Hansa-Park: general discussion

[Sam]

Even if it won't be properly themed for 2015, surely they won't open it next year with the tower looking like that externally?

 

[Rob]

Pretty sure they will! They've said all along that the ride opens next year, theming is all for 2016. I'd imagine there may be some bits and bobs around for 2015 but no major thematic work.

 

[Sam]

In the UK, the local authority would (quite rightly) not stand for something looking like that for a year. They need to do something with the tower, even if they just hang some banners over it, like EuroSat at Halloween. Otherwise this ride will be a joke.

 

[Alastair]

Looking more and more like a standard Gerstlauer installation every day

 

[Rob]

This article suggests that both the lift hill and vertical drop will be inside of the tower:

We do know that the coaster will utilize a vertical lift hill that is located in the giant tower (seen above) that has been built. That lift will be followed by a vertical drop through the tower, with the trains speeding out of the hole you can also see above. The rest of the ride features track that stays relatively low to the ground, an inversion in the dark, and an element that is in the shape of a heart.

I've also just noticed the track length of 4,051ft. I know it's a hyper coaster which are naturally longer than 'standard' coaster but that's a pretty good length and over 200ft longer than The Smiler. As the article points out, hopefully we will hear more at IAAPA.

 

[Benzin]

When I visited earlier in the year they had markers stretching all the way down past the Wild Mouse/Schlange to the Dinghy Slide, so 4kft sounds about right really...

 

[TheMan]

This article suggests that both the lift hill and vertical drop will be inside of the tower:


I've also just noticed the track length of 4,051ft. I know it's a hyper coaster which are naturally longer than 'standard' coaster but that's a pretty good length and over 200ft longer than The Smiler. As the article points out, hopefully we will hear more at IAAPA.

Good find! I still find the shape at the top strange. I think you were spot on about it looking like the train could exit there, obviously I felt it's the other way around, but it seems odd to me for that to be there. It's going to be a vertical lift, I mean we know they like their over-verticals but could it go out of the top of the tower, and over-vertical back in? That would be crazy.

The stairs inside would suggest lift inside and the images definitely suggest drop inside, that's going to claustrophobic.

There's a few really interesting touches to this ride, are we finally seeing Gerstlauer work with parks to bring a bit of Kopf madness back?

After all, we all forgive the lack of comfort on rides with real power and craziness!

 

[Lordy]

Thing is, the Smiler is quite small and has a lot of elements. This is HUGE, so just 200ft longer than the Smiler will probably equal a fairly short layout for a hyper.

 

[Rob]

Yes, you do have to look at the length of a coaster relative to the coaster type but it is still a pretty good length. How 'long' it turns out to be will depend on what the layout does after the first drop/hill.

Anyway, some more photos from the construction blog. Track is on-site.

I'd imagine the vertical lift will go up on the right, and it will drop down on the left. But who knows!

The rest can be seen here.

 

[Rob]

Some rather unusual track pieces are on-site:

And progress inside the tower:

What looks like the base of the lift being lowered into place

That firs piece of track is utterly bizarre though. Ideas on a postcard as to what it could be!?

 

[DanJB]

That first picture looks like it will be at the entrance to the maintenance bay, to guide the wheels back on to the track. Assuming Gerst use a 'trackless' bay like B&M. Also, does anyone else think the second pic looks like a turntable?

 

[Rob]

Ah the first one could well be that as I think The Smiler has a trackless maintenance bay; good thinking. I thought the track in the second photo looked a bit like a turntable also, certainly looks like it is going to move one way or another. This project really is intriguing!

 

[DanJB]

The only thing I can be certain of is that is the lift motor in the last one!

 

[TheMan]

 

[AstroDan]

This ride is bonkers.

I went to Hansa-Park once before.

I do wish to return.

 

[TheMan]

This is definitely one to keep watch for ride wise, could we see people traveling across continents.... FOR A GERSTLAUER???????

 

[Dar]

I think the second picture could be the transfer track, it has pneumatic rams at both ends to keep it locked in place.

Or I could be talking out of my waste pipe!

 

[Rob]

The track in the second photo looks too complex to just be transfer track, and I kinda hope it's not. Thinking about it though if it is just that one piece of track that moves then it probably is some form of transfer as you're not going to fit a Smiler length train on that and move it some way or another.

 

[TheMan]

Now we can see what looks like lift mechanisms going in, I am beyond puzzled how they're going to get the lift AND drop with all associated gubbins in that tower, and there's still the really odd shaped hole at the top. Every time I think I have it sussed I realise the track wont work that way.

Most intriguing build worldwide for me this one

 

[Benzin]

Could be that the hole at the top of the tower will be a door that opens as the train crests the top of the lift to see the rest of the ride before the drop...

I'm more intrigued to the theming more than anything... Especially given their last two additions and the general quality of most of the park...