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Drayton Manor Park

Jb85 said:
Shockwave is an interesting one - it’s iconic to the park - but must be expensive
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Yes in the long term I'm not sure it's viable. Like you say it must be very expensive to maintain. Hopefully they'll keep it until they've got enough thrilling rides and coasters that it's loss wouldn't matter as much but for now it really needs to stay.

Also I have a soft spot for it (even if it does hurt a little) and would be sad to see it go. It's iconic status in the park would mean removing it would have to be done in the right way with a proper send off.
 
JAperson said:
Yes in the long term I'm not sure it's viable. Like you say it must be very expensive to maintain. Hopefully they'll keep it until they've got enough thrilling rides and coasters that it's loss wouldn't matter as much but for now it really needs to stay.

Also I have a soft spot for it (even if it does hurt a little) and would be sad to see it go. It's iconic status in the park would mean removing it would have to be done in the right way with a proper send-off.
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Plus removing it would require the Rapids they've just reopened to be dug through as Shockwave's supports are embedded into the trough.
 
Thameslink Rail said:
I would however like to see them run Shockwave on two trains again, do they still have both trains or have they stripped one as a parts donor?
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Last I heard they where using the other train as spare parts donor to the main train they use. I'm sure B&M could build new trains but I doubt it's worth the cost to do so.
 
Thameslink Rail said:
Sorry to say it but it's an Intamin
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I know but the track and train are similar enough to B&M (as it was built by the Intamin sub-contractor that Claude and Walter worked for) that they could probably re-do the trains for it. The issue would be the cost as it would likely have to be adapted to the right width to fit on the track and B&M are just expensive anyway. I'd hope with it being so similar that it would be fairly easy for B&M to do but I don't really know what the difference is between the B&M stand ups and the old Intamin ones.
 
They will keep Shockwave as long as possible as they know it can’t be replaced with another coaster but they could just remove it and leave the footing in the rapids area. The coaster is partly built on green belt land and back then drawings and designs were done on paper and it wasn’t to it was all finished they noticed and to get around it they
Can’t built another coaster in its place.
 
Skyscraper said:
Plus removing it would require the Rapids they've just reopened to be dug through as Shockwave's supports are embedded into the trough.
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We had this same discussion regarding Apocalypse ... if you wanted to remove Shockwave why would you need to do anything of the sort ? Unbolt the supports where you can, or cut them if you must and leave it at that ?
 
Themeparksandy1981 said:
They will keep Shockwave as long as possible as they know it can’t be replaced with another coaster but they could just remove it and leave the footing in the rapids area. The coaster is partly built on green belt land and back then drawings and designs were done on paper and it wasn’t to it was all finished they noticed and to get around it they
Can’t built another coaster in its place.
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Yes which still can't believe nobody noticed. Also a bit annoying that there's need a coaster there for 25 odd years but if they try to build another one even if it was smaller quieter and more energy efficient it would still get denied.
 
If Shockwave goes they would need to replace with a similar scale of coaster. A park needs a headline ride. Vampire at Chessington and Big One at Blackpool are similar where they can’t really go without a replacement.
 
jon81uk said:
If Shockwave goes they would need to replace with a similar scale of coaster. A park needs a headline ride. Vampire at Chessington and Big One at Blackpool are similar where they can’t really go without a replacement.
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Just in a different location, because as @Themeparksandy1981 said above, Drayton cannot build anything else on that site if Shockwave was removed.
 
venny said:
There’s no blanket restriction for building on green belt. I expect if the park ever wanted to replace Shockwave then an application to replace it with something more aesthetically sympathetic would be viewed favourably.
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This is a good read if u haven’t read it before
http://www.s104638357.websitehome.co.uk/html/birthday_shockwaveinterview.htm

Locals moaned about the noise of the last section of the track before it went round to the station. That’s why G-Force’s track was filled with sand to keep the noise down after locals complained about the noise from Cyclone which was only in the park for 2 and a half seasons and to get drunken barrels passed off it was put into a partly closed building. That’s why there’s warnings in Pandemonium queue line about noise as locals wanted that removing also.
 
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That’s a really good find and an interesting read

I never knew that the layout had to be changed once built.
The bit about wanting a b&m inverter instead is interesting- imagine if they went down this road and competed against nemesis - would have probably failed big time.
Also interesting how secret nemesis was to the industry
 
Is there any chance of Excalibur or Pirate Adventure reopening? I think The Looping Group should refurbish and bring Pirate Adventure into the 21st century,like Piraten In Batavia at Europa Park. I would also like to see Excalibur reopen in one shape or form?
 
Prof Burp said:
Is there any chance of Excalibur or Pirate Adventure reopening? I think The Looping Group should refurbish and bring Pirate Adventure into the 21st century,like Piraten In Batavia at Europa Park. I would also like to see Excalibur reopen in one shape or form?
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Both of those rides have been almost completely gutted and removed I'm afraid.
 
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