Gold Rush (Family Park)

Roller coaster in France
(Redirected from Gold Rush (Loudoun Castle))
Watch the on-ride POV
Gold Rush
Family Park
Location Monts, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Coordinates 47°15′45″N 0°40′14″E / 47.262579°N 0.670455°E / 47.262579; 0.670455
Status Operating since 1 July 2020
Loudoun Castle
Name Gold Rush
Location Galston, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK
Coordinates 55°36′38″N 4°21′49″W / 55.610522°N 4.363656°W / 55.610522; -4.363656
Operated During 2010
Replaced Rat
Grove Land (loan)
Name Thunderbolt
Location St. Clears, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK
Coordinates 51°49′50″N 4°32′05″W / 51.830445°N 4.534635°W / 51.830445; -4.534635
Operated July 2002 to 2003
Replaced by Roller Coaster
Bembom Rides (UK)
Location In storage
Operated November 2001 to 2019
Flamingo Land
Name Flying Trapeze
Location Malton, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Coordinates 54°12′41″N 0°48′31″W / 54.211361°N 0.808639°W / 54.211361; -0.808639
Operated 1998 to November 2001
Replaced by Cliff Hanger
Pleasure Island Family Theme Park
Name Four Man Bob
Location Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England, UK
Operated 27 May 1993 to 1995
Alton Towers
Name 4 Man Bob
Location Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK
Park section Talbot Street
Operated 1985 to 1990
Replaced by Tri-Star
Trentham Gardens
Name 4 Man Bob
Location Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK
Operated During 1984
Traumlandpark
Name Vierer-Bob
Location Bottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Operated March 1983 to June 1983
Ludewigt (Germany)
Location Travelling
Operated 1975 to 1982
Statistics
Manufacturer Zierer
Product Four Man Bob
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel
Riders per train 2
Hourly capacity 520
Propulsion Tire propelled lift
Chain lift hill
Height 6.5 metres
Inversions 0
HELP

Gold Rush is a steel roller coaster built by German manufacturer Zierer currently located at Family Park in Monts, Centre-Val de Loire, France.

History

The ride debuted under German travelling showman Ludewigt in 1975. For the 1983 season the ride moved to Traumlandpark, although this may have been on loan from Ludewigt. It operated for a relatively short time at the park, closing following an accident in June 1983.

At the end of the 1983 season the ride was acquired by John Broome who opened it at his relatively new venture at Trentham Gardens in Staffordshire as 4 Man Bob for the 1984 season. The ride had red track with white supports.

Following the discovery of subsidence at Trentham Gardens the ride (along with a number of others) was relocated to Alton Towers. It opened from 1985 to 1990 and was located in the 'Talbot Street' section of the park and was replaced by the Tri-Star.

The ride was relocated to Pleasure Island Family Theme Park as Four Man Bob. It operated there from 1993 to 1995.

The ride was relocated to Flamingo Land as Flying Trapeze. It operated there from 1998 to 2001, and was subsequently replaced by the Cliff Hanger.

Bembom Rides purchased this ride from Flamingo Land and completely overhauled it. The electric systems were entirely renewed, and brought up to date by Gerstlauer of Germany, the brake system was sent back to Zierer to be revamped at their workshop and the track and supports were completely revamped, blasted and painted brown. This brought them back to factory condition. The cars were stripped down, refurbished and rebuilt to resemble a Mine Cart. A new safety lap-bar system was also added. After this, the ride was subjected to strict tests and examinations by TUV and considered safe.

The ride subsequently operated at Grove Land as Thunderbolt from July 2002 to 2003.[1][2]

The ride was relocated to Loudoun Castle where it lay in storage until 2009. It was then setup and operated as Gold Rush during 2010, but the park closed at the end of the season, leaving the ride standing but not operating.

Design

Elements

Colour scheme

Light brown track and dark brown supports.

Trains

Single cars. Riders are arranged inline in 3 rows, for a total of 3 riders per car.

Incident

On 6 July 2020 at around 11am, a 63-year-old park employee was struck and killed while working on the roller coaster.[3]

References

  1. "Grove Land". South Wales Guardian. 1 August 2002. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. "Tornado Roller Coaster to Open in Wales in 2002". Joyland Books. 2002-04-29. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  3. "Sorigny : un employé décède dans un accident survenu à Family Park". La Nouvelle Republic.

External links

Articles on Flamingo Land
Articles on Alton Towers