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Photo TR: Alton Towers Corkscrew Farewell Day


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So seeing as I've lived about 40 minutes away from Alton Towers my whole life, have visited every year since I was about 5 and experienced my first inversion on Corkscrew, I felt it only right that I make a trip on the farewell day and pay my respects.

 

The weather was pretty abysmal early on, but brightened up later. Not sure if it was the weather or the fact that people assumed the park was closed, but the queues were extremely light all day. How does 0 minutes for Nemesis, Air, Oblivion, Rita, Corkscrew and Spinball sound?

 

As it was now the 'off season', all food 'chain' restaurants were closed, which was a bummer as I had a hankering for my first Burger King since my Orlando excursion in June (I promise to get this TR finished one day! http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45063&highlight=). Also not all rides were open. Only the coasters, Squirrel Nutty, Heave Ho (kids pirate boat), Marauders Mayhem (tea cups) and the flats by Nemesis and Oblivion were open. Bit of a shame of you had children with you as the majority of their rides were shut...... not that it bothered me

 

There was a cool Corkscrew museum set up in the Towers Suite, with some awesome old memorabilia, jigsaws, mugs, posters, books, etc.

 

Right then, pictures!

 

P.S. Some of you may notice something SLIGHTLY different about me in the pics.............. In case you couldn't tell I've grown a dirty great beard

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And last, but not least. This is the ground level of the monorail station. On busy days in the summer I can remember queing in here for hours to catch the monorail back to the car park. It takes 20 minutes to walk! What's all that about?

 

Anyway, thanks for reading! Hope you've enjoyed it?

 

And I will finish my Orlando TR ASAP! EPCOT is coming soon....I promise.......

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What the heck! Here's a pic of the monorail station sign :D

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And that's it! The Corkscrew is gone for good! What is SW6 going to be?

 

Had to finish with a moonlight pic for my favourite poster! Romantic? Nah!

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And what the hell happened to Dinosaur Land?

 

The only Dinosaurs that I can remember used to placed in the woods around the Log Flume. I'm taking at least 15 years ago, maybe more? I never knew there was actual Dinosaur Land though.

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A 1981 poster, the price had now gone up to £2.50.

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Another test picture.

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Would it then be taken apart and moved to Alton Towers?

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Is that the actual Alton Towers Corkscrew in the bare metal being tested?

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And my favourite pics.... Testing at Vekoma in 1979.

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Photo from it's first season. See how the queue used to go all the way around past where Rita's station is, toward the Skyride and then doubled back on itself.

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Construction photos from 1980.

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And matching ASHTRAY!!!!!!!! I can't imagine any theme parks selling ashtray's these days!

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Corkscrew Rider mug.

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Guide map from 1980. Check out the price at the top, £2!!! What the hell happened to Dinosaur Land and the tiny cable cars?

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On ride photos from when the cars were red, white and blue.

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A Corkscrew tea towel.

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Alton Towers poster from 1983.

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Now to check out the Corkscrew museum.

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Wave goodbye to the Corkscrew!

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Gearing up for my final ever ride on Corkscrew (the 2nd was not as smooth as the 1st).

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We gave Rita one for road.

 

Question: What is it with Intamin launch rides in the UK and giant tires at the entrance? Rita and Stealth both have them?

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After 2 more rides on Nemesis and Air (still no queues) we headed back to the Corkscrew for a final ride and to get our certificates. We walked through the gardens which was a killer. Why is the Skyride never operational?

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We walked back over to Forbidden Valley via the Haunted Hollow and found the only working gun on Battle Galleons on the way. Arrr AAArrrrrrrr!!!! etc.

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More Towers shots.

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We did our 1st ride on Squirrel Nutty next. It was intense to say the least....

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Misfits? Not by TPR standards :D

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The ride ops stopped Spinball on the lift hill here, as the guy on the right from the European Coaster Club had a rather large video camera in his hands.....

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And then hit this awesome kids area!

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We rode it twice :D

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Spinball Whizzer had no queue and was awesome as always.

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For the uneducated, the reason its called Alton Towers (I think!).

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There were lots of amateur film crews covering the day. These guys were from Staffordshire University.

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Black Hole was closed....... Hang on a minute! Does anybody know what it going on with this site?

