Shuttle Loop

Last updated
Shuttle Loop
Greezed Lightnin' (Kentucky Kingdom).JPG
Kentucky Kingdom's Greezed Lightnin' before it closed in 2009
StatusDiscontinued
First manufactured1977
No. of installations12
Manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf
Designer Werner Stengel & Reinhold Spieldiener
Capacity1,300 riders per hour
Vehicle type Roller coaster train
Vehicles1
Riders per vehicle28
Rows14
Riders per row2
Inversions1 (traversed 2 times, forward and backward)
Shuttle Loop at RCDB

Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. [1] A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have been located in a total of 22 different amusement parks.

Contents

History

The first installation of a Shuttle Loop dates back to 1977 when King Kobra opened at Kings Dominion. [2] [3] Two other rides were also installed that year: White Lightnin' at Carowinds and Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (California). [4] [5] Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (Illinois) opened in 1978 and was the last to feature the weight drop launch system. [6] [7] Also that year, Knott's Berry Farm opened Montezooma's Revenge and Six Flags AstroWorld opened Greezed Lightnin' as the first installations to feature the flywheel launch system. [7] [8] [9] A number of installations followed across the world.

Twenty-two theme parks have operated Shuttle Loops, with half of the twelve original installations being relocated at some time. As of September 2013, only five installations are operating, with another one in storage. [8] [10] [11] [12] [13] The remaining Shuttle Loops were either demolished or used for replacement parts on other installations. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Notable installations

Ride

The original train and station of Turbine at Walibi Belgium WalibiBelgium TurbineTrain.jpg
The original train and station of Turbine at Walibi Belgium

Experience

The train is launched out of the station at a speed of between 53 and 60 miles per hour (85 and 97 km/h) before passing through a vertical loop and up a 138-foot-tall spike (42 m). Once the momentum of the train runs out on the 70° spike, the train begins to traverse the track backwards, returning through the loop. The train then passes back through the station and goes up another 70° steep spike, which stands at 105 feet (32 m), until it stalls again and rolls forward back into the brake run and station. [22] [23]

Figure 1 from Anton Schwarzkopf's patent for the Shuttle Loop roller coaster (patent US4165695, "Amusement ride with vertical track loop"). The image shows the overall layout of the ride. Amusement ride with vertical track loop - figure 1.jpg
Figure 1 from Anton Schwarzkopf's patent for the Shuttle Loop roller coaster (patent US4165695, "Amusement ride with vertical track loop"). The image shows the overall layout of the ride.

Mechanics

Anton Schwarzkopf designed the Shuttle Loop in the late 1970s. He filed a patent for the concept in 1978 which was approved the following year. [24] The patent describes two launch systems, both of which were implemented in various roller coasters: [22] [23] [24]

Gerstlauer completed an upgrade of Walibi Belgium's installation for the 2013 season. As part of the upgrade Gerstlauer replaced the existing flywheel launch system with a new linear induction motor (LIM) launch system. The company also added a new train. The ride was then completely enclosed and relaunched as Psyké Underground. The flywheel launch system is now displayed in the queue of the ride. [27] [28] [29]

Installations

NameParkOpenedClosedStatusLengthHeightSpeedLaunch
Golden Loop
White Lightnin'
Gold Reef City
Carowinds
1989
1977

1988
Operating
Relocated to Gold Reef City
863 ft or 263 m138 ft or 42 m57 mph or 92 km/hWeight Drop [4] [10]
Greased Lightnin'
Tidal Wave
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
California's Great America
2003
1977
2006
2002
Removed
Relocated to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
863 ft or 263 m138 ft or 42 m57 mph or 92 km/hWeight Drop [5] [16]
Greezed Lightnin'
Viper
Tidal Wave
Kentucky Kingdom
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Great America
2003
1995
1978
2009 [nb 1]
2001
1991
Removed [nb 2] [14]
Relocated to Kentucky Kingdom
Relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia
863 ft or 263 m138 ft or 42 m57 mph or 92 km/hWeight Drop [6] [14] [30]
Katapul
Thunder Looper
King Kobra
King Kobra
Hopi Hari
Alton Towers
Jolly Roger Amusement Park
Kings Dominion
1999
1990
1987
1977

