R.I.P - The Corkscrew.
The Corkscrew at Alton Towers took its very last pasengers today and will soon be dismantled. :cry: :cry: :cry:
It's been at Alton Towers Since 1980... It's a shame that its going, I always had a ride of that, mostly for sentimental reasons, but it was still fun even if it was 28 years old.
:cry:
It's been at Alton Towers Since 1980... It's a shame that its going, I always had a ride of that, mostly for sentimental reasons, but it was still fun even if it was 28 years old.
:cry:
Post edited by Scottie_uk on
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Comments
Still, it's provided a fantastic return on investment, having lasted 28 years and taken 43.5 million passengers - so the acquisition cost was only 3p per rider!
I'd doubt that it's completely worn out or anything. It's probably just getting too high maintenance for something that's comparatively tame compared to their newer rollercoasters. I recall that changing safety standards were what scuppered the Black Hole in the end, so perhaps that might have something to do with it as well.
It looks kind a funny, when the ride comes in at the end the park exec looks completely bored and stoney faced.
http://www.altontowers.com/pages/theme-park/thrills/goodbye-to-the-corkscrew
Whats it going to be replaced with?? Well its comming in 2010, but its an official secret as to what it is.
More here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7713643.stm
Mel recently was there and emptied his ferret during a ride, causing irreparable corrosion damage.
when I was there a year and a bit (I think) ago it was looking pretty shabby, like they couldn't really be bothered with it anymore it's out of date and only the old riders are going on it for sentimental reasons (I only went on that cause my older sister wanted to, and the queueueue was short)
it's had a good run, but it's out of date. I wonder if someone will buy it and rebuild it elsewhere or whether it really is getting past it with fatigue etc? who knows
It would be nice if it was brought by someone. However, it would probably be some cheap seaside joint that would not look after it leading to more spine and head punishment
Aparently according one news article I read they are going to keep the two loops and erect them in the park as a permanent monument.
The reason being that when they officially announced it's demise they had a flood of letters saying how people would miss it, sharing their fond memories, people saying they got engaged on the ride, met their wife on the ride etc. As it has given both so much to the park and to the people that whent there they saw it as fitting to keep a monument to it.
Lets hope it does not go the same way as its Belgian sister.
:cry:
So sad... as a tribute, here's the article about when YS originally went to Alton Towers in 1987.
Oh, I remember the good old days of theme parks. Thorpe Park was the best, when you could visit the aerodrome and see the Red Baron having a pop at the odd Sopwith Camel, then on to see the Shuttleworth collection, the plane from Raiders of the lost Ark, then walk through a medieval village to join in the banquet. The rides were fun back then, with jet-ski hire, Mississippi paddleboats, or a gentle boat ride through a flower garden which leads into a watermill populated by giant frogs playing musical instruments. Also the Phantom Fantasia, with a skeleton ballroom dance scene.
Rollercoasters? Trash em!
:)
Damn! I want some wire cutters like that!
I'll never forget the first time I went to Alton Towers. It was in the first year of secondary school and when we got there AT was more or less empty until about 12.30. Three of us went five times in a row on The Corkscrew - literally got on, went around, got off, legged it round the queue crap and straight back on again - it was awesome.
A few years later I remember taking the piss out of Roy Keane (Sunderland manager) with my mates because he was too chicken to go on it. He joined the queue with his mates and bottled it at the last minute (although it was probably written into his Forest contract that he couldn't go on). My claim to fame is being told to "f**k off" by Roy Keane!!!
Here he is attempting to be interviewed whilst riding the magic carpet:
:lol:
I didn't get to Alton Towers until the year 2000, wherupon I did ride on it, but even then it was already outshone by Nemesis.
Iterestingly, I've found the video but I dont't think its Alton Towers. I think it is blackpool.
thats jim'll fix it i think.
great ride though, very rough, very fast, just like a good woman.
hopefully michael jackson wont get his grubby mits on it.
I'll watch it in 10 minutes after my PC has cached the vid, thanks to this poo ISP!
Me and my mates always used to go on it on the annual end of school year trip to Alton Towers.
http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/history/oldrides/altonmouse.htm
http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/history/oldrides/altonbeast.htm
The Alton Mouse was the first propper roler coaster that I had ever been on. I was wussy and about 10, I hated it. I kept thinking we were coing to come off the end as I remember it has some very fast but tight bends in it.
didn't someone die on that, or was it one at flamingo land?
I have a vague reccolection of an incident on the 'late late breakfast show' where a guy did a bungee jump from the Alton Towers cable car line, that whent wrong. I could be wrong though.
oops forgot another ride I miss
http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/history/oldrides/thunderlooper.htm
first time i saw the nemisis, i was in line and the cariage came back into the port and the guys at the front had all been crippled, one had to be taken away in a wheel chair, another ones arms had gone funny, and the last one looked like he had been given downs syndrome, probably from all the g forces.
i was proper bricking it!!
I have a vague recollection of there being an accident on the Mouse at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I distinctly recall thinking "yeah, I went on there, scared me half to death as well." Is that place still around these days?
theres one at flamingo land it spins you upside down, you have to hold on to stop yourself banging your head, of course you still have to stop all the stuff fallnig out of your pockets, as you can see the pikies at the bottom ready to thieve your stuff. i started to scream as my wallet slowly slipped out of my pocket.
The mouse at Blackpool is probably the scariest ride in the world.
A Bloke did die on the Grand National - From what I rememeber, This guy stood up, and ht his head on the "do not stand up" sign. Thus no action was needed.
misteaksmistrakesmisyaleserrurs— oh, sod it.