Mark9

Personally can't wait to stand outside the gate watching him go round and round again. It gave Thirteen that certain Je ne sais quoi on that rides opening day.

The contrast between Shambahala and Skyfail is so massive it's not funny. For instancethat is just vile whilst the white and blue of Port Aventuras hyper works really well.

That looks gorgeous.I mean, you can't see much of it, but Storm Runner in the background looks like genius compared to that yellow abomination.

Welcome aboard

I'll be there. Swarmage

If only that had been scrapped as well

Hmm. So presumably Swarm won't be stopping at each block break section in the break run then and instead will slow to a crawl and stop just outside the station. That's about Raptor's only flaw as on that you stop twice so by the time you are back in the station, the other train is near the top of the lift hill.

I've always maintained that Swarm has the potential to be world class. Looking back on when I rode Raptor in September, I clearly had Katun withdrawal symptoms as I now think of Raptor as a world class ride. It's easy to say why people think Swarm will be better though. For one it's in the UK so far closer then trying to trek through Italy's ridiculous road signs. Secondly, Swarm has far more large scale props in its area then Raptor. And finally the use of effects at Thorpe could even make Raptor look lazy.. if that's even possible.

Maybe next year.

:wub:Just amazing work on this rollercoaster. This next month can't go fast enough as far as I'm concerned.

How I miss car 6 and it's awesomeness.

One Acronym and One word. B&M Flyer. Seriously, when was Chessington most seen as the perfect family park? 1999/2000 when it had Samurai, Rodeo and Rameses Revenge alongside Tomb Blaster, Bubbleworks and Flying Jumbos. Nearly ten years on, it's quite clear that rides like Fury and Rattlesnake don't cut it as major rollercoasters. Sure they are fun, but they just can't handle the numbers. A three train B&M flyer eats up as much guests as Vampire, Fury and Rattlesnake put together.Make it so Chessie. :)

Nemesis Inferno

Everytime Chessington send in planning permission it is heavily influenced by the zoo. The sea life centre, Lorikeet area, the Monkey/Bird garden expansion and now the Safari Trail. It's becoming incredibly obvious to me that Chessington do not see conventional rides as the way forward for the park. Why do rides that Thorpe Park, Legoland, Alton Towers, Flamingoland and Drayton Manor can do when you can do something Chessington style and make it truely special. Yes I've been critical of Chessingtons direction but Merlin clearly don't see Chessie as able to compete with the other two London parks on a ride level

I am very intrigued by it effectively moving a huge part of the zoo over that side, particularly as a lot of work has happened on the Gorilla pens of late.Still, no point getting excited at this point. I hate to be pessimistic, but unless you see an entrance sign and the thing complete, it's unlikely to happen,.edited to add= This effectively makes safari skyway pointless with none of it going over the zoo.

Trucks is amazing. Do not insult the mighty Trucks.

I believe it is cleaned far more regularly then yearly, it's just the build up happens very quickly. Goes from unsightly to a massive clean up operation and when time equals money, the park won't push to have the pit looking it's best all the time. Considering how rarely the majority of guests look down into the pit (And considering the train travels to fast through that section to really take in the Medusa fountain and pit) it's probably fallen down the priority list.When Nemesis had its broken pipes for all it's blood fountains, the park came up with a novel solution to solve that issue. Maybe Thorpe need to do that kind of thing here.

God they are so full of it with their amazing launch coaster being engulfed by the new (probably) amazing wooden coaster.They don't know it but I hate how good German coaster enthusiasts have it. Two of the best parks in the world. Sickens me

In too much awe. Just so good.

Best post you have ever made Kevin. Thats the truth for working at any theme park. Whilst a majority will work there for money, enthusiasts (or fanboys if you will), do get an extra kick out of doing something they are interested in. Whether it be making someones day or getting a round of applause from a whole train at Runaway, there is something about working there that you can't do anywhere else.And it gives you so much confidence for the future too. Sure, I can open an oven and put bread in it but I used to operate three rollercoasters and eight other rides. You have no idea the kind of conversations you can have with others just by working one or two (or in my case, five) seasons at Chessington.

Rodger the Dodgers Dodgems.Like a Boss.

I hear what you're saying HAJIME and to a point I do agree that a bit of interaction can go a long way. One of the problems with using rides like Fury is when all seven staff members decide to just have fun. I remember one time seeing doughnuts being crossed over the platform. As you said, you can have a discussion with someone on batch or at the front gate or say a short hello to someone at on-load. But when dispatch and off-load decide to go down the interaction point, I actually think the safety aspect is far more vital then telling guests to flap their wings. Dispatch shouldn't be doing that and neither should what was called off-load when I worked there.Absolutely agree with Peter actually. Rides like Runaway Train, Rameses and Black Bucaneer are fine for interacting. Fury, Vampire and Rattlesnake. To a minimum please.

Do the foam party. Do the foam party. Do the foam party.

Never a truer word spoken. Albeit, Intamin have never been to hot with nice supports (only Stealth and its clone really look minimalistic), their track style has always looked rather arty.That looks yuck.