Rocket (Furuvik)

Roller coaster in Sweden
(Redirected from Black Hole (Alton Towers))
Watch the on-ride POV
Rocket
Rocket in 2013
Furuvik
Location Gävle, Gävleborgs, Sweden
Status Defunct
Operated 21 May 2011 to 2021
Replaced by Lightning
Alton Towers
Name Black Hole
Location Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK
Park section X-Sector
Operated 1983 to 5 March 2005
Replaced by Smiler
Statistics
Manufacturer Schwarzkopf
Product Jet Star II
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel
Riders per train 6
Hourly capacity 900
Propulsion Electric spiral lift
Area 25 metres × 46.5 metres
Height 13.5 metres
Length 585 metres
Inversions 0
Duration 1:50
G-Force 2.5
HELP

Rocket was a steel roller coaster previously located at Furuvik in Gävle, Gävleborgs, Sweden. The ride was a Schwarzkopf Jet Star II, and it previously operated at Alton Towers from 1983 to 5 March 2005 as the Black Hole.

History

When the ride was at Alton Towers, it was located in a giant canvas-covered building. In 1988, it was modified by BHS to run two-car trains. Previously it ran single cars.[1] It closed on 5 March 2005[2] and was removed the following year,[3] however the building containing the ride wasn't removed until 2012, to make way for The Smiler.[4]

After a renovation from Gerstlauer,[5] the ride reopened at Furuvik on 21 May 2011.

Rocket was put up for sale in late 2021.[6]

Design

Elements

Colour scheme

Red track and blue supports, used to have black track with track when at Alton Towers.

Trains

2 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged inline in 3 rows, for a total of 6 riders per train. The ride was modified in 1988 by BHS to support trains with multiple cars. Normally Jet Star II models can only support single car trains.

References

  1. Jet Star 2 - Schwarzkopf Coaster Net
  2. End of era for Alton Towers ride - BBC News
  3. "Black Hole". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
  4. "Farewell to the Black Hole Tent". TowersTimes. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  5. Rocket - Gerstlauer
  6. "Furuvik zet Schwarzkopf achtbaan Rocket te koop".

External links

  • Rocket on the Roller Coaster DataBase.


Articles on Alton Towers