| Road Runner Express | |
| Previously known as Rex's Rail Runner and Road Runner Express at Six Flags New Orleans | |
| Location | Six Flags Magic Mountain |
|---|---|
| Park section | Bug's Bunny World |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | May 20, 2000 (New Orleans) May 28, 2011 (Magic Mountain)[1] |
| Type | Steel - Junior |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | Junior Coaster (207m) |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Length | 679 ft (207 m) |
| Max speed | 21.7 mph (34.9 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 0:44 |
| Capacity | 780 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 3 ft 0 in (91 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 16 riders per train. |
| Road Runner Express at RCDB | |
| Pictures of Road Runner Express at RCDB | |
| Amusement Parks Portal | |
Road Runner Express is a steel junior roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. On November 4, 2010, Six Flags corporate had an Investor Meeting webcast where they released the new name for the kid's coaster[1] and that it will have a new location in Bug's Bunny World.[2] As of April 25, 2011, the entire coaster has been constructed on site and is ready to go.[3] The ride opened on May 28, 2011, for Memorial Day Weekend.[2]
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Originally opened at Jazzland in New Orleans on May 20, 2000. The ride operated under the name Rex's Rail Runner[4] in the Kid's Carnival section of the park.
Six Flags took over the lease of Jazzland in 2002 and changed the park's name to Six Flags New Orleans.[5] The ride was renamed to Road Runner Express in the Looney Tunes Adventures section of the park. When Hurricane Katrina hit the park on August 29, 2005, the park was severely flooded causing the park to shut down and rides to remain standing but not operating.[4][6] In 2007, Six Flags began the process of moving rides from the park to their other properties. In 2009, Road Runner Express was removed and relocated to Six Flags Magic Mountain.[4][7][8][9]
Road Runner Express was dismantled and moved in 2009 to its current location at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The ride was due to open for their 2010 season as Mr. Six's Dance Coaster in the Cyclone Bay section of the park, however, the opening was delayed for a year.[7][10][11]
On August 3, 2010, the LA Times reported "the junior coaster will keep the current red and black color scheme and stay in the same planned location in the northwest corner of the park but will likely receive a new name and theme."[12] On November 4, 2010, Six Flags announced that the ride will not use the originally planned Mr. Six's Dance Coaster name and theme, but will operate from early May 2011 as Little Flash which is, themed to the DC Comics superhero sidekicks in Bugs Bunny World.[1][7]
On January 18, 2011, the LA Times reported after considering a new theme based on DC Comics superhero sidekicks, the park opted for simplicity and would name the coaster Road Runner Express.[13] Two days later, Six Flags Magic Mountain confirmed that the kid's coaster would be called Road Runner Express and that it would open on March 19, along with the revamped Superman: Escape from Krypton.[14] However, the construction of the ride was delayed forcing the opening day to be bumped back. On April 25, 2011, the construction of Road Runner Express was complete and is expected to open for Memorial Day Weekend.[3] The coaster officially opened on May 28, 2011.[2][15]
Guests board a train which seat 16 riders. The train is taken up a chain lift hill to a height of 9.1 metres (30 ft). 207 metres (679 ft) of twists, turns, and elevation changes follow, before the ride comes to a halt in the brake run. Riders will reach a top speed of 40.2 kilometres per hour (25.0 mph) on the one-minute ride.[7]
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