Pipeline roller coaster
Roller coaster design
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pipeline roller coaster is a type of roller coaster where the trains ride between the tracks as opposed to a traditional roller coaster where they ride above them. The concept was first developed by Japanese ride company TOGO as the Ultratwister model. They built six installations of the design, four of which are still in existence. Arrow Dynamics created an alternate version of the concept, but it never made it past the prototype stage in development. Intamin developed a version known as the Spiral Coaster model, building only one installation, which is no longer in operation.
Arrow Dynamics
Intamin
| Pipeline roller coaster | |
|---|---|
Ultra Twister at the defunct Six Flags Astroworld, a TOGO pipeline coaster | |
| Status | Discontinued |
| First manufactured | 1984 |
| No. of installations | 12 |
| Manufacturers | TOGO Arrow Dynamics Intamin |
| Riders per row | 2 |
| Restraint Style | Over-the-Shoulder |
History
The first pipeline coasters were manufactured by TOGO as their Ultratwister model.[1] The company manufactured six of the model, with the first two opening in 1986 at Tokyo Dome City in Tokyo, Japan, and Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States, both named "Ultra Twister."[2]
TOGO's Ultratwister model features an 85-degree lift hill followed by three heartline roll inversions. Between the second and third rolls is a switch track that tilts trains to an approximately 45 degree angle, sending them through the remainder of the course backwards. The Ultratwister at Rusutsu Resort is the only S-II model built by TOGO, featuring a dive loop instead of a switch track.[3]
Arrow Dynamics attempted to develop a pipeline roller coaster, building a prototype at Arrow's facility in Utah. In 1990, John Wardley worked with Alton Towers to attempt to build one at the park. This was later scrapped in favor of Nemesis after Wardley rode the prototype and disliked the experience it offered.[4][5]
In the 1996, Intamin built Sky Plaza Comet, a Spiral Coaster at Sky Plaza in South Korea.[6] In 2000, the coaster was relocated to Al-Sha'ab Leisure Park in Kuwait (now known as Winter Wonderland Kuwait), before permanently closing in 2005. The ride remained standing but not operating until its removal in 2017.[7]
Installations
| Coaster name | Amusement park | Manufacturer | Model | Opened | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Twister | Tokyo Dome City | TOGO | Ultratwister | 1986 | Demolished | [8] |
| Ultra Twister | Nagashima Spa Land | TOGO | Ultratwister | 1989 | Operating | [9] |
| Ultra Twister | Rusutsu Resort World Food Festival | TOGO | Ultratwister S-II | 1989 1988 | Operating Closed 1988 | [10] [11] |
| Ultra Twister | Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland | TOGO | Ultratwister | 1991 | Operating | [12] |
| Ultra Twister Megaton | Greenland | TOGO | Ultratwister | 1994 | Demolished Closed 2020 | [13] |
| Spiral Coaster Formerly Sky Plaza Comet | Winter Wonderland Kuwait Sky Plaza | Intamin | Spiral Coaster | 2000 1996 | Demolished Closed 1999 | [6] [14] |
| Ultra Coaster Formerly Ultra Twister | South Sabahiya Park Ikoma Skyland | TOGO | Ultratwister | 2008 2004 or earlier | Demolished Closed 2012 | [15] [16] |
| unknown Formerly Ultra Twister Formerly Ultra Twister | Six Flags America Six Flags AstroWorld Six Flags Great Adventure | TOGO | Ultratwister | 2006 1990 1986 | Removed; in storage 2005 1988 | [17] [18] [19] |
