JohnnyRocket Posted March 9, 2023 Report Share Posted March 9, 2023 The whole ride and scenery/landscape really needs to be closed for a year like Nemesis and totally refurbished, it really looks awful. I hope the shop isn't still in this state in 2 weeks time - the steel work's now totally exposed on the left side. Photo from https://themeparkguide.co.uk/news-page/Loggers-Leap-Removal-Continues-and-2023-Season-Preparations-Continue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inferno Posted March 9, 2023 Report Share Posted March 9, 2023 Eww. 😬 Trooper Looper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted March 9, 2023 Report Share Posted March 9, 2023 Grey/blue Colossus is basically this years version of the blue/gold dress. Who remembers that? Glad they are doing work to it, but shame it’s the slightly wrong shade there. Trooper Looper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted March 10, 2023 Report Share Posted March 10, 2023 More rotten cladding/brickwork around RSJs a la Swarm I suppose? Completely agree the whole area needs a refresh, hopefully the Phalanx will take it over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted March 10, 2023 Report Share Posted March 10, 2023 3 minutes ago, MattyMoo said: More rotten cladding/brickwork around RSJs a la Swarm I suppose? Completely agree the whole area needs a refresh, hopefully the Phalanx will take it over. They just need the Chessington team to come over I think. JohnnyRocket and Trooper Looper 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyRocket Posted March 10, 2023 Report Share Posted March 10, 2023 3 hours ago, Mark9 said: They just need the Chessington team to come over I think. Yep, would love to see what the team who've been turning around Chessington these past couple of years would do at Thorpe. They've been doing a great job when you consider the rot they had to work with! Trooper Looper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyMoo Posted March 10, 2023 Report Share Posted March 10, 2023 If they could just get the new tarmac'ers round from CWoA that would be a start. JohnnyRocket 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ML27 Posted March 11, 2023 Report Share Posted March 11, 2023 At this point do Thorpe have their own creative team like Chessington? Chessington seem to be always painting something up, old theming and artwork. Thorpe have a lack of theming to paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted March 11, 2023 Report Share Posted March 11, 2023 1 hour ago, ML27 said: At this point do Thorpe have their own creative team like Chessington? Chessington seem to be always painting something up, old theming and artwork. Thorpe have a lack of theming to paint Not quite in the way you're describing. They have a team of 'Entertainment Technicians', some of who will have experience and ability to do creative work. But their focus will be more on the technical work for events, rather than scenic work. The park work closely with external companies, like Unique Concepts and UVE, to provide creative scenic work. In the last couple of years, there's also been overlap of Thorpe and Chessington departments - for example, I believe the Creek Freaks Unchained float used during last FN was designed and made by Chessington's creative team. In the past, Thorpe have had more scenic creative individuals, and have pushed for a more dedicated department. Unfortunately, for one reason or another, it just has happened. Trooper Looper and Inferno 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tactic Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 I do genuinley think that the park are trying to do the correct thing with Colossus, they have identified that the ride is beginning to come towards the end of its life cycle and have decided to fix the track over multiple closed seasons so it doesn't have to have a prolonged period of downtime so the ride can still opperate, so the capacity of the park doesn't take a hit. However, I do have some issues with the way thorpe are going about this retrack though. Firstly, I do believe that the better investment for Colossus would be some new trains. The ones they have currently are outdated and very, very uncomfartable (considering I'm 6 foot 4 it is almost unbearable sitting on the breakrun after the ride is over) and I'm sure many would agree with me that new trains with lap bars would definitly change the ride experience for the better. Also, I'm not fully convinced on Taziker doing the retrack. I know that they are a respected company in the retracking buisness considering they were the company that did The Big One retrack but I do feel thorpe may have cheaped out slightly going with them as the retracking company. Considering that Arrow Dynamics is closed down, the only option blackpool had with The Big One was to get an external company in to do the retrack, however, Intamin is a major player in the industry and still even offer the multi-inversion coaster as a model they sell, so I am slightly confuded on why thorpe haven't got Intamin in to do the retracking like towers are doing getting B&M to do the Nemesis retrack. I know there may be a number of factors for why thorpe have chosen Taziker over Intamin (price, ride downtime, etc.) but I do feel like it would have been the better option to get the original manafacture in to at least cosider a retrack of the ride, but then I guess maybe thorpe have done that already and I just don't know about it. About the area feeling run down, definitly. I think the whole of the Colossus area needs some 'thorpe loving care' as they call it. It just feels like the ride has been neglected for years. I do hope this is a step in the right direction for the park with them definitly having a bigger focus on repairing and tidying up the park at the moment, although with thorpe's history anything could happen. coasterverse 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterverse Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 5 hours ago, tactic said: Also, I'm not fully convinced on Taziker doing the retrack. I know that they are a respected company in the retracking buisness considering they were the company that did The Big One retrack but I do feel thorpe may have cheaped out slightly going with them as the retracking company. Considering that Arrow Dynamics is closed down, the only option blackpool had with The Big One was to get an external company in to do the retrack, however, Intamin is a major player in the industry and still even offer the multi-inversion coaster as a model they sell, so I am slightly confuded on why thorpe haven't got Intamin in to do the retracking like towers are doing getting B&M to do the Nemesis retrack. I've heard through the grapevine that Intamin would've only done the retracking if the park agreed to an entire coaster rebuild - much like the Nemesis retrack - and not just small portions of the track over time. With Exodus over the horizon, finance at the park is obviously very closely observed right now and the park likely won't want to make any big purchases until Exodus and the surrounding area (flat rides would be nice!) are complete. So I suppose from a financial point of view, Taziker were the only real option and their proven success with The Big One's retrack probably also helped finalise that decision. Definitely agree that an Intamin rebuild, complete with new trains, would be the much better option. Sik looks to have gone down a treat at Flamingo Land and apparently rides amazingly - so a like-for-like Intamin rebuild of Colossus (maybe even with the cable lift! 