and most distinguishing element |
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| Location | Six Flags Great Adventure | |
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| Park section | Movietown | |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: | |
| Type | Steel - Launched - Shuttle | |
| Status | Demolished | |
| Opened | 1997/1998 | |
| Closed | June 28, 2007 | |
| Manufacturer | Premier Rides | |
| Designer | Werner Stengel | |
| Model | Dueling LIM Shuttle Loop Coaster | |
| Track layout | Dueling | |
| Lift/launch system | LIM Launch track | |
| Track name | Batman | Robin |
| Height | 200 ft (61 m) | 200 ft (61 m) |
| Drop | 140 ft (42.7 m) | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Length | 1137 ft (346.6 m) | 1229 ft (374.6 m) |
| Max speed | 70 mph (112.7 km/h) | 70 mph (112.7 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2(4) | 3(6) |
| Duration | 0:32 | 0:48 |
| Max Vertical Angle | 90° | 90° |
| Acceleration | 0 − 70 mph in 4 seconds | 0 − 70 mph in 4 seconds |
| Max G force | 5 | 5 |
| Capacity | 1360 riders per hour | |
| Cost | $15,000,000 USD | |
| Height Restriction | 54 in (137.2 cm) | |
| Batman and Robin: The Chiller at RCDB Pictures of Batman and Robin: The Chiller at RCDB |
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Batman & Robin: The Chiller was a sit down multiple dual track looping shuttle roller coaster that operated at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey briefly in 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007. Due to the constant downtime and flaws in the ride's operation, Six Flags decided to remove the ride from the park. All track and supports have been taken down, however the observatory and dome built over the launch track and exit platform will be kept. The station will also be kept as well. It was designed by Premier Rides.
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[edit] The ride
This unique roller coaster used a LIM launch system that propels the trains both forwards and backwards on two separate tracks at 70 mph in 4 seconds. Due to the amount of power used by the LIMs, a train could only be launched after the other train cleared the LIMs on the spike. Batman was launched up an inside top hat inversion reaching 140 ft. It then went through a banked inclined S-curve (formerly a zero-g roll) and then repeated the entire process in reverse. Robin had a similar track layout, except it had a cobra roll instead of a top hat. Because of the differentiating heights in the main elements (and therefore the speed required to return through the course) Batman had 14 LIMs on the spike while Robin only had 8.
[edit] History
In 1996, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that they would be adding a new roller coaster in 1997 bringing their coaster count back up to seven. It was then determined that the coaster would be a LIM Launched dual tracked shuttle coaster. It's name would be "Batman & Robin: The Chiller". One track would be called Batman and the other Robin. The coaster would be located in "Movietown" across from Batman The Ride, Stuntman's Freefall, and "The Batman Stunt Show Arena". It would be located next to "Movietown Water Effect" water ride.
After several delays, the coaster opened briefly in June of 1997 before shutting down due to further technical difficulties. It opened full time in April of 1998. The coaster was popular, regardless of the fact that due to the shoulder restraints, riders experienced some discomfort during the ride.
[edit] Ride modifications and changes
In September 2001 the train on the Robin track was retrofitted with lap bars in place of the shoulder restraints. In 2002, the Batman train was also retrofitted. Both operated with lap bars by June 2002. The result was a more comfortable ride.
The original ride layout used to have a zero-g roll on each side after first pair of main elements. Batman would come out of the top hat and Robin would come out of the Cobra Roll and they would both go through the roll before climbing the 200ft. spike. After the spike, the trains would repeat the course in reverse.
Several modifications have been made to the amount of LIMs on the Robin spike. From opening day to 2004, Robin operated with 7 LIMs on each side of the track. Before the 2004 season, 3 LIMs were taken off on both sides of the Robin spike, leaving 4 LIMs per side. Then two more LIMs were taken off (one per side) the Robin side's spike, leaving three per side before the 2005 season began. A few weeks after the Chiller opened back up again in 2007, two more LIMs were added back to the spike, bringing the total amount back up to 4 per side.
