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Monster (Walygator Grand Est)

Roller coaster in France
Watch the on-ride POV
The Monster
The Monster while it was at Expoland
Walygator Grand Est
Location Maizières-les-Metz, Grand Est, France
Coordinates 49°13′47″N 6°09′29″E / 49.229717°N 6.158122°E / 49.229717; 6.158122
Status Operating since 9 July 2010
Rider height 150 cm minimum
Expoland
Name Orochi
Location Suita, Osaka, Japan
Coordinates 34°48′17″N 135°32′04″E / 34.804739°N 135.534491°E / 34.804739; 135.534491
Operated 15 March 1996 to 9 December 2007
Statistics
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Product Inverted Coaster (Raptor)
Builder Senyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel - Inverted
Riders per train 32
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Height 40 metres
Drop 36.3 metres
Top speed 90 km/h
Length 1200 metres
Inversions 6
Drop angle 40°
Duration 2:28
HELP

The Monster is a steel inverted roller coaster located at Walygator Grand Est in Maizières-les-Metz, Grand Est, France. It is the first Bolliger & Mabillard roller coaster and one of the largest in France. The ride opened on 9 July 2010, after numerous delays.

History

Sign for Orochi

The ride first opened at Expoland in Suita, Osaka, Japan in 1996. It was named Orochi (Japanese; オロチ) and was antiseismic (built to withstand earthquakes). Orochi and Expoland closed on 12 November 2007 following an accident on the park's Fujin Raijin II roller coaster, in which a women died. After standing but not operating for two years, the ride was bought by Walygator Grand Est.

Construction on the ride started in January/February 2010, later than scheduled due to harsh weather. Because of this, The Monster's inauguration on 10 April 2010 was delayed. A second inauguration was again delayed, as the TÜV did not approve the opening of the roller coaster in time. The Monster finally opened on 9 July 2010.[1]

Construction of The Monster

Design

Elements
The roller coaster while at Expoland.

Layout

After leaving the station, the ride begins with a left-hand turn into the 40 metre tall Chain lift hill. At the top, the inverted train dips slightly before turning left ninety degrees as it drops 36 metre down the first hill. From the bottom the train immediately enters a vertical loop. Next is the zero-g roll, followed by the cobra roll, which inverts riders twice.

After the cobra roll, the train climbs through an upward spiral and enters a straight section, which previously housed the mid-course brake run. Next the train dives down to the right transitioning into a brief straight section of track. Riders then enter the first of two corkscrews which rotates the train 360° to the left. The track straightens briefly again before turning to the right and entering a short dip before taking riders into the second corkscrew (this portion of the ride is often referred to by enthusiasts as the "dip and flip"). The ride finishes with a helix before making one last left turn into the final brake run.

Colour scheme

White track and supports.

Trains

Single train with 8 cars. In each car, riders are arranged 4 across in a single row, for a total of 32 riders per train. Although three trains were shipped to France, only one is currently in use.

Comparison to Raptor

Monster is a clone of Raptor at Cedar Point. Many enthusiasts rate Monster higher than Raptor.[2] Because the ride lacks the mid-course brake run its American counterpart has, it keeps the speed up in the second half of the ride. During its move to France, the brakes were removed as they are not required for one-train operation, saving money on maintenance.

The entire layout

References

External links

  • Monster on the Roller Coaster DataBase.