Batman & Robin: The Chiller
Encyclopedia
Batman & Robin: The Chiller was a sit down dual track
looping shuttle
roller coaster
designed by Premier Rides
that operated at Six Flags Great Adventure
in Jackson, New Jersey
from 1997 to 2007. Due to the constant downtime and flaws in the ride's operation, Six Flags removed the ride from the park in the fall of 2007. All track and supports were removed, however the station, observatory scenery piece, and outdoor queue line were left remaining.
(LIM) launched dual tracked shuttle coaster dubbed "Batman & Robin: The Chiller". The theme was chosen with the intent of promoting the Batman & Robin film, which was set to open in the summer of that year. The Observatory scenery piece, that would eventually loom over the launch tracks and exit ramp, was taken directly from the film source material. A track was devoted to both titular characters, with the icy blue track being christened Batman and it's fiery red companion being labeled Robin. The coaster would be located in the "Movietown" section of the park, adjacent from Batman The Ride, Stuntman's Freefall, and "The Batman Stunt Show Arena" while sitting next to the "Movietown Water Effect" water ride.
Since it was a prototype (like X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain
and Hypersonic XLC
at Kings Dominion) it suffered from many prototypical problems and flaws. After several delays, the coaster opened briefly in June 1997 before shutting down due to further technical difficulties. It opened full time in April 1998. The coaster was popular, regardless of the fact that due to the shoulder restraints, riders experienced some discomfort during the ride.
launch system that propelled the trains from 0 to 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s) in roughly 4 seconds. In the debut season the ride originally ran dueling as intended for a short time. Due to the amount of power used by the LIMs straining the infrastructure with a duel launch, operations was changed so that a train could only be launched after the other train cleared the LIMs on the spike. Batman was launched into a 140 feet (42.7 m) top hat inversion. It then went through a banked inclined S-curve (formerly a zero-g roll) and then repeated the entire process in reverse. Robin had a similar track layout, except it had a 105 feet (32 m) cobra roll instead of a top hat. Because of the differentiating heights in the main elements (and therefore the speed required to return through the course) Batman required 14 LIMs on the spike while Robin usually only needed 6 or 8.
The original ride layout used to have a zero-g roll on each side after first pair of main elements. Batman would come out of the top hat and Robin would come out of the Cobra Roll and they would both go through the roll before climbing the 200 feet (61 m) spike. After the spike, the trains would repeat the course in reverse.
Several modifications were made to the amount of LIMs on the Robin spike. From opening day to 2004, Robin operated with 7 LIMs on each side of the track. Before the 2004 season, 3 LIMs were taken off on both sides of the Robin spike, leaving 4 LIMs per side. Then two more LIMs were taken off (one per side) the Robin side's spike, leaving three per side before the 2005 season began. A few weeks after the Chiller opened back up again in 2007, two more LIMs were added back to the spike, bringing the total amount back up to 4 per side.
In December 2006 and into January 2007, during the off season, both Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride. The rolls were a problem because if the spike's LIMs failed, the train would occasionally stall
(among other speculated reasons for the rolls removal that are unknown at this time). The rolls were replaced by a slightly banked inclined S-curve. Batman's train had its shells painted red so Robin could be ready to open first before Batman. This was done because Robin was more reliable than Batman and the track replacement for Robin was completed first on March 13. It re-opened on April 7. Batman's track was replaced between April 16 and April 20, while the park was closed. Three cars of the old Robin train were repaired following an incident in 2006.
On September 21, 2007, the Chiller began being dismantled in order to make way for future expansions.
During the 1998 season, Chiller reopened, although power shortages prevented "dual launches".
During the 2001 season, Robin was retrofitted with lap bars.
During the 2002 season, Batman was retrofitted with lap bars.
During the 2004 season, the LIMs on the Robin sides spike failed causing the train to stall in the Zero G roll. The cause for the LIMs' failure is still unknown. The Batman side also was closed for a majority of the season.
During the 2005 season, Chiller was repainted before the season began, giving a new dark blue color to the Batman side while touching up the Robin side's fading red. Batman did not operate at all due to problems with the LIMs on the spike. The Robin side operated for most of the season.
