Alton Towers Discussion Thread

[verticalzero]

This was my 1st ever coaster back in the 80's, I'll be sad to see this go if the news is true.

 

http://www.towersalmanac.com/index.php?show_story=349

 

It is heavily rumoured that Corkscrew, the roller coaster that put Alton Towers on the map, will be removed at the end of next year.

 

Corkscrew was installed in 1980 and was responsible for visitor numbers more than doubling in its first year of operation. Its arrival proved to be a turning point for Alton Towers, taking them from the gentile leisure park of the 1970s to the fully fledged theme park of the 1980s.

 

Now, however, it is thought that the ride will be removed on the eve of its 30th birthday, possibly to make way for a new roller coaster in Ug Land in 2010. It's believed that the trains on the ride need to be replaced soon, and that the cost of doing so would be too great to justify.

 

Additionally, in what seem to be big plans for the area, it is rumoured that Ug Swinger may go as soon as the end of this year, or possibly mid-way through next season.

 

Adding to the speculation is the fact that senior managers for Alton Towers have recently been spotted several times walking through Ug Land, examining plans. John Wardley, the mastermind behind other coasters at the park including Nemesis, Oblivion and Air, has also been seen in the area.

 

If the ride does go, it will be a sad day for most fans of the park; it would be the second such removal of an iconic attraction in six years following the removal of the Swan Boats ride at the end of 2003. However, few would argue that the latter's (eventual) successor, Battle Galleons, is not as good - and many also now find the ageing Corkscrew rough and uncomfortable to ride.

 

For next year, meanwhile, current rumours indicate two new rides, one of which possibly being a children's water ride in Cred Street, near where Bouncing Bugs is currently situated.

[cfc]

And there was much rejoicing. Yay.

 

As you can tell, not one of my favorite rides at Alton.

[Carnage]

Old Arrow corckscrews hold little nostalgic value for me. They're uncomfortable, and not much fun.

 

Rip it out.

[WillMontu]

^ Actually it's a Vekoma, and there are several clones of the ride around Europe, including one at Flamingoland and another at Holiday Park.

 

I wonder if they would relocate it or simply scrap it if it does go.

[Brad_G]

Best news I've had all week.

[Corkscrew]

Aww, I hope it doesn't go. It's a symbol of Alton Towers, plus, Vekoma Corkscrews aren't that bad. They aren't super tall or scary, but provide a decent thrill with a small footprint. They also have a much longer and more interesting layout than the Arrow Corkscrews.

 

Plus, my home park has a Vekoma Corkscrew, and they're fine if you know how to ride them.

[AstroDan]

The ride is in need of major refurbishment at the end of the next season. This would require replacement of both the trains and some other work. In total, the cost for all this would be considerable, and it is likely that the park will simply remove it in favour of a replacement attraction - most likely a rollercoaster.

 

It is no secret that John Wardley (designer of Nemesis, Air & Oblivion) along with a number of senior managers and other industry dignitaries have been spotted on a frequent basis, holding various plans - in the Ug Land area over recent weeks.

 

I would put money on the ride going by the end of next season - possibly even earlier.

 

2010 is Alton Towers' 30th anniversary. Something big could well be in the works.

[rollerboy]

It would suck to see Corky go, yeah ok its a little bit ruff (little lol) but still its a classic. I would hate to see it go!

Jordan.

[robbalvey]

AWESOME NEWS!!!

 

It was a glorious day when Walibi Belgium's Corkscrew was ripped to shreds and hopefully we'll one day get similar pictures of this one.

 

--Robb

 

Here's a reminder of Tornado at Walibi Belgium:

[AstroDan]

I think fans of the park would like to perhaps see one of the Corkscrew elements take up residence in some kind of garden as a lasting memorial.

 

The ride may suck, but its place as the foundation stone for Alton Towers cannot be underestimated!

[rollerboy]

Robb! Lol ^ I agree.

Jordan.

[Manny In England]

I rode it today and it's definitely coming to the ed of its lifespan. I just don't want a woodie to replace it, but that's just me.

[Goliath513]

I like the idea of saving some of the corkscrew inversion track to serve as a monument.

 

It will be like what SFGAdv did when they replaced the track on the loops of GASM - they put the old track in the wildlife park for the animals to play on.

 

 

 

 

[Shockwave]

^Looks like someone's coaster has sunk.

 

Corkscrew was certainly a huge step forward for Alton Towers and UK rollerocasters when it was built, but it's well past its sell-by-date now.

[window]

AWESOME NEWS!!!

 

It was a glorious day when Walibi Belgium's Corkscrew was ripped to shreds and hopefully we'll one day get similar pictures of this one.

 

--Robb

 

Here's a reminder of Tornado at Walibi Belgium:

 

WOW they really go to town on rollercoasters when they come to the end of their life. I thought they'd take them apart piece by piece?

 

I think it will be a shame if it goes.

 

I've got many memories of queuing (sp) up for the Corkscrew with my older brothers year after year, and getting turned away in tears everytime! My mum would always give me money to go in the arcades to stop me crying! LOL!

[Absimilliard]

I can believe it when they say the trains and the track need work... Supermanege at La Ronde, which is a clone of Corkscrew (and opened in 1981) is in horrible shape. They had to spend the last 2 years with one train, as the other one was just in too bad of a shape to run. This year, they finally "rehabbed" the 2 trains, but, it can't run 2 trains anymore as the computer and sensor system just... died.

 

Vekoma trains are very fragile. The Vekoma trains on Space Mountain DLP were replaced in 2000 (after 5 years) and were completely rebuilt in 2005. Goudurix got its Vekoma trains completely rehabbed after 7-8 years.

[BlibBlab]

Shame if it goes in a way as it is an iconic attraction..Its terrible and I don't bother riding it anymore, but thats not the point. I wish they never shut the black hole. That was more of a blow to me then this, used to love that ride.

 

Hope they totaly kill the ride ripping it to shreds Robb style, although maybe a new garden sculpture would be interesting.

[coastercrazy216]

This could be some of the best news this year. I am crying with happiness (not really).

[coastercrazy216]

 

Vekoma trains are very fragile. The Vekoma trains on Space Mountain DLP were replaced in 2000 (after 5 years) and were completely rebuilt in 2005. Goudurix got its Vekoma trains completely rehabbed after 7-8 years.

 

If they really are fragile, then why do parks build Vekoma coasters. Most of them suck anyway. This is me on a Vekoma...

[Manny In England]

^ In this case because highly thought of companies like Intamin were new and widely unknown. Vekoma had been actively building rides for around ten years.

[Kennyweird]

WOW they really go to town on rollercoasters when they come to the end of their life. I thought they'd take them apart piece by piece?

 

Nope, they don't.

 

It's a lot cheaper to tear it to shreds than it is to carefully dismantle it.

[Ryan King]

I love Vekomas.

Yummmm

[Hobbesx2]

The thing is, I hate arrow corkscrews just as much as the next person, but it's still sad to see all there old arrow and vekoma rides getting dismantled. Eventually there will be none left, and with not as many rough old rides to compare our new smooth rides against, we will not appreciate them as much. Eventually the existing ones will have to get ACE status.

[coastercrazy216]

I love Vekomas.

 

I still remember and love that video that you made.

[Purplepills]

Corkscrew at AT was my first ever 'big' coaster, so it does hold a bit of nostalgia for me. However, I am also all for progress, and if a ride has come to the end of its life, which I believe that one has, I'd sooner see a new attraction that will help bring in visitors for years to come.