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| Manufacturer | Intamin | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Product | Swiss Bob | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer / calculations | Giovanola | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Steel - Bobsled | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Propulsion | Chain lift hill | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 20 metres | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Top speed | 60 km/h | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 524 metres | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Inversions | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1:40 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | BOM Engineering (2005-2019) Intamin (1985-2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Riders per train | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Bob (Bobbaan in Dutch) was a steel bobsled roller coaster located at Efteling in Kaatsheuvel, North Brabant, Netherlands. It was a Swiss Bob installation from Intamin. The ride operated from 1985 to 2019.
History
Opening
Construction of Bob began in 1984 and was completed in early 1985. The attraction opened on 4 April 1985. The entrance had white walls surrounded by two Swiss flags. In the station, there was some light theming, which included skis and cuckoo clocks.[1]
Modifications
In 1996, the trains received rubber wheels, as the hard nylon wheels caused loud noises. The roar could be heard throughout the Fairytale Forest. Two years later in 1998, the queue line's capacity was expanded and the entire meandering covered and equipped with televisions. Then in 2000, a brand new computer control system would be installed.[2]
Bob received new trains during the 2005 season. They were created in-house and sat two riders across. Meanwhile, the original trains were shipped to Six Flags Over Texas to be used on La Víbora.
The station's theming was changed in 2012.[3] For the 2013 season, Bob received a single rider entrance.[4]
Closure
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During the later years, Bob was suffering mechanical issues. Since the Swiss Bob model was discontinued, it became very difficult to keep the ride operating. The lift hill was subject to rollbacks and was considered to be hard to fix. Furthermore, the coaster would close during rainy weather, as the brakes were unable to stop the trains when the track was wet.
On 9 October 2018, Efteling announced that Bob would permanently close on 1 September 2019. Officials delayed an expansion near Vogel Rok and moved up Bob's replacement.[5] The park released a goodbye song called Dag Mooie Bob, which was Dutch for Bye, Beautiful Bob.[6] After the last rides were given, demolition of the coaster began.[7] In 2020, the station would be reused for new dueling family coaster from Mack Rides named Max & Moritz, themed to the 1865 German story of the same name.[8]
Design
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The station had an Austrian-Alps theme.
The ride meandered through the trees, and had some drops, curves and points where the ride really picked up some speed.
Colour scheme
The inside of the trough was White, with the outside and supports being green.
Trains
9 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows, for a total of 6 riders per car.
The ride used to have cars with inline seating, which were later replaced with ones that sat two across in 2005. The trains were sold in an attempt to raise the capacity of the ride.
Location
The ride was located in the "Anderrijk" area of the park, roughly translating to "Different Realm".
References
- ↑ "De Magische Klok: De Bob". Efteling.
- ↑ "Over de Bobbaan".
- ↑ "Een terugblik op de Bob". Efteling.
- ↑ "Single riders-wachtrij - Eftepedia - alles over de Efteling".
- ↑ "Max & Moritz replaces Bob at Efteling - The Coaster Kings".
- ↑ "'Dag mooie Bob': Efteling-fans nemen na 34 jaar afscheid van Bobslee".
- ↑ "Photos: Efteling immediately began demolition work at Bob".
- ↑ Ugo, Jules. "Efteling's Bobsleigh run the Bob makes its very last ride". Efteling. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
External links
- Bob on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
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