Talbot Street Lock In

[Matt N]

1999 and 2000, and not dissimilarly to how it does today. The distribution machines were beside the Black Hole. My initial memory was that one lane of the queue was used for the Virtual Queue, the other for Standby/Normal. But I'm incorrect! Unbelievably, on busy days in 1999 and 2000, the only way to get on Oblivion was with a Virtual Queue ticket! Same goes for Nemesis. Perhaps they opened it up to everyone in the final hour? Either way, in 2001, the VQ/Standby split arrived.

Oblivion's queue has always been split throughout, even in 1998. You chose a lane and then followed it through to either of the loading platforms. Breakdowns aside, it is amazing how many guests Oblivion used to shift through in its first few seasons, and testimony to how big the park dreamed in the nineties.

Agreed that the Jules Verne theme would have been preferable, but the black paint and paranoia aesthetic of the area still works reasonably effectively.

Ah right; thanks for the clarification @Plastic Person!

I wonder why the park felt the need to apply virtual queuing to Oblivion of all rides on busy days, as doesn’t it have a throughput of nearly 2,000 riders per hour? I wonder whether it was popularity? The virtual queuing might also explain the somewhat strange layout of Oblivion’s queue, with all the different random lines that I was never sure what they were for.

The throughput of Oblivion may also explain why it never seems to have a queue, as every time I’ve ridden it in the last few years, I’ve walked straight into the station! I wonder how B&M managed to attain such a high throughput on Oblivion; I’m guessing it’s at least in part down to the ride duration, but Stealth at Thorpe Park is even shorter and doesn’t have anywhere near the throughput of Oblivion, even with more riders in a train, so I’m guessing it’s something else? Then again, most B&Ms have pretty incredible throughputs, so it might just be the fact that it’s a B&M giving it a boost!

 

[ChristmasPud]

The virtual queuing might also explain the somewhat strange layout of Oblivion’s queue, with all the different random lines that I was never sure what they were for.

That's a funny weird design they used for a few seasons, where you'd choose a lane line Plastic Person mentioned, there was probably a gate host batching you to either lane too. You'd stay in the lane throughout the queue, the lanes would split around either side of the cylinder buildings, I like that nice touch

Then each lane would follow one of the two bridges to the station and lead directly to each station platform, A or B.

So basically it was a dual platform loading system to increase throughput, but batch guests into platform A or B from the start of the queue rather than at the station like today, just for added effect to feel like you were being processed

At least that's what I picked up from others, does anyone remember this queue system themselves? Of course now second lane is used for Fastrack, and the third bridge added into the station

 

[Matt N]

That's a funny weird design they used for a few seasons, where you'd choose a lane line Plastic Person mentioned, there was probably a gate host batching you to either lane too. You'd stay in the lane throughout the queue, the lanes would split around either side of the cylinder buildings, I like that nice touch

Then each lane would follow one of the two bridges to the station and lead directly to each station platform, A or B.

So basically it was a dual platform loading system to increase throughput, but batch guests into platform A or B from the start of the queue rather than at the station like today, just for added effect to feel like you were being processed

At least that's what I picked up from others, does anyone remember this queue system themselves? Of course now second lane is used for Fastrack, and the third bridge added into the station

Ah right. Thanks for the clarification @OilyWater!

 

[Squiggs]

Submission is a hot contender for the crown of most popular ride that no one liked.

As soon as it opened it became apparent that it was a triumph of style over experience; and so while not many people enjoyed riding Submission, it was certainly enjoyable to watch as it swooped over the lower part of X-Sector.

Submission's strong visual style was encapsulated in its short but punchy advert.

 

[Poisson]

Even in that shot there is only one arm working

 

[Matt N]

Why is it that only one arm was operated in the ride's later years? Was this down to maintenance issues?

 

[Squiggs]

Why is it that only one arm was operated in the ride's later years? Was this down to maintenance issues?

If I recall correctly by that time they didn't have all the parts required to run both arms simultaneously but they would occasionally switch which side was working, so both sides were technically in working order if they ordered in the required parts.

However, that really wasn't needed - the ride wasn't that popular by that point so the second arm was redundant.

 

[Matt N]

If I recall correctly by that time they didn't have all the parts required to run both arms simultaneously but they would occasionally switch which side was working, so both sides were technically in working order if they ordered in the required parts.

However, that really wasn't needed - the ride wasn't that popular by that point so the second arm was redundant.

Ah right. Thanks for the clarification @Squiggs!

 

[djtruefitt]

I always remember for years people saying the back arm was broke as it just never ran. Then randomly on park one day the back arm was working!

I guess maybe they did switch parts around to keep them both working. But it certainly never needed both arms, as it literally never had a queue.

 

[WillPS]

1999 and 2000, and not dissimilarly to how it does today. The distribution machines were beside the Black Hole. My initial memory was that one lane of the queue was used for the Virtual Queue, the other for Standby/Normal. But I'm incorrect! Unbelievably, on busy days in 1999 and 2000, the only way to get on Oblivion was with a Virtual Queue ticket! Same goes for Nemesis. Perhaps they opened it up to everyone in the final hour? Either way, in 2001, the VQ/Standby split arrived.

Oblivion's queue has always been split throughout, even in 1998. You chose a lane and then followed it through to either of the loading platforms. Breakdowns aside, it is amazing how many guests Oblivion used to shift through in its first few seasons, and testimony to how big the park dreamed in the nineties.

Agreed that the Jules Verne theme would have been preferable, but the black paint and paranoia aesthetic of the area still works reasonably effectively.

Your recollection differs from mine.

