Talbot Street Tuesday

[rob666]

Long ago, that was where some of the coaches parked.
Same time as the cars parking on the grass in front of the sea lions.

 

[Squiggs]

Long ago, that was where some of the coaches parked.
Same time as the cars parking on the grass in front of the sea lions.

Somewhere floating around I have a couple of photos from an even earlier time, when cars could park on the grass where Gangsta Granny is today, and the coach park was on Fountain Square, in front of the Dovecote.

One of the fun things about the Mini Apple: its main publicity shot has coaches parked in the background before the old coach park made way for the Alton Beast.

 

[Hid]

Somewhere floating around I have a couple of photos from an even earlier time, when cars could park on the grass where Gangsta Granny is today, and the coach park was on Fountain Square, in front of the Dovecote.

One of the fun things about the Mini Apple: its main publicity shot has coaches parked in the background before the old coach park made way for the Alton Beast.

There are so few pictures of Mini Apple, its the coaster at Towers that probably has the least amount of photos either this or 4 Man Bob.

 

[Matt N]

Interestingly, it’s the only defunct Towers coaster I’ve actually ridden (I’m never certain that I didn’t do Beastie, but I can’t find any proof that I did, so I’m assuming I didn’t); I gave it a go in Great Yarmouth in 2024!

I’ll admit I find it hard to imagine it at Alton Towers, as it seems far too generic in nature, but I guess the park was a different place back then (and by extension, I guess the industry was too).

 

[Hid]

Both of Alton's former kids coasters still operate in the UK. The rest of their former Coaster either left the UK or were scrapped

 

[WillPS]

Interestingly, it’s the only defunct Towers coaster I’ve actually ridden (I’m never certain that I didn’t do Beastie, but I can’t find any proof that I did, so I’m assuming I didn’t); I gave it a go in Great Yarmouth in 2024!

I’ll admit I find it hard to imagine it at Alton Towers, as it seems far too generic in nature, but I guess the park was a different place back then (and by extension, I guess the industry was too).

It certainly was, Beastie was very similar and was also a bit of an oddball, especially in its last few years. They did give it a repaint with the same teal/red colour scheme as Spinball Whizzer but other than that it basically operated as a totally unintegrated standalone attraction, as it would (and has done) in a seaside amusement park.

What do we have to go on that the Great Yarmouth Mini Apple is the same as the one which operated at Alton Towers? I appreciate this is the accepted wisdom but it's very hard to track these things as they're all so similar and very portable, there's even been one which has run on the Market Square in Nottingham a couple of summers!

 

[Matt N]

What do we have to go on that the Great Yarmouth Mini Apple is the same as the one which operated at Alton Towers? I appreciate this is the accepted wisdom but it's very hard to track these things as they're all so similar and very portable, there's even been one which has run on the Market Square in Nottingham a couple of summers!

Great Yarmouth themselves say it on their website: https://pleasure-beach.co.uk/explore-the-park/rides/

 

[Squiggs]

One for @rob666 (though everyone else, feel free to enjoy it too).

Here's an image of a rather busy coach park behind the Towers in 1982, taken from the top of the Flag Tower.

The red circle towards the top-left of the image is the apple of the Mini Apple Coaster at the edge of Adventureland 4-11.

For anyone who's interested in such things, Project Horizon's building would fill the middle of this photo. The Mini Apple is where the ride's exit will be and the building would basically fill the gap between the 'apple' and the two single trees you can see in the centre of the image. The three rows of coaches in between would be within the building.

 

[Ash]

One for @rob666 (though everyone else, feel free to enjoy it too).

Here's an image of a rather busy coach park behind the Towers in 1982, taken from the top of the Flag Tower.

The red circle towards the top-left of the image is the apple of the Mini Apple Coaster at the edge of Adventureland 4-11.

For anyone who's interested in such things, Project Horizon's building would fill the middle of this photo. The Mini Apple is where the ride's exit will be and the building would basically fill the gap between the 'apple' and the two single trees you can see in the centre of the image. The three rows of coaches in between would be within the building.

Am I right in thinking these coaches would be entering via the Farley Lane/Alton Station gatehouse entrance?

 

[rob666]

Indeed.
My bus was the green and cream one in the middle of the picture (old Blackburn Corporation buses).
How did you manage to get my actual bus in on the right day Squiggs?
My only coach trip to the Towers, taking the pub landlords kids for the day on a freebie, I had to stand at the front and give the driver directions because he didn't have a clue.