😍) with Sik-style lap restraints would've given the coaster a whole new lease of life. Perhaps it's because Colossus, being the park's oldest coaster, is probably looking to retire some time in the distant future - and therefore pumping loads of money into a coaster retrack that (in all probability) wouldn't bring any more custom to the park and therefore would'nt make financial sense to do, when building a brand spanking new coaster in its place in a good few years time would drive swarms of customers to the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tactic Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 That is true, the problem with retracking a ride is that it’s only really going to interest an enthusiast and the average person will not notice. A new ride however will do wonders for both communities and the park itself. I guess the park are still recovering from covid and expecting a massive investment for the retrack while they are building an entire new coaster is too much to ask (even without covid that would still be a massive investment). I’m definitely glad they are planning for the future though and I really really hope this is a turn for the better from the park coasterverse 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 4 hours ago, tactic said: That is true, the problem with retracking a ride is that it’s only really going to interest an enthusiast and the average person will not notice. A new ride however will do wonders for both communities and the park itself. I guess the park are still recovering from covid and expecting a massive investment for the retrack while they are building an entire new coaster is too much to ask (even without covid that would still be a massive investment). I’m definitely glad they are planning for the future though and I really really hope this is a turn for the better from the park What are your thoughts on the Nemesis retrack or is that slightly different because of its reputation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ML27 Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 Thorpe taking aim at Alton They don’t care about marketing it clearly Trooper Looper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tactic Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 9 hours ago, Mark9 said: What are your thoughts on the Nemesis retrack or is that slightly different because of its reputation? I think the nemesis retrack kinda has the same problem, by most of the gp it will be an unnoticed change, making it a large investment without much of a gain. Although, it does seem that towers are going to change the colour of the track and update the theming, possibly giving them a way to advertise the ride as a different/new experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inferno Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 This is all well and good, but it is closed… there’s track missing and no mention of an opening date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 On 3/23/2023 at 10:26 PM, ML27 said: Thorpe taking aim at Alton They don’t care about marketing it clearly Don't really know why they're being bitches towards Towers, whatever way you slice it, they are both closed with track missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 I'm not even sure what they mean by continues operating. Colossus has opened as much as Nemesis has this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tactic Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 I know it’s odd with Colossus, there was new track on it at passholders day and there was definitely some train wear on the new track, implying the ride had tested at least once. I’m just now very confused why they have taken it off again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 It wasn't new track in on AP day, that was the old track that had been sanded down. New track wasn't put in until during the weekdays last week. Inferno 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ML27 Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 Apparently the reason why there’s no track at all now is because it didn’t fit? That’s what I’ve seen a few people say online… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ML27 Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 Just seen this, yeah it didn’t fit eeek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterverse Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 Anyone else concerned that with Taziker taking the track back to, what I would imagine, grind it down a little or solder a little extra on so it actually fits might actually... make the ride experience worse? The trouble with not retracking the entire thing (and now essentially having two different tracks from two different manufacturers) is that it runs the risk of the different bit of track being substantially different. I know it clearly wasn't viable for the park to do an entire refit of the attraction at the moment - but I feel like if the new track rides horribly it will ruin the experience further, but also if it rides smooth as butter it will stick out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the attraction? Hopefully Taziker do a stellar job, but I suppose this is always a worrying prospect with a project like this. Inferno 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted March 26, 2023 Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 They probably could have done a full re-track but they either couldn't afford it or didn't want to pay for it. I just can't get over the Thorpe park social media team for criticising Alton Towers for retracking Nemesis for marketing reasons. A theme park is a commercial enterprise. It's not done for fun or charity (Efteling excluded). They could have re-sold us Colossus as a revamped experience. Instead it's just partially retracked with the wrong sized track apparently and is just as closed as its commercialised brother up North. Inferno 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inferno Posted March 27, 2023 Report Share Posted March 27, 2023 I agree - a bit unprofessional throwing shade at Towers when their own project is clearly a complete shower of sh**. The track “not fitting”, or whatever the reason, then having to be sent back has got to be a bit of a screw up - you don’t hear of that very often. Delays etc happen, that’s ok, but to be honest it seems Thorpe have once again far over-run on winter maintenance across the park and have tried operating a half-open theme park… again… and they have the cheek to point fingers at Alton Towers? 😐 Thorpe will never change will it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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