Runaway Mine Train (Alton Towers)
Runaway Mine Train | |
---|---|
Alton Towers | |
Park section | Katanga Canyon |
Coordinates | 52°59′23″N 1°53′08″W / 52.989668°N 1.885612°WCoordinates: 52°59′23″N 1°53′08″W / 52.989668°N 1.885612°W |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | 1992 |
Cost | £1,000,000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Steel – Powered – Mine Train |
Manufacturer | Mack Rides |
Designer | John Wardley |
Model | Powered Coaster |
Track layout | steel |
Lift/launch system | powered hot rail |
Height | 36 ft (11 m) |
Drop | 36 ft (11 m) |
Length | 1,000 ft (300 m) |
Speed | 22.4 mph (36.0 km/h) |
Inversions | 0 |
Duration | 1:50 |
Max vertical angle | 29° |
Capacity | 1062 riders per hour |
G-force | 2.4 |
Height restriction | 90 cm (2 ft 11 in) |
Runaway Mine Train at RCDB Pictures of Runaway Mine Train at RCDB |
The Runaway Mine Train is a powered steel roller coaster made by MACK Rides of Germany. The ride is located in the Katanga Canyon area of Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England.
The train normally makes two circuits for each ride, although on quiet days it has been known to run for three or more circuits. The ride runs alongside the Congo River Rapids, with which it shares a tunnel section. Passengers must be at least 0.9m tall to ride with an adult, and over 1.1m tall to ride separately.
On 20 July 2006 the failure of a coupling on the train caused it to split into two sections, which then collided in the tunnel. 20 people were injured, 6 of whom were taken to hospital; 4 of the 6 were sent home, and 2 were kept in overnight.[1]
On 6 April 2007 the Runaway Mine Train reopened after being closed for over 8 months. However the train was not returned to its full length until the end of June 2007, as some of the carriages were still undergoing refurbishment at MACK Rides.
As of 2013 it is officially the park's oldest roller coaster as The Beastie was removed before the start of the 2013 season, after it was SBNO (standing but not operating) for a number of years.
References
- ↑ "Dozens hurt on Alton Towers ride". BBC News Online. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
External links
- Runaway Mine Train at Alton Towers Almanac
- Runaway Mine Train at Towers Nerd
- Runaway Mine Train on Alton Towers Net
- Runaway Mine Train data on Theme Park Junkies
- Runaway Mine Train on ThemeParks-UK
- Runaway Mine Train info and pictures on the Alton Towers Guide
|
|