Infusion (roller coaster)

Infusion

Photo of the ride showing the fountains underneath
Pleasure Beach Blackpool
Coordinates 53°47′33″N 3°03′19″W / 53.7924°N 3.0553°WCoordinates: 53°47′33″N 3°03′19″W / 53.7924°N 3.0553°W
Status Operating
Opening date 2 May 2007 (1999 as Traumatizer)
Cost £8,000,000
General statistics
Type Steel – Inverted
Manufacturer Vekoma
Designer Vekoma
Model SLC (689m standard)
Lift/launch system Chain Lift Hill
Height 109 ft (33 m)
Length 2,260 ft (690 m)
Speed 49.7 mph (80.0 km/h)
Inversions 5
Duration 1mins 36sec
Max vertical angle 60°
Capacity 832 riders per hour
G-force 4.5
Height restriction 52 in (132 cm)
Infusion at RCDB
Pictures of Infusion at RCDB

Infusion is an inverted steel roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Lancashire, England. It is a 689m standard model Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) and the first to be suspended entirely over water. The ride opened on 2 May 2007.

History

Traumatizer at Pleasureland Southport

Infusion was relocated from Pleasureland Southport, Blackpool Pleasure Beach's sister park where it was known as Traumatizer. When Pleasureland closed in 2005, the ride was dismantled and moved to its current location where it has operated since. The original ride featured a red track with teal supports, however the track has since been repainted Persian Blue and the supports Midnight Blue . The ride has operated (both in its original and new form) since 1998 and cost a total of £8 million to construct.

SLC

Infusion's structural support.

Infusion was built and manufactured by Vekoma Rides Manufacturing based in the Netherlands. It is one of many 689m standard model SLC's found in amusement parks around the world. Riders are seated in eight rows of two for a total of 16 passengers per train with 2 trains being operated at any given time. Most Vekoma SLC's are capable of running up to 10 cars on each train however Vekoma modeled Infusion with only 8 to make the ride both smoother and faster. The ride can carry up to 832 riders per hour when both trains are in operation.

Design & Layout

The ride starts with a 109' lift hill, before arching into a steep curved incline. The train rises up into a "sea serpant roll" or "butterfly inversion" - two half loops connected by a corkscrew element, before pulling upwards into a banked and curved apex. From here the train drops sharply into an Immelman inversion (a loop that transitions into a corkscrew). A helix follows before the train straightens itself and pulls into a double inline twist. from here the train rolls into a 90 degree turn before pulling downwards and ascending into the brakes. The train then returns to the station. Riders must be between 132 cm and 200 cm tall to ride Infusion.

Marketing & Reception

The ride was the subject of a large marketing campaign from the park, gaining its own website (www.rideinfusion.com) and reports from BBC Newsround, the Daily Star and Daily Express newspapers and GMTV.

There is a red-carpet style handprint of Vernon Kay, acting as a monument by the ride. In a similar fashion there is a monument featuring Red Rum, the famous racing horse (who was stabled at Southport, the former home of the Traumatizer), as part of the Steeplechase ride.

The ride was positively received by critics. GMTV described it as being one of the most beautiful roller coasters in the country. The ride was officially launched by T4's Vernon Kay who described the ride as 'breathtaking.'


External links