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Talbot Street Tuesday/Thursday (Picture Heavy)

Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Thanks for your efforts in this thread team TST. I've found most of this stuff really, really interesting. Although I've been visiting AT almost every year of my 30 year life so far, I've tended to concentrate my research efforts recently on the gardens and grounds. It's great to see some good old stuff from the attractions side of things. Keep up the good work peoples, it's much appreciated.
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

This weeks Talbot Street Tuesday (posted on our Facebook page earlier this week).

"A very rare find. The map of the park from 1980, the year the Corkscrew opened."
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"The 1981 park map: a slightly more colourful affair."
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"The 1983 Fun Poster. This was not the park map, but a souvenir that could be purchased in the park."
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Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

omg how have i only just discovered this thread, fantastic pictures!
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

This week we are taking a look back at some Air (SW5) concept designs.

Starting with a steampunk flying machine concept, including Shop, Cafe and Games unit.
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A similar theme was also considered for Oblivion and the X Sector.
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A distopian theme, which would have tied Air to the Forbidden Valley theme.
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Rather Swarm-like, it has to be said.
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The Air tunnel (looking from the station) as it could have been
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The Air tunnel as it could have been
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The Air tunnel as it could have been
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An alternate plan for Air's shop with the counter and photo point in a different location
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Don't forget to check out our Facebook page every week for more Talbot Street Tuesday photos!
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Good pictures. :)

But loooking at pictures at the makes me feel sad at how much better Air could have been. :(
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

The original Air concepts look awesome (the mad max ones).

When watching the closing of the Paralympics I kept thinking it would be great if AT could buy all the vehicles for use in FV. Lack of money and foresight have left with practically no theme which is sad.
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Retro-futuristic Air ftw! Although the theme (can you call it that? :p ) of the ride as it is suits the experience more, you have to admit that what it could of looked like looks brilliant.

It's funny how they wanted Oblivion to have a similar theme too. God bless Tussauds and their steampunk fetish! :p
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Could it be that the liberty statue at heide park was installed there after the above AIR plans fell through? Cant help feeling that the theme plans changed late on ........
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Someone posted on our Facebook page that the Liberty statue has been at Heide park for a number of years before Air opened, so I think its fairly unlikely.
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

^ possible although wasnt it confirmed that plans changed due to 9/11 or is this just rumour
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

JB1985 said:
^ possible although wasnt it confirmed that plans changed due to 9/11 or is this just rumour

Probably not.

Remember that this is just concept art. This was all done very early on in Air's development (excluding the 8 years it took B&M to develop the Flying Coaster) and as such these designs are simply ideas of what the ride could look like.
For whatever reason they chose to go with another design (which we know from marketing in 2001 was long before 9/11). This could have been for budgeting reasons but I find it more likely that people saw the sleek and modern style that came with the Oasis theme and decided that was the theme they wanted for what was a cutting edge ride design. The budget cuts that later stripped it of its theme would have likely come a long time after this decision was made.
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

You have to admit though, seeing as it's 10 years old, it doesn't look like it was modern 10 years ago. Still looks sleek and modern. Something that is very hard to do! For example, X-Sector looks like it was built in the 90's!
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

The style of it is very 90s sci-fi influenced, whereas Air still looks modern after 10 years.
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

CoasterCrazyChris said:
Mr P said:
For example, X-Sector looks like it was built in the 90's!

Why do you think that??

I know it was built in the 90's, but you can tell it was. Whereas Air has an undated feel to it's design.
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

It seems we havnt posted last weeks photos in this topic, so here we go, this time its all about X-Sector!

The concept artwork for the Energiser in the X Sector.
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A concept for the Energiser's op cabin
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A concept for the entrance to the Energiser, now used for Submission.
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Looking towards the Blackhole in 1997, complete with new planting.
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The Blackhole midway through it's repaint to become part of X Sector in 1997. Note the original entrance structure.
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Concept artwork for the Blackhole's entrance, which has only recently been removed
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Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Absolutely love the final image. Amazing to see a finished product turn out exactly like its concept art as well.

:)
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Indeed it's not something we are used to at Alton :)
 
Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

It's Tuesday, so it means it's time for another look back into time with Talbot Street Tuesday! This week we are looking at the towers with some very interesting photos!

Here is the grand entrance of Alton Towers, now the entrance to Hex
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The Armoury in the early 50s, looking towards the Grand Entrance. This is now the early part of Hex's queue.
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The Armoury looking towards the Picture Gallery, which now houses the first two pre-shows for Hex.
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Looking into the derilict Ocatagon in the early 50s
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The pillar at the centre of the Octagon, beyond can be seen one of the information signs from when the house was open to the public before the war.
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The exit from the Octagon leeding to the Conservatories. This still exists today, and is the location of the billowing curtain in the Octagon pre-show for Hex.
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The orginal roof of the Octagon shortly before demoltion. The damage seen here was the result of much of the house being abandoned for much of the war period.
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The exit from the Octagon leading to the Talbot Gallery. The doors are long gone, but visitors pass through this archway before coming the the bookcase entarnce to Hex's vault
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The Talbot Gallery in it's later years of use, notice the Billiards table behind the sofa in the foreground.
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One of the Talbot Gallery fireplaces seen in a postcard before the war.
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The same fire place from the postcard in 1999, during the construction of Hex.
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And more of the Talbot Gallery, including the Tower at the end. Both fireplaces seen here are now protected within encasements awaiting further restoration work.
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Re: Talbot Street Tuesday (Picture Heavy)

Welcome back to the Monorail for this weeks Talbot Street Tuesday and we start to day in Car Park A, also known as the construction site for the Towers Street Monorail station
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Looking towards the Towers Street station from Grand Canyon Rapids (the waterfalls can be seen at the bottom of the picture)
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Heading towards completion, here we can see the entrance.
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Moving along the front, we find an banner advertising the new attraction.
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And the exit under construction.
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Finishing touches are added inside the station at Towers Street
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The monorail queue-line, complete with information board
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Looking from the platform across to rather barren looking Grand Canyon Rapids.
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Meanwhile in the car parks, construction is under way on the other station.
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The turn around heading into the car park station.
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The walls start to rise around what would eventually be the exit ramp.
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As the roof supports are put in place, here is the station's entrance
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A train in testing, heading into the car park station.
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Today, Extraordinary Golf would be just off the right hand of this picture
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The train leaves the unfinished station heading back towards the park.
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Today thousands of guests pass through this entrance every day on their way into the park....
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...and head up the ramp within the queue-line
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