I didn't see the Oblivion or Submission VQ in action, but I believe the dispensers were down near Energizer/Submission, left would make sense as that'd be near the Oblivion entrance. The distribution points by the Black Hole were from the very very shortlived Black Hole Fastrack (operated for less than a season before free Fastrack was binned off completely).

Oblivion's queue was originally one wide queue, the divide down the middle was there but it wasn't complete, you could shuffle from side to side quite easily (it was an absolute dream for pushers). The 'gaps' were filled in on the last 'loop' of the queue around 2005 when paid for Fastrack became a thing.

You used to be able to tell which were old and new quite easily but I'm not sure you can any more?

 

[ChristmasPud]

Oblivion's queue was originally one wide queue, the divide down the middle was there but it wasn't complete, you could shuffle from side to side quite easily (it was an absolute dream for pushers). The 'gaps' were filled in on the last 'loop' of the queue around 2005 when paid for Fastrack became a thing.

Really are you sure? At what point did the two platforms get batched, at the top tower? The two sides would have to be batched at some point because they originally entered the station on different bridges for the two different loading platforms

Seems odd, why build the lane dividers in the first place and have the queue split both sides of the buildings (the old shop even had two counters to serve both sides)

Maybe it was an intended feature that they didn't bother implementing properly

 

[Squiggs]

Your recollection differs from mine.

I didn't see the Oblivion or Submission VQ in action, but I believe the dispensers were down near Energizer/Submission, left would make sense as that'd be near the Oblivion entrance. The distribution points by the Black Hole were from the very very shortlived Black Hole Fastrack (operated for less than a season before free Fastrack was binned off completely).

I believe you're correct. The Black Hole Fastrack distribution point was certainly added for the 2004 Season. It was of the same style as The Flume's distribution point that was also added that season.

I also never saw the original Oblivion VQ, but it was flipped to serve Submission so it would make sense that it was down in that sort of area, though this image from the early days doesn't seem to feature it:

 

[AT86]

This video may help piece memories together From 1min 25 in they show the VQ machines for Oblivion installed in 1999 outside the Black Hole. These were of course difference machines in a slightly different location to those installed for Black Hole fastrack in 2004.



I also recall the Oblivion queue line not being divided all the way along, there were lots of gaps between the middle fences where you could switch sides. No idea why they went with this approach, perhaps it was an attempt at what Disney did, as before fastpass they often had two ‘sides’ to their queue lines.

 

[rob666]

From what I recall from the time, everyone was meant to queue all the way up, en masse, but the line "evolved" to left side only, as it was one long turn to the left...shortest route.
The gum wall "evolved" around the same time I think.
They even put up signs saying queue both sides, but most people didnt.
Sheeple.
I was one of the enlightened few who followed the signs and "queued both sides".
Not pushing in please note, just following instructions.
The left queue only fattened out as you got close to the top.
As it caused so much friction, further barriers (bins!) went up,and the barriers changed repeatedly.

 

[WillPS]

I believe you're correct. The Black Hole Fastrack distribution point was certainly added for the 2004 Season. It was of the same style as The Flume's distribution point that was also added that season.

I also never saw the original Oblivion VQ, but it was flipped to serve Submission so it would make sense that it was down in that sort of area, though this image from the early days doesn't seem to feature it:

Yepp, you can clearly see the incomplete queue dividers - even with bins between there's plenty of space to move around.

 

[Matt N]

Perhaps controversial, but I feel 2000 was the last true glory year of the park's golden age. Perhaps appropriate, at the tip of a new decade.

Two years and much buzz later, and Air was impressive, but the atmosphere and branding of the park had become something very different a bit more visibly corporate by then. It's a difficult thing to put your finger on.

What exactly do you mean by “more corporate”? Air was still a very impressive investment, and the park later went on to invest a huge amount of money into Splash Landings & Cariba Creek just a year later (coincidentally, Splash Landings and Cariba Creek opened the year I was born!), so I’d say that the 1990s momentum definitely continued well into the 2000s; from what I know, if I had to pinpoint a time where things slowed down and changed, I’d probably say somewhere around 2004-2005.

 

[WillPS]

As an example, Air had no theming at all but it did have prominent* sponsorship from Cadbury Miniature Heroes.

* not quite as prominent as the 'looking down's the fun part' Fanta disaster.

 

[ChristmasPud]

Yepp, you can clearly see the incomplete queue dividers - even with bins between there's plenty of space to move around.

Oh yeah, it's so bizarre. Probably gaps because of the evac steps running down the mound needing to pass through the queue, but looks like there are other gaps too at random.

Seems like a queue feature that was just never implemented properly so it failed, would surely mean platform B never got any consistent riders and would need a batch host before the bridges to even it out

 

[Matt N]

As an example, Air had no theming at all but it did have prominent* sponsorship from Cadbury Miniature Heroes.

* not quite as prominent as the 'looking down's the fun part' Fanta disaster.

I thought John Wardley said that the sole reason for Air’s original theming was because the flying coaster technology cost far more money to develop than was originally thought, leaving them with little money and little time to develop major theming? And the Cadbury’s Heroes sponsorship was chosen in order to embody the “fly like a hero” message that John Wardley wanted to put across?

 

[WillPS]

I thought John Wardley said that the sole reason for Air’s original theming was because the flying coaster technology cost far more money to develop than was originally thought, leaving them with little money and little time to develop major theming? And the Cadbury’s Heroes sponsorship was chosen in order to embody the “fly like a hero” message that John Wardley wanted to put across?

Sure, no reason to believe any of that stuff is positive spin.

I believe it's a matter of fact that theming (waterfalls, projections and things like that) was planned but never installed.

Sponsors are not typically "chosen" based on anything other than digits. (See also - the aforementioned Fanta disaster.)