NickD Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Topic for any random old pictures you might have of Chessington.I've just found a few from what must be 1994ish of me in a pram with my family. On ride photo from Dragons falls, pictures from truckers with railway in the background, bubbleworks.I will upload eventually lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I have a couple of old Chessie stuff.I've got an ORP of Dragon Falls from the late 80s early 90s (when it was called Dragon River I believe) tucked away. Been meaning to upload that for a while now myself. ;)And I know I've got a recording of being on the old Chessington Train lying about somewhere - I just don't have a clue where! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelPagett Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 I have maps from CWOA dating back to 2001. Click here for more :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideAddict Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Rattlesnake opened in 1998. Hiss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelPagett Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 I am a bit of a ticket/map hoarder, I love looking back on them and seeing how they have developed over the years :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry-go-girl Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 I have a file with all the documentation I'm given while on a trip to a theme park...I'm a huge freak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 Going through some old photos and came across a few of Rameses in its glory days that I thought I'd scan in. They aren't the greatest pictures but give a good idea of how it looked, I think they are from opening year - 1995 SteveJ, Phill Pritchard and JoshC. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideAddict Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 The rock wall in the second picture looks very balanced and uneven! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted March 30, 2013 Report Share Posted March 30, 2013 They really show how much the ride's appearance has changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 It really was the strangest redesign ever! The new design is not bad as such, although I've struggled to connect with the idea of an Ancient Egyptian 'revenge machine', but it seemed quite unnecessary. I don't know what I prefer really. The Islamic geometric patterns on the arms match those in the queue but come across as a bit garish in those colours... white and orange seems a bit of a fairgroundish colour scheme. I like the snakes though! And look at that queueline! Wow, that must be hours long... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBobJones Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Didn't it have an On ride camera back in the day, if I'm correct after soaking you with water the camera would scan the gondola? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 The ORP was not back then but quite late on (mid 2000's some time) and very short lived (as it was crap). Quoting is failing me, the piece of crap. Reply to electricBill... The old colour scheme just feels right to me. I don't know if that is purely because it is my first memory of the ride or because I actually preferred it, but although the colours are a bit garish in themselves they are quite pastel and work well avoiding the more illuminous palette of the fairground. The snakes were awesome, should ever have been allowed to go. Just shows disappearing theming is no modern phenomenon! SteveJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 The ORP was not back then but quite late on (mid 2000's some time) and very short lived (as it was crap). Much like detonators perhaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Ripsaw also had photography, which only lasted about 2 seasons after its opening year. Both Rameses Revenge and Ripsaw also had their own shops with exclusive merchandise, as well as quite elaborate themework; to me it seems they were treated like major rollercoasters. But now hardly anybody actually wants to ride them, their popularity in the longer term was quite overestimated. I'm glad Chessington still has claim to Rameses Revenge, though, it's one of the only thrills they have left. The old colour scheme just feels right to me. I don't know if that is purely because it is my first memory of the ride or because I actually preferred it, but although the colours are a bit garish in themselves they are quite pastel and work well avoiding the more illuminous palette of the fairground.I know what you mean, I think it is just the blank white patches that give me that impression. Neither colour scheme looks at all intimidating to me, but then again (despite the name and its resident haunted tomb) I don't think Forbidden Kingdom was supposed to be a scary place. I just don't get why they changed the ride's image so dramatically. This was also the same era when they unnecessarily changed all Vampire's branding, renamed 'Terror Tomb' to Forbidden Tomb, 'Dragon River' to Dragon Falls, Smugglers Cove to Pirates Cove, and the rest... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 Loving the photos. Loving the snake. Shame really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC. Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 I was just about to ask about the detty ORPs! On the TP website it says that ORP is available for Detonator but if you buy a ORP pass it doesn't list it - I get easily confused! Which part of the ride did they take the pics from? Detanator ORPs are no longer available; they stopped them this season after only a couple of seasons. The photo was taken near the end of the drop, so it did capture nice expressions. Trouble was it wouldn't always be in time or get whole groups in one picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 ^ And the lighting was always really bad so usually you would be in the dark even though there was a flash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 And I just stumbled across this image. I have been looking for a picture of the original logo on that backwall for years, it looks great! I love the way it matches the wall texture/colours and has a totally different character to the redesigned one. Today you can clearly see a darker