In December 2006 and into January 2007, during the off season, both Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride. The rolls were a problem because if the spike's LIMs failed, the train would occasionally stall (among other speculated reasons for the rolls removal that are unknown at this time). The rolls were replaced by a slightly banked inclined S-curve. Batman's train had its shells painted red so Robin could be ready to open first before Batman. This was done because Robin is more reliable than Batman and the track replacement for Robin was completed first on March 13. It re-opened on April 7. Batman's track was replaced between April 16 and April 20, while the park was closed. Three cars of the old Robin train have been repaired following an incident in 2006.
As of September 21, 2007 the Chiller is being dismantled and will no longer operate at Great Adventure.
[edit] Ride timeline
During the 1997 season, Chiller opened but closed down shortly after due to technical difficulties.
During the 1998 season, Chiller reopened, although power shortages prevented "dual launches".
During the 2001 season, Robin was retrofitted with lap bars.
During the 2002 season, Batman was retrofitted with lap bars.
During the 2004 season, the LIMs on the Robin sides spike failed causing the train to stall in the Zero G roll. The cause for the LIMs' failure is still unknown. The Batman side also was closed for a majority of the season. Chiller was also repainted before the season began.
During the 2005 season, Batman did not operate at all due to problems with the LIMs on the spike. Robin's side operated most of the season.
During the 2006 season Batman reopened and ran on and off until June 2, 2006, when a wheel bogie on the third car of the Robin train suffered a mechanical malfunction. While the specifics to what caused the malfunction are still unknown to most people, it has been reported that the train came to a halt on the lowest part of the track (between the Cobra Roll and Zero-G roll) after the launch. This problem is speculated to have happened because of wheel modifications that Premier Rides made on Chiller as well as all other Premier LIM coasters. Although the train was loaded, no one was seriously injured and all riders were evacuated. Both sides remained closed for the rest of the season.
During the 2007 season, the Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride and replaced with banked hills. Robin's hill was put in first in March, and then Batman's was put in second in April. Batman's train was painted red so that Robin could use it, because Robin's train was damaged during a previous incident. The Robin side re-opened April 7th and ran until June 28th when it was closed for the rest of the year. The Batman side did not operate at all, but three-out-of-five cars from the original Robin train were placed on Batman's maintenance track. Because of all of the problems the coaster has and the numerous failed attempts to fix the coaster, Six Flags has decided to remove the ride.
[edit] Closing
Rumors that Batman & Robin: The Chiller would be removed and dismantled at the end of the 2007 season were confirmed. The control room and LIM room wires had been cut, anticipating this closure. Several coaster and Great Adventure fan sites had stated that this will likely happen. Until the third week of September of 2007, park management stated that they were keeping their options open and they hope to have Chiller up and running for the 2008 season. On September 18, 2007, however, it was announced that Chiller will indeed be closed and removed from the park. Removal began that same week.
As of September 21, 2007, track has been removed from the exit of the Cobra Roll and Top Hat to the middle of the banked hills. The exit has been blocked and the Robin train is sitting on the storage tracks.
As of September 28, 2007, track has been removed from the exit of Cobra Roll to the spike, the center of the cobra roll, and Top Hat up to the spike. The Robin train has been removed from the storage track behind the station.
As of October 7, 2007, almost the entire cobra roll is gone, with the top hat untouched.
As of October 14, 2007, more of the cobra roll is gone, the top hat is still untouched.
As of October 21, 2007, the entire cobra roll is gone, most of the top hat's track is gone, however top hat supports remain untouched.
As of October 26, 2007, the emblem in the top hat is off, and some motors have been removed from Batman side and some from Robin.
As of January 26, 2008, Batman And Robin The Chiller is gone and Great Adventure makes way to build The Dark Knight Coaster. Opening in the spring of 2008
As of May 15th, 2008, The Dark Knight Coaster is completed and has been opened.
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