• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Thirteen: General Discussion

Ethan said:
Rode Th13teen for the first ever time in the dark today and wow what a kick that has to it at night! Sokoto much better than during the day, I was smiling the whole way round
Click to expand...
Glad you're hooked Ethan, it's a whole different ride at night! Can't wait to ride it in the dark myself on Monday. :D
 
Ethan said:
Rode Th13teen for the first ever time in the dark today and wow what a kick that has to it at night! Sokoto much better than during the day, I was smiling the whole way round
Click to expand...

Did the same, even planned joining the queue so we entered the station around 7:15pm to ensure it was dark. Felt like a complete dark ride to me and the must do ride of the night :).
 
Jim said:
Did the same, even planned joining the queue so we entered the station around 7:15pm to ensure it was dark. Felt like a complete dark ride to me and the must do ride of the night :).
Click to expand...
I do like riding it more in the dark, especially if the camera flash blinds you! But I can't make my mind up if the crypt interior is better at night when my eyes are adjusted to the darkness so it appears brighter, or during the day when it appears darker because my eyes need to adjust from daylight. Both are good for different reasons
 
Even though im not a fan of 13 in the day, I can’t deny it does make a fantastic night ride. Definitely the parks ‘most improved’ ride in the dark.
 
How's this for a totally pie in the sky idea! Remove Rita and utilise the ride area to extend Thirteens layout, remove the problematic lift hill and replace with a launch instead, with a couple more thrown in for good measure. Add more theming around the ride, similar to Hagrids magical creatures motorbike adventure, giving you the two coasters we have now in one!!!
 
coastinginlife said:
How's this for a totally pie in the sky idea! Remove Rita and utilise the ride area to extend Thirteens layout, remove the problematic lift hill and replace with a launch instead, with a couple more thrown in for good measure. Add more theming around the ride, similar to Hagrids magical creatures motorbike adventure, giving you the two coasters we have now in one!!!
Click to expand...

How about just gut the whole area and start again? Likely to be cheaper!
 
If Intamin couldn't even make a lift hill work properly in the rain, what you're proposing would never run at all!
 
Would enclosing the lift hill in a tunnel to keep the rain out be a good idea? Saw it mentioned somewhere.
 
I very recently watched John Wardley’s presentation on the development of Thirteen on YouTube and it explains why they had to use tyre kickers as opposed to a chain lift because of the proximity to Alton village. When SW6 was first proposed, John explained that Alton’s residents hated the noise of Corkscrew’s lift hill and sight line of the ride’s high point, and the planners allegedly said that unless you build SW6 on the site of the Corkscrew and remove it, we’ll make it really difficult for you if you decide to build it somewhere else. Not only did some guests think the Corkscrew was past it’s best, but it was also a problem for the residents of Alton. It was therefore decided that because the cars needed to be light for the magnetic brake drop mechanism, a tyre kick lift hill would be enough to get the cars up and over whilst also satisfying the planners.

AT now just need to find a way of operating the ride in the rain without any threat of rollback.
 
There's some truth in there. The Corkscrew motor was a cause of complaint by locals. I believe a solution to this was priced up around the time Rita was installed (and Corkscrew was repainted) but for whatever reason didn't happen.
 
s_g_k said:
I very recently watched John Wardley’s presentation on the development of Thirteen on YouTube and it explains why they had to use tyre kickers as opposed to a chain lift because of the proximity to Alton village. When SW6 was first proposed, John explained that Alton’s residents hated the noise of Corkscrew’s lift hill and sight line of the ride’s high point, and the planners allegedly said that unless you build SW6 on the site of the Corkscrew and remove it, we’ll make it really difficult for you if you decide to build it somewhere else. Not only did some guests think the Corkscrew was past it’s best, but it was also a problem for the residents of Alton. It was therefore decided that because the cars needed to be light for the magnetic brake drop mechanism, a tyre kick lift hill would be enough to get the cars up and over whilst also satisfying the planners.

AT now just need to find a way of operating the ride in the rain without any threat of rollback.
Click to expand...
Apologies for quoting myself but this is the link to the YouTube video for those who are interested.

 
Rick said:
They found a way, it worked fine for 11 seasons. There are a lot of bizarre assumptions around this whole thing.
Click to expand...
True, but after the rollback incident allegedly caused by a combination of worn and wet tyres, who knows!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top