patch where it used to be, both on the back wall and entrance arch. Strange because my first visit was when Rameses Revenge received its new design, and I remember it having quite an impression, but I was always confused at how it fit with Egypt. I think there were even some TV adverts boasting the change? I used to like the idea of an Egyptian machine, but now the novelty has worn away (and the paint certainly has too!) If they plan to refurbish Rameses Revenge in the future, they should repaint the ride one last time with a suitable colour scheme, give it its old logo back and then let it ride another decade or so into the grave. Here's an example of that on-ride photo... Han30 and pluk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Come across another batch. Unfortunately some ot these are really small, no idea why I had them printed like that and the negatives aren't in the pack. Another Ramesis in action from what must be about the same time. Just behind it was the excellent and much missed (by me) rodeo. Who can spot a young thin pluk? Then off round the park on the less knackered looking Skyride. Easier to spot me this time, I'm the one obeying the no standing rules like a good boy. No holding on to the crossbars! What's that in the background, climbing its second lift hill? The original and best Vampire, thats what. Mmmm, swingy heavy Vampire train Good ol' days. dragon2000, Whiteknuckle, Coaster and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattgwise Posted April 27, 2013 Report Share Posted April 27, 2013 Good Ol days when it didn't faff pulling into the station and could be dispatched in 25 seconds with three trains. dragon2000 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post pluk Posted August 17, 2013 Popular Post Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Another little batch of scanning in... Starting with the then new Transylvania, sponsored by Coca Cola don't you know? Yes, I do have the flintstones on my jeans. And what? Not entirely sure where I've taken this from, Skyway maybe. Doesn't it all look open? Back over to Dragon Falls, it looks to me like this view would have changed very little in all that time. A better view of those spectacular jeans too. To Circusland, before it became Beanoland and then Wild Asia. It's some front row hardcore thrill seeking on the Clown Coaster. A short walk through the trees to some genuine thrill seeking, it's a decent sized magic carpet in the spot which would later give way to Samurai. Thrilling enough to give my Dad that slightly concerned face, I loved it. Off to the zoo, and I'm sure the Giraffes at some point lived in the pit that now houses Rattlesnake, but this does not look like it is there? And here's a novel idea, why not have the skyway look over some areas of the zoo for some nice animal views. Could work... My Mum and sister on the cleaner and less crappy looking Skyway. Unbelievably that small bit of rockwork over my sisters left shoulder that is now the little creepy crawly area at that time held a bloody great polar bear! Proof! You were not imagining it Han! What a horrific enclosure for an animal that size! Different times, I know, but the zoo is clearly the area to have improved and moved on the most. Unfortunately it has mostly moved away from the Skyway. Fred, Han30, JoshC. and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Han30 Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Lovin' the pics there Pluk! And slightly relieved that I am not going insane (well more insane) when I mentioned about the polar bear being there! - just looking at that pic makes me - such a small inclosure - is this where the sealion bay is now? - just looking at where skyway train is located and er yeah looks like it. I remember the magic carpet being at Chessington but I was too scared to ride it - anyone know how long it was there for? Safari skyway just looks a bit, well....scabby now but that is what happens with age (I am scabby aswell) - and it is a tad frustrating on skyway because you don't see a great deal of animals.....although you get a great view of the sealife tent! Oh and......Flintstones jeans - epic! Kids these days just don't know style Whiteknuckle and pluk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC! Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Come across another batch. Unfortunately some ot these are really small, no idea why I had them printed like that and the negatives aren't in the pack. Another Ramesis in action from what must be about the same time. Just behind it was the excellent and much missed (by me) rodeo. Who can spot a young thin pluk? Then off round the park on the less knackered looking Skyride. Easier to spot me this time, I'm the one obeying the no standing rules like a good boy. No holding on to the crossbars! What's that in the background, climbing its second lift hill? The original and best Vampire, thats what. Mmmm, swingy heavy Vampire train Good ol' days. Good ol' black buccaneer and Vampire Love those rides ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pluk Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Lovin' the pics there Pluk! And slightly relieved that I am not going insane (well more insane) when I mentioned about the polar bear being there! - just looking at that pic makes me - such a small inclosure - is this where the sealion bay is now? - just looking at where skyway train is located and er yeah looks like it. No, it is much smaller than that even! If you look to my Mums right you will see the sealion bay pretty much as it is today. The polar enclosure is on the other side of the photo next to my sister and faced the main path into market square where the meercat/creepy crawly building is now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry-go-girl Posted August 17, 2013 Report Share Posted August 17, 2013 Crikey the park looks flat and naked, it practically screams youth. Dang I only half believed my mother when she said she recalled there being a Polarbear at Chessington. I looked it up though and luckily it seems he wasn't in that sad pit for very long. Apparent former keeper info about bears kept at Chessington. I wish that Transylvania sigh still existed in some form today. pluk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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