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RIP Ripsaw
AliceHL91
TS Member
I think most people have already made up their mind about the smiler, with regards to riding it or not, before it reopened and what with the amount of other rides being sbno or gone and food outlets being shut it doesn't really give a great impression of the park.
They're going to have to rely on Galactica and the fact that they've started this TLC to draw the crowds in
They're going to have to rely on Galactica and the fact that they've started this TLC to draw the crowds in
Probably one of the worst decisions they could have made, removing Ripsaw. I don't mind removal of old rides that are then replaced, however it seems as though Alton Towers/Merlin are removing all the support rides that help the park cope with high footfall on peak days
Ripsaw was on its last knees, it sounded awful. It needed removing (well replacing!)
Rob
TS Team
Europa Matt
TS Member
Well at least Ripsaw will live on, as a parts doner.
Feels a shame for Towers to have so few flats now. I know they aren't as essential as coasters and dark rides these days but parks still need a few of them to dampen queues.
A nice modern topspin like Talocan would be perfect, although unlikely.
Feels a shame for Towers to have so few flats now. I know they aren't as essential as coasters and dark rides these days but parks still need a few of them to dampen queues.
A nice modern topspin like Talocan would be perfect, although unlikely.
Yes, you are quite right. The other spelling goes infront of kebab.Um, isn't it Donor?
Stuntman707
TS Member
I wouldn't be surprised if Towers have already scrapped the sculpted screw section in the middle. Shame it would have made a great sculpture in Forbidden Valley with a great little reminder of Ripsaw when people visit years later.
It's little things like that which the fans would appreciate and just enrich the park in general having historical artefacts hidden / reused.
It's little things like that which the fans would appreciate and just enrich the park in general having historical artefacts hidden / reused.
Mi-Nigle
TS Member
*Dredge*
Euro Theme Park Archive has uploaded some brilliant 1997 photos of Ripsaw:
From: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14aTKdbtuv/
Great photos etc.... however TIL that Ripsaw had on-ride photography?! I've just checked @Squiggs' Ripsaw page and, sure enough, already documented!
I am rather interested in this camera setup though... I imagined a bank of cameras all in a row but nope! Two cameras and flash on a motorised gimbal... How did it work? Two photos that were cropped several times? Several photos taken sequentially while the gondola was stationary? Did it somehow track the moving gondola? (doubtful) Was it automatic? Was it controlled by a person? I know, mundane! But I want to know.
Euro Theme Park Archive has uploaded some brilliant 1997 photos of Ripsaw:
From: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14aTKdbtuv/
Great photos etc.... however TIL that Ripsaw had on-ride photography?! I've just checked @Squiggs' Ripsaw page and, sure enough, already documented!

I am rather interested in this camera setup though... I imagined a bank of cameras all in a row but nope! Two cameras and flash on a motorised gimbal... How did it work? Two photos that were cropped several times? Several photos taken sequentially while the gondola was stationary? Did it somehow track the moving gondola? (doubtful) Was it automatic? Was it controlled by a person? I know, mundane! But I want to know.

DiogoJ42
TS Member
I can't speak for Ripsaw, but on Rameses, the ride would end, park, and sit there awkwardly for a few seconds while the camera panned along the gondola going clicky-click-click.
Utterly pointless. Can't have helped the throughput.
Utterly pointless. Can't have helped the throughput.
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The art of placing on ride photos seems long lost. Don't even get me started on that floodlight they installed on Nemesis instead of a flash.
I think silver star also wins on the silly on ride photo… just as you hit the break run

Honestly had no idea ripsaw ever had an on ride photo, but these days positioning as said isn’t the best, galactica is another which now takes it again…. As your hitting the break run