New Trains for Old Suspendeds?

It was annoinced today (thrillnetwork.com) that Chessington World of adventure will re-open their Arrow Suspended coaster, Vampire (http://www.rcdb.com/installationdetail784.htm) in 2002 with new, floorless suspended trains, a la Raptor or Alpengeist. Chessington's site hasn't been updated in a logn time but here's the link to thier press release page. (http://www.chessington.co.uk/content/all_the_details/press_info.htm)

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The ride has been closed for essential maintenance for the 2001 season and will return with avengeance in 2002 with inverted, swinging, floorless trains. The Vampire "Swoops riders through the skies, and takes you soaring across the tree tops, legs dangling 'screamingly' free in a bat-tastic journey with plenty of bite.
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What really excites me is that Arrow has designed new trains for suspended, a la Raptor or Alpengiest, and that a park is willing to make the investment. I wonder what the cost is and would Cedar Fair do it for Iron Dragon, Busch do it for Big Bad Wolf? I'm wondering what the station modifications would need to take place? Obviously the station will need a floor under the track, but if that's it, it may be relatively cheap. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for my CP to get new trains for Iron Dragon. ;-)
-Seth

I have suggested this in other threads, as have other people. I think it will be a great addition to already good coasters. I would love to ride Top Gun @ PKI with these new trains.

Maybe somone at Arrow read those suggestions...you could contact your lawyer ;-P

-seth

No thanks, I'll just hope that they change one over here so that I can ride it.

Why not change some suspendeds to inverted trains, but with swinging cars? That seems pretty cool.
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"I'm on a drinking team with a bowling problem..."

No thanks. If my feet are dangling I want to invert. I like the current trains on suspended coasters.

I have been anticipating a very positive response from Vampire riders........I would also love to see this carried out on other suspendeds. I have heard a lot of comments on Top Gun at KI about "what if there was no floor". The unique swinging sensation of a suspended, combined with the open-air feet dangling of an inverted, makes for a really awesome ride experience. I can only imagine how much better the Vekoma junior suspendeds would be!
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Moxie: Not quite Cola, not quite Root Beer, not quite Asphalt!
Scale model rides: www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173

Hopefully every park with an Arrow suspended will switch over to those new trains. It sounds like it would add to the ride experience, and probably make an old coaster seem new. I love Arrow and any business they can grasp is a good thing.

Actually, Arrow only built the ride. Vekoma is the company who recently re-furbished it.
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Bomb Squad Technician

If you see me running, try and keep up!

Really coaster131? Darnitall. Ok, maybe it wont' be so bad....go Vekoma!

-seth

Yes, the trains are provided from Vekoma.

Inverted swinging trains on Iron Dragon? I'd love to see someone lose their shoes over the lagoon
That's a great idea, I don't see why parks would not invest in some new trains for their Arrow suspendeds. Top Gun as an invert!!! Woo Hoo!!
* Edit: Thanks John for pointing that out, I've never been on Vampire, I just checked out the information on RCDB.com.
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***Why can't all parks have a Millennium Force?***

*** This post was edited by Robodud on 10/27/2001. ***

TOP GUN at PKI is awesome. It's one of my favortie coasters at the park and I would love to see the ride re-fitted with open air trains. The ride would be so much more extreme. Let's hope it is so.
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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com

I think this is a great idea. Too bad Chessington doesn't seem to be on the list for the ACE trip next summer...
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--Greg
"Beat the rush, sign up for your post-Mean Streak MRI now..."
My page My other page And my coaster page

Robodud,

Vampire is an Arrow Suspended but they contacted Vekoma to make the new trains and re-vamp Vampire.

John Wilkes

Well now that I think about it, this could be just the thing to make Iron Dragon exciting. Can you imagine your feet dangling over those trees and lagoons. okay I have changed my mind! I want these!
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I think other suspendeds could be modified a lot faster than The Vampire. The Vampire has been down all year. The downtime had become ridiculous, so they took the opportunity to beef the ride up in general, not just for better reliability.
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COOK PASS BABTRIDGE

I would like this, but I tihnk that SFAW should just rid themselves of XLR8. It doesnt come very close to the trees, so it wouldnt really improve it as much as some others, but it would still be an improvement. Now, Iron Dragon and some other rides could use this type of change...