| Watch the on-ride POV |
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_interlocking_loops.jpg)
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| The interlocking loops element. | |||||||||||||||
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| Statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics | ||||||||||||||
| Product | Custom Looping Coaster | ||||||||||||||
| Type | Steel | ||||||||||||||
| Riders per train | 28 | ||||||||||||||
| Hourly capacity | 1,550 | ||||||||||||||
| Propulsion | Chain lift hill | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 117 feet | ||||||||||||||
| Drop | 115 feet | ||||||||||||||
| Top speed | 50 mph | ||||||||||||||
| Length | 3470 feet | ||||||||||||||
| Inversions | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Drop angle | 55° | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2:00 | ||||||||||||||
| G-Force | 3.5 | ||||||||||||||
| HELP | |||||||||||||||
Orient Express was a steel roller coaster built by Arrow Dynamics formerly located at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It operated from April 4, 1980 to October 26, 2003.
History
Orient Express began operation on April 4, 1980.[1]
On July 17, 1999, metal fatigue originating in the support structure caused two cars to derail, leaving riders stranded 30 feet above the ground. Nobody was seriously injured.[2][3]
On October 29, 2003, Worlds of Fun announced that they would be removing Orient Express due to excessive maintenance costs and plans for future development. The ride's last operating day was October 26, 2003.[4]
One of the ride's lead cars was donated to the National Roller Coaster Museum.[5]
Design
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The loops interlocked. A short brake section followed the first vertical loop. The second vertical loop led directly into the batwing.
The right side of station had a chicken exit that guests could take if they chickened out at the last minute. The sign for the chicken exit now resides in the station for Timber Wolf.
Ride experience
After leaving the station, the train enters a 100 foot tunnel, makes a right turn and climbs the 117 foot chain lift hill. Riders hit a right turn and drop 115 feet at 50 mph. The train makes its way to the turnaround, where it makes a left turn. After that, riders approach the first vertical loop, which is the top interlocking loop. Following the first loop, the train hits the block brake. Riders make a right turn and dive into the second vertical loop, which is the bottom interlocking loop. After completing the interlocking loops, riders head straight into a batwing, where the train enters a backwards half loop, then a regular half loop and then exits in the opposite direction. The train then hits a helix over a small pond. After a right turn, riders hit the final brake run as they return to the station.
Colour scheme
Trains
3 trains with 7 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 28 riders per train.
References
- ↑ Ride Renderings - Shane's Amusement Attic
- ↑ Coaster Train Derails Stranding Eighteen Riders - Ultimate Rollercoaster
- ↑ Metal Fracture Caused Orient Express Accident - Ultimate Rollercoaster
- ↑ Orient Express Retired as Spinning Dragons Introduced - Coaster Globe (Wayback Archive)
- ↑ "Worlds of Fun.Org: Where are they Now? A Retrospect on Worlds of Fun's Lost Rides".
External links
- Orient Express on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