1996
1989
1986
Operating
Relocated to Hopi Hari
Relocated to Alton Towers
Relocated to Jolly Roger Amusement Park
722 ft or 220 m138 ft or 42 m53 mph or 85 km/hWeight Drop [2] [3] [11] [31]
Montezooma's Revenge Knott's Berry Farm 1978Undergoing Refurbishment800 ft or 240 m148 ft or 45 m55 mph or 89 km/hFlywheel [8]
Shuttle Loop Nagashima Spa Land 1980Operating863 ft or 263 m138 ft or 42 m57 mph or 92 km/hFlywheel [12]
Shuttle Loop Toshimaen 19802008Removed [nb 3] 863 ft or 263 m138 ft or 42 m57 mph or 92 km/hFlywheel [17]
Shuttle LoopŌyama Yūenchi19802005RemovedUnknownUnknownUnknownFlywheel [15]
Shuttle Loop Yokohama Dreamland 19792002Removed920 ft or 280 m138 ft or 42 m56 mph or 90 km/hFlywheel [18] [32]
Psyké Underground
Turbine
Sirocco
Walibi Belgium 2013
1999
1982

2008
1998
Operating722 ft or 220 m138 ft or 42 m53 mph or 85 km/hLIM
Flywheel
Flywheel
[27]
Unknown [nb 4] [33] [34]
Greezed Lightnin'
Joyland Amusement Park
Six Flags AstroWorld
2012
2006
1978

2012
2005
Scrapped
Ownership transferred to Cliff's Amusement Park
Relocated to Joyland Amusement Park
849 ft or 259 m138 ft or 42 m60 mph or 97 km/hFlywheel [9] [35] [36]
Unknown
Unknown
Cascabel 2.0
Cascabel
Laser Loop
Indiana Beach
Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World
La Feria Chapultepec Magico
Kennywood
TBA
2022
1994
1980
2024
2019
1990
In Storage
Relocated to Indiana Beach
Relocated to Niagara Amusement Park
Relocated to La Feria Chapultepec Mágico
876 ft or 267 m139 ft or 42 m54 mph or 87 km/hFlyWheel [37] [38] [39] [20]

Incidents

Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm Montezoomas Revenge (Knotts Berry Farm).jpg
Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm

On August 27, 1997, the Sirocco at Walibi Wavre failed to launch at the correct speed. The train went to the loop very slowly and up the spike, to roll backwards. During the backwards passage of the loop, the train halted at the uppermost point, causing the train to get stuck hanging upside-down. The passengers were hanging heads-down for one hour and twenty minutes, only held in place with lap bar restraints. The train was pulled back further down the track with help of the local fire station brigade. [40] [41]

A 20-year-old woman died on September 1, 2001, one day after riding Montezooma's Revenge, the Shuttle Loop at Knott's Berry Farm. She suffered a ruptured middle cerebral artery, and an autopsy revealed a pre-existing condition. The ride was closed for several days while an investigation was conducted. Though state investigators concluded that the ride did not contribute to her death, a wrongful death lawsuit was later filed by her family in 2002. [42] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006. [43]

Notes

  1. Ceased operation in 2009 before removal in 2013.
  2. The track was used as replacement parts for the Kentucky Kingdom installation during the 2005/2006 off season.
  3. Was set to be relocated to Attractiepark Rotterdam in 2018, but was later cancelled.
  4. Coaster has been in storage near MacKenzie Park (track) and Larson Manufacturing (trains, flywheel and hardware) since 2006.

Related Research Articles

A steel roller coaster is a type of roller coaster classified by its steel track, which consists of long steel tubes that are run in pairs, supported by larger steel columns or beams. Trains running along the track typically rely on wheels made of polyurethane or nylon to keep each train car anchored to the track. The introduction of tubular steel drastically changed roller coaster innovation, allowing for greater speeds, higher drops, and more intense elements such as inversions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vertical loop</span> Roller coaster inversion

The generic roller coaster vertical loop, also known as a Loop-the-loop, or a Loop-de-loop, where a section of track causes the riders to complete a 360 degree turn, is the most basic of roller coaster inversions. At the top of the loop, riders are completely inverted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roller coaster inversion</span> Roller coaster element

