Pipeline roller coaster

Last updated
Pipeline roller coaster
Ultra Twister.jpg
Ultra Twister at the defunct Six Flags Astroworld, a TOGO pipeline coaster
StatusDiscontinued
First manufactured1984
No. of installations12
Manufacturers TOGO
Arrow Dynamics
Intamin
Riders per row2
Restraint StyleOver-the-Shoulder

A pipeline roller coaster is a type of roller coaster where the trains ride between the tracks as opposed to a traditional roller coaster where they ride above them. The concept was first developed by Japanese ride company TOGO as the Ultratwister model. They built six installations of the design, four of which are still in existence. Arrow Dynamics created an alternate version of the concept, but it never made it past the prototype stage in development. Intamin developed a version known as the Spiral Coaster model, building only one installation, which is no longer in operation.

Contents

History

The first pipeline coasters were manufactured by TOGO as their Ultratwister model. [1] The company manufactured six of the model, with the first two opening in 1986 at Tokyo Dome City in Tokyo, Japan, and Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States, both named "Ultra Twister." [2]

TOGO's Ultratwister model features an 85-degree lift hill followed by three heartline roll inversions. Between the second and third rolls is a switch track that tilts trains to an approximately 45 degree angle, sending them through the remainder of the course backwards. The Ultratwister at Rusutsu Resort is the only S-II model built by TOGO, featuring a dive loop instead of a switch track. [3]

Arrow Dynamics attempted to develop a pipeline roller coaster, building a prototype at Arrow's facility in Utah. In 1990, John Wardley worked with Alton Towers to attempt to build one at the park. This was later scrapped in favor of Nemesis after Wardley rode the prototype and disliked the experience it offered. [4] [5]

In the 1996, Intamin built Sky Plaza Comet, a Spiral Coaster at Sky Plaza in South Korea. [6] In 2000, the coaster was relocated to Al-Sha'ab Leisure Park in Kuwait (now known as Winter Wonderland Kuwait), before permanently closing in 2005. The ride remained standing but not operating until its removal in 2017. [7]

Installations

Coaster nameAmusement parkManufacturerModelOpenedStatus
Ultra Twister Tokyo Dome City TOGO Ultratwister1986Demolished [8]
Ultra Twister Nagashima Spa Land TOGO Ultratwister1989Operating [9]
Ultra TwisterRusutsu Resort
World Food Festival
TOGO Ultratwister S-II1989
1988
Operating
Closed 1988
[10]
[11]
Ultra TwisterBrazilian Park Washuzan Highland TOGO Ultratwister1991Operating [12]
Ultra Twister MegatonGreenland TOGO Ultratwister1994Closed [13]
Spiral Coaster
Formerly Sky Plaza Comet
Winter Wonderland Kuwait
Sky Plaza
Intamin Spiral Coaster2000
1996
Demolished
Closed 1999
[6]
[14]
Ultra Coaster
Formerly Ultra Twister
South Sabahiya Park
Ikoma Skyland
TOGO Ultratwister2008
2004 or earlier
Demolished
Closed 2012
[15]
[16]
unknown
Formerly Ultra Twister
Formerly Ultra Twister
Six Flags America
Six Flags AstroWorld
Six Flags Great Adventure
TOGO Ultratwister2006
1990
1986
Removed; in storage
2005
1988
[17]
[18]
[19]

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References

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  2. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 5 January 2025.
  3. Marden, Duane. "S-II Ultratwister". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  4. "John Wardley Looks Back" (PDF). First Drop: 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 14, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  5. Wardley, John (March 15, 2004). Nemesis 10th Birthday (MP3). Alton Towers Almanac. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  6. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Spiral Coaster  (Winter Wonderland Kuwait)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  7. Marden, Duane. "Winter Wonderland Kuwait  (Salmiya, Hawalli, Kuwait)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  8. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Tokyo Dome City)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Rusutsu Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (World Food Festival)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  12. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  13. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister Megaton  (Greenland)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  14. Marden, Duane. "Sky Plaza Comet  (Sky Plaza)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Coaster  (South Sabahiya Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  16. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Ikoma Skyland)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  17. Marden, Duane. "unknown  (Six Flags America)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  18. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  19. Marden, Duane. "Ultra Twister  (Six Flags AstroWorld)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved January 5, 2025.