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Oblivion empty again.

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We got our Submission and Enterprise credits in next.

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Oblivion dreams of being Sheikra...... I really can't believe that people queue for up to 90 minutes for this 1, not even vertical drop!

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As the park was that quiet, the ride ops were sending every other car round empty.

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There was no queue again for Oblivion. We wandered round and round that hill, until we got into the station and were stopped by this hand!

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Does anybody have a clue what the theming on Oblivion is all about?

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We wandered on down to the X-Sector next for some dinner and more rides. If you squint, you can see that Oblivion is empty.

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.......as was Hex!

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Where were we.... Burger King was closed.......

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.......but wait! Looks like Cred Street is being re-vamped for next year.!

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......as was Cred Street......

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.........as was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.......

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Next we saw the Skyride was closed....

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After Corkscrew we did Rita. Again the queues were minimal, maybe 2 mintues at the most?

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Coasterforce had quite a large showing (nothing compared to TPR trips mind ;) )

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Same. After these pics we took a ride on Corkscrew. Now I'm not just saying this as I'm being sentimental, but the Corkscrew was the smoothest that I have ridden it in years. SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!

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More pics from inside the track.

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Me infront of the double helix. Note the hot chocolate to keep me warm.

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This path leads down under track and into the middle of the ride.

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We received a flyer when we entered the park telling us to head toward the Skyride station by Corkscrew for 'behind the scenes access' to the ride.... well here it is.

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Same.

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It's easy to forget what a lovely setting Alton Towers is in.

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......had also ceased operation for the winter.

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Battle Galleons......

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As we wandered back across the park you can see that the Log Flume has also been drained.

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I really think Duel needs another overhaul and should be turned back into a haunted house, minus laser guns :(

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Duel is no MIB (which I'm equally as bad at!).

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Queueing inside Duel? I haven't done that since the 'Haunted House' first opened years ago!

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We checked out Duel next, which bizarely had the longest queue of the day. As we got there at 11am. the 2 minute silence for Remembrance Sunday started. It was a nice touch to see Alton Towers halt all operations for the event.

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...DONUTS!!!!!! (Awaits Deadliest Catch, Bum Fights jokes......)

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As I was getting a bit peckish it was time for some.......

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There was this 1 kid riding on his own. We got on with him and when our ride finished he stayed on again. He's probably still there now!

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Seeing as Blade was open we gave it a whirl.

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Ripsaw was shut, but we wouldn't have ridden it in this weather.

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This pic shows off my poor pic taking skills (or poor camera, you decide?), but you can just about make out the 0 minutes!

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This time we headed for the back row. Again no queue.

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After Air we tried Nemesis again...

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Air in rare 'not on its back' moment.

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We tried Air next and walked straight into the station!

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...and had the middle 2 seats to ourselves!

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We weren't expecting it to be this empty. We walked straight onto the front row (the first time I'd been on the front)....

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Vertical loop goodness.

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You can see 3 empty rows here. Things were looking good....

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We started our day where most people do at AT.

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I climbed up some slippery rocks and through some trees to get this shot for Mr. BM Boy! Hope you like it!

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This store by Duel was closed... not that any sane person would've wanted ice cream today.

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Mine Train had no queue and was sending riders around 3 times instead of the usual 2!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!! Alton Towers was going all out today!

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Shop by Mine Train was closed early.

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Did I mention the weather was awful....

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The Rapids looking a little less rapid. They've now been drained for winter.

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Grey sky's + terrible weather + off season = empty park!

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Yes that's why were here, but we'll come back to that later.

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Oooops! Before I forget, here is my ceritficate for being one the last people to ride the Corkscrew!

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The sign causes this...even on my good Nikon d70s, I cannot take hardly any good digtal sign pictures.

 

 

Phil from the Cornelia Marie called, if you are not back at the dock in 6 minutes, the boat is leaving without you (hey, you said Deadliest catch jokes)

 

 

looks like there are arms stretched out on the front row.

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Hey great report. Was also there that day, but never managed to get to the halls of memories so was nice to see those pictures.

 

As to your question about the Dinosaurs, I believe what is now X-sector, where Oblivion, Submission and Enterprise are now, used to be the 'Dinosaur land'. After a few years they got moved to the log flume for extra theming.

