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. [21] [22]

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. [23] The patent describes two launch systems, both of which were implemented in various roller coasters: [21] [22] [23]

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. [26] [27] [28]

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] [29]
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] [30]
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] [31]
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		 [26]
Unknown [nb 4] [32] [33]
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] [34] [35]
Unknown
Cascabel 2.0
Cascabel
Laser Loop		 Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World
La Feria Chapultepec Magico
Kennywood 		TBA
1994
1980
2019
1990		In Storage
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 [36] [37] [38]

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. [39] [40]

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. [41] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006. [42]

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.

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References

  1. ↑ Scheinin, Lisa (1993). "Who's Who & What's What (Part II)". RollerCoaster! Magazine. 15 (2). Chicago, Illinois: American Coaster Enthusiasts: 33. ISSN   0896-7261.
  2. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "King Kobra  (Kings Dominion)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  3. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "King Kobra  (Jolly Roger Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  4. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "White Lightnin'  (Carowinds)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  5. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Greased Lightnin'  (California's Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Tidal Wave  (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Shuttle Loop)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Montezooma's Revenge  (Knott's Berry Farm)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  9. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Greezed Lightnin'  (Six Flags AstroWorld)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  10. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Golden Loop  (Gold Reef City)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Katapul  (Hopi Hari)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  12. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Shuttle Loop  (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  13. ↑ Marden, Duane. "unknown  (Cliff's Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Marden, Duane. "Greezed Lightnin'  (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Shuttle Loop  (Oyama Yuenchi)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  16. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Greased Lightnin'  (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  17. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Shuttle Loop  (Toshimaen)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  18. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Shuttle Loop  (Yokohama Dreamland)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  19. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  20. ↑ https://www.ocregister.com/2023/05/16/knotts-berry-farm-delays-relaunch-of-montezooma-coaster/
  21. 1 2 "Shuttle Loop 1". Schwarzkopf Coaster Net. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  22. 1 2 "Shuttle Loop 2". Schwarzkopf Coaster Net. 1 November 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  23. 1 2 USpatent 4165695,Schwarzkopf, Anton,"Amusement ride with vertical track loop",issued August 28, 1979, assigned to Husar, Francis S.and Reece, Randolph A.
  24. ↑ Weisenberger, Nick (2013). Coasters 101: An Engineer's Guide to Roller Coaster Design. Nick Weisenberger. pp. 49–50. ISBN   9781468013559. OCLC   927712635.
  25. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Shuttle Loop". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  26. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Psyké Underground  (Walibi Belgium)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  27. ↑ Geering, Philipp (16 May 2013). "Psyké Underground – The new Sirocco / Turbine at Walibi Belgium". Walibi Belgium (Interview). Wavre, Walloon Brabant. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Psyké Underground". Park World Magazine: 10. September 2013.
  29. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Viper  (Six Flags Over Georgia)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  30. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Thunderlooper  (Alton Towers)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  31. ↑ "話題の絶叫機登場 西独製を三精が横浜ドリームに導入 日本初、往復宙返り" [Hot thrill ride debut,Sansei delivers BRD product to Yokohama Dream,Japan's first shuttle and loop](PDF) (in Japanese). Game Machine. April 1, 1979. Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  32. ↑ "Historic Greezed Lightnin' moving to Cliffs Amusement Park". Amusement Today. 4 May 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Map coordinates 33.610636,-101.834203". Google Maps. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  34. ↑ Marden, Duane. "unknown  (Joyland Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  35. ↑ Rides4u.com http://www.rides4u.com/view/2056
  36. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Unknown  (Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  37. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Cascabel  (La Feria Chapultepec Magico)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  38. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Laser Loop  (Kennywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  39. ↑ "Recherche".
  40. ↑ StarParc, Walibi Belgium – Incident Sirocco 27 août 1997 – Archive, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2019-01-19
  41. ↑ Anton, Mike (8 August 2002). "Knott's Sued in Death of Woman". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
  42. ↑ "Court upholds dismissal of coaster lawsuit". Orange County Register. 24 February 2006. Retrieved 9 October 2010.
Preceded by World's Tallest Roller Coaster
1977–1978		Succeeded by
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