A roller coaster inversion is a roller coaster element in which the track turns riders upside-down and then returns them to an upright position. Early forms of inversions were circular in nature and date back to 1848 on the Centrifugal railway in Paris. These vertical loops produced massive g-force that was often dangerous to riders. As a result, the element eventually became non-existent with the last rides to feature the looping inversions being dismantled during the Great Depression. In 1975, designers from Arrow Development created the corkscrew, reviving interest in the inversion during the modern age of steel roller coasters. Elements have since evolved from simple corkscrews and vertical loops to more complex inversions such as Immelmann loops and cobra rolls. The Smiler at Alton Towers holds the world record for the number of inversions on a roller coaster with 14.

Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer who founded Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH, a German manufacturer of roller coasters and other amusement rides that were sold to amusement parks and travelling funfairs around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuttle roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards. These are sometimes referred to as boomerang roller coasters, due to the ubiquity of Vekoma's Boomerang coaster model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Launched roller coaster</span> Modern form of roller coaster

The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster. A launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or a series of linear induction motors (LIM), linear synchronous motors (LSM), catapults, tires, chains, or other mechanisms employing hydraulic or pneumatic power, along a launch track. This mode of acceleration powers many of the fastest roller coasters in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman: The Ride</span> Roller coasters at seven Six Flags parks

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Werner Stengel</span> Roller coaster designer and engineer

Werner Stengel is a German roller coaster designer and engineer. Stengel is the founder of Stengel Engineering, also known as Ingenieurbüro Stengel GmbH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress</span> Roller coaster at Knotts Berry Farm

MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress, previously known as Montezooma’s Revenge, is a shuttle roller coaster located at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, United States. Designed by Anton Schwarzkopf, the ride opened on May 21, 1978, and is one of eight flywheel-launched units manufactured for theme parks around the world. It is also the oldest looping shuttle roller coaster still operating in its original location. The ride was closed in February 2022 for a major refurbishment and has been scheduled to re-open in 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boomerang (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster

Boomerang is a model of roller coaster manufactured and designed by Vekoma, a Dutch manufacturer. The roller coaster model name is from the hunting implement based on the traditions of the Indigenous Australians. As of January 2023 there are 55 Boomerangs operating.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Ultimate Flight</span> Roller coasters at three Six Flags parks

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">TOGO</span> Former Japanese amusement ride company

TOGO was a Japanese amusement ride company that built roller coasters, giant wheels, carousels, flumes, dark rides, sky cycles and other amusement rides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspended Looping Coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">T3 (roller coaster)</span> Defunct roller coaster

T3 (stylized as T3; pronounced "T-three", "T-cubed", or "Terror to the third power") was an inverted roller coaster located at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. The Suspended Looping Coaster model manufactured by Vekoma originally opened as T2 on April 8, 1995. Following the amusement park's closure in 2009 due to financial difficulties, the ride sat idle for several years. Under new park ownership, the roller coaster was refurbished and renamed T3, which reopened to the public as T3 on July 3, 2015. The ride closed permanently following the 2022 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorbike roller coaster</span> Type of steel roller coaster

A motorbike roller coaster or motorcycle roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster designed with motorcycle type cars. Booster Bike at Toverland was the world's first motorbike roller coaster. Vekoma was the first company to design such a ride, although Intamin and Zamperla have since created similar designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurer AG</span> German amusement ride manufacturer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerstlauer</span> German manufacturer of amusement rides and roller coasters

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mack Rides</span> German manufacturer of amusement rides

Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG, also known simply as Mack Rides, is a German company that designs and constructs amusement rides, based in Waldkirch, Baden-Württemberg. It is one of the world's oldest amusement industry suppliers, and builds many types of rides, including flat rides, dark rides, log flumes, tow boat rides and roller coasters. The family that owns Mack Rides also owns Europa-Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Mountain Construction</span> Roller coaster manufacturer

Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) is a manufacturing and construction company based in Hayden, Idaho, United States. It is best known for its I-Box track and Topper Track for wooden roller coasters. Founded by Fred Grubb and Suanne Dedmon in 2001, it has built over 20 roller coasters. In 2023, amusement ride manufacturer Larson International merged with it.

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Preceded by World's Tallest Roller Coaster
1977–1978
Succeeded by