 

Heres some info on it curtesy of Towers Times:

http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/history/oldrides/dinoland.htm

 

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I have never been to Alton Towers, but from the photo trip reports I have seen I have concluded that Alton Towers is one of the most beautiful theme parks in this world . I love all the trees . I hope to one day I'll be able to visit this park.

 

Nice pictures btw. I especially loved the one with all the different colored trees in the background.

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Hey, awesome TR, I really enjoyed it and thanks for posting. Nice to see it so quiet, but then I guess thats what you get for going on a rainy cold day! I think its really cool that they let you go inside the ride area aswell =]

 

Question: What is it with Intamin launch rides in the UK and giant tires at the entrance? Rita and Stealth both have them?

 

Multiple purchase discount?

 

Maybe SW6 will have one too

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looks like there are arms stretched out on the front row.

 

You are dead right. If you zoom in you can see somebody in a white top as well. Looks like it's just the back row that's empty this time. Glad I got some pics of it empty, or I'd start to think I was losing my mind!

 

Admins/Mods - Please don't flame me for the mulitple 'quote' posts that are about to follow, but without a 'multi quote' button I haven't got a clue how to do them any other way.

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Nice photos. Did you notice you caught alot of Orbs in your pics. Is Alton Towers haunted?

 

Cheers for the comment. LOL it might be haunted? Who knows? I've got a sneaky suspicion that it could be to do with the colossal amount of rain that day, maybe some of it got on the lense?

 

Hey great report. Was also there that day, but never managed to get to the halls of memories so was nice to see those pictures.

 

As to your question about the Dinosaurs, I believe what is now X-sector, where Oblivion, Submission and Enterprise are now, used to be the 'Dinosaur land'. After a few years they got moved to the log flume for extra theming.

 

Heres some info on it curtesy of Towers Times:

http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/history/oldrides/dinoland.htm

 

WOW I never knew that! Thanks very much for the info!

 

Haha, once again my hair has been captured in a Photo TR of this day, but nothing else has . I was even there in a TPR shirt hoping someone would say "HAI"... they didn't .

 

No way! Which picture is that dude?

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Nice photos. Did you notice you caught alot of Orbs in your pics. Is Alton Towers haunted?

 

Cheers for the comment. LOL it might be haunted? Who knows? I've got a sneaky suspicion that it could be to do with the colossal amount of rain that day, maybe some of it got on the lense?

 

Yes that could be true with some but a few are Orbs. I do research on this kind of stuff so It is easy to tell Orbs from Dust or Rain. Dust you can see through. But Orbs you cant. The pic with you waving goodbye to Corkscrew there isa few on that one.

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Good PTR - thanks...

 

as for...

 

As to your question about the Dinosaurs, I believe what is now X-sector, where Oblivion, Submission and Enterprise are now, used to be the 'Dinosaur land'. After a few years they got moved to the log flume for extra theming.

 

... yep thats pretty much right. That area was all called the Springfield Centre (not a Simpsons theme!) and had an twin alpine slide thingy running all down the hill to the bottom, where the Cine2000 sat. The original Pirate Ship (now Blade) was there also just above the Cine2000, I remember a bunch of water-spray games there as well. There was a mini-golf course where most of Oblivion is now (mini Eiffel Towers and the like).

 

But Dinosaur Land actually only stood where the Black Hole tent is now, it had a big (well it was big to me back then) fence around it so you couldn't see in from the outside and it was a nice little walk through around a windy path amongst all the big plastic dinosaurs.

 

When the Black Hole appeared (!!) the dinos all moved to the log flume to rot away in the woods.

 

I liked dinoland. I was under 10 once.

 

edit - looking at that TowersTimes site, I may well have been over 10 when I went to Dinoland, oh dear!

 

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Nice photos. Did you notice you caught alot of Orbs in your pics. Is Alton Towers haunted?

 

Cheers for the comment. LOL it might be haunted? Who knows? I've got a sneaky suspicion that it could be to do with the colossal amount of rain that day, maybe some of it got on the lense?

 

Yes that could be true with some but a few are Orbs. I do research on this kind of stuff so It is easy to tell Orbs from Dust or Rain. Dust you can see through. But Orbs you cant. The pic with you waving goodbye to Corkscrew there isa few on that one.

 

It could also be drops of water.

 

But AT is supposed to be Haunted. Most Haunted did a program from there. They said that the only amusement park area that shows any significant signs of haunting is Hex.

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Good Photo TR - thanks...

 

as for...

 

As to your question about the Dinosaurs, I believe what is now X-sector, where Oblivion, Submission and Enterprise are now, used to be the 'Dinosaur land'. After a few years they got moved to the log flume for extra theming.

 

... yep thats pretty much right. That area was all called the Springfield Centre (not a Simpsons theme!) and had an twin alpine slide thingy running all down the hill to the bottom, where the Cine2000 sat. The original Pirate Ship (now Blade) was there also just above the Cine2000, I remember a bunch of water-spray games there as well. There was a mini-golf course where most of Oblivion is now (mini Eiffel Towers and the like).

 

But Dinosaur Land actually only stood where the Black Hole tent is now, it had a big (well it was big to me back then) fence around it so you couldn't see in from the outside and it was a nice little walk through around a windy path amongst all the big plastic dinosaurs.

 

When the Black Hole appeared (!!) the dinos all moved to the log flume to rot away in the woods.

 

I liked dinoland. I was under 10 once.

 

edit - looking at that TowersTimes site, I may well have been over 10 when I went to Dinoland, oh dear!

 

 

WOW even more info about Dinosaur Land!

 

I can remember the Black Hole, the Pirate Ship, the water spray games and something called the Gravitron (I think), but have not Dinosaur Land. I think it was before my time.

 

I climbed up some slippery rocks and through some trees to get this shot for Mr. BM Boy! Hope you like it!

 

Monorail pics are always appreciated. When someone goes out of their way to snap one....even more so! Cheers for that one.

 

Cool report, as always.

 

Cheers dude. Taking monorail pics is always a pleasure!

 

Nice tr, and awesome viking/Zakk Wylde beard you got going.

 

HAHA! Awesome! Your the 1st to call it a viking beard!

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How can I knock a guy who puts up a great report, likes donuts, and does

a rapids shot 3 pics into his TR, not to mention hooks up the resident

monorail enthusiast? No fishing jokes here.

 

Coincidentally, I was eating a donut early yesterday morning while reading the TR.

 

Thank you kindly friend and enjoyed it!

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Well I for one am sad about it leaving (or at least I will be until I hear what's replacing it).

 

I actually tried really hard to get this credit a few years ago, but the day I chose to go to AT was just horrendous and I was lucky to get one go on Nemesis and Oblivion each as well as one go each on a couple of other rides. Crappiest theme park experience ever.

 

I've just got to make it back there soon before they rip out those awesome gardens for whatever wooden monstrosity they're planning - and then again after .

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Fantastic PTR. Alton is one place I would really like to visit one day. I've heard so much about the park, and seeing these pictures just makes me want to get there even more. While it is sad to see Corkscrew leaving, we have to remember it is a Vekoma death-machine, so it was inevitable that it would happen eventually.

 

Given the rides going into other parks recently, I'm really interested to see what's in store for SW6. It's bound to be fantastic, whatever it is.

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How can I knock a guy who puts up a great report, likes donuts, and does

a rapids shot 3 pics into his TR, not to mention hooks up the resident

monorail enthusiast? No fishing jokes here.

 

Coincidentally, I was eating a donut early yesterday morning while reading the TR.

 

Thank you kindly friend and enjoyed it!

 

Thank you kindly as well sir! Rapids, donuts and monorails (and beards ) rock!

 

I've just got to make it back there soon before they rip out those awesome gardens for whatever wooden monstrosity they're planning - and then again after .

 

I've got a feeling the gardens are going no where! I think the people of Alton will stop any destruction of the gardens for the sake of a new ride.

 

Fantastic Photo TR. Given the rides going into other parks recently, I'm really interested to see what's in store for SW6. It's bound to be fantastic, whatever it is.

 

Thanks for the comment. Fingers crossed the ride will be awesome. If it is going to be a 'world first', there's no doubt that in a few years it'll be surpassed by a much bigger and better version somewhere in the US

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