During the 2006 season Batman reopened on May 5 and ran along with the Robin side on and off until June 2, when a wheel bogie on the third car of the Robin train suffered a mechanical malfunction. While the specifics to what caused the malfunction are still unknown to most people, it has been reported that the train came to a halt on the lowest part of the track (between the Cobra Roll and Zero-G roll) after the launch. This problem is speculated to have happened because of wheel modifications that Premier Rides made on Chiller as well as all other Premier LIM coasters. Although the train was loaded, no one was seriously injured and all riders were evacuated. Both sides remained closed for the rest of the operating season.
During the 2007 season, the Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride and replaced with banked hills. Robin's hill was put in first in March, and then Batman's was put in second in April. Batman's train was painted red so that Robin could use it, because Robin's train was damaged during a previous incident. The Robin side re-opened April 7 and ran until June 28 when it was closed for the rest of the year. The Batman side did not operate at all, but three-out-of-five cars from the original Robin train were placed on Batman's maintenance track. Because of all of the problems the coaster had and the numerous failed attempts to fix the coaster, Six Flags decided to cut their financial and technical losses and dismantle the ride.
During the 2008 season, the ride was completely removed, leaving only the station, observatory, and queue line behind. For Fright Fest that same season, the queue line was reused for the "Escape From The Asylum" Terror Trail. The Fright Fest exclusive attraction turned the former ride area into a Terror Trail maze for guests to walk through while costumed employees were hiding and frequently scaring guests.
During the 2009 season, the remaining foundation caps under the observatory and the former exit ramp were removed. The hands on the side of the observatory were moved to front, and construction began on the interior of the observatory. As of July 3, 2009, the observatory has been remodeled and debuted as the "Xploratorium," a new attraction with many virtual and interactive features for park guests to enjoy. The "Escape From The Asylum" Terror Trail will also be returning for Fright Fest on the former ride grounds.
As of 2011, the "Batman and Robin" sign, originally above the entrance to the queue line, lies on the ground in a restricted area visible to riders atop the Nitro lift hill.
Dueling roller coaster
A dueling roller coaster features two roller coasters, usually with a similar layout, built close to each other. The rides are designed to do just as the name indicates: to duel...
looping shuttle
Shuttle roller coaster
A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
designed by Premier Rides
Premier Rides
Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996....
that operated at Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
in Jackson, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
from 1997 to 2007. Due to the constant downtime and flaws in the ride's operation, Six Flags removed the ride from the park in the fall of 2007. All track and supports were removed, however the station, observatory scenery piece, and outdoor queue line were left remaining.
History
In 1996, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that they would be adding a new roller coaster in 1997, bringing their coaster count back up to seven. It was then announced that the coaster would be a prototype linear induction motorLinear induction motor
A linear induction motor is an AC asynchronous linear motor that works by the same general principles as other induction motors but which has been designed to directly produce motion in a straight line....
(LIM) launched dual tracked shuttle coaster dubbed "Batman & Robin: The Chiller". The theme was chosen with the intent of promoting the Batman & Robin film, which was set to open in the summer of that year. The Observatory scenery piece, that would eventually loom over the launch tracks and exit ramp, was taken directly from the film source material. A track was devoted to both titular characters, with the icy blue track being christened Batman and it's fiery red companion being labeled Robin. The coaster would be located in the "Movietown" section of the park, adjacent from Batman The Ride, Stuntman's Freefall, and "The Batman Stunt Show Arena" while sitting next to the "Movietown Water Effect" water ride.
Since it was a prototype (like X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
and Hypersonic XLC
Hypersonic XLC
Hypersonic XLC was a roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Hypersonic was the first compressed air launch coaster in the world. In 2007, Hypersonic XLC was closed and later dismantled...
at Kings Dominion) it suffered from many prototypical problems and flaws. After several delays, the coaster opened briefly in June 1997 before shutting down due to further technical difficulties. It opened full time in April 1998. The coaster was popular, regardless of the fact that due to the shoulder restraints, riders experienced some discomfort during the ride.
The Ride
"Chiller" used a LIMLinear induction motor
A linear induction motor is an AC asynchronous linear motor that works by the same general principles as other induction motors but which has been designed to directly produce motion in a straight line....
launch system that propelled the trains from 0 to 70 miles per hour (31.3 m/s) in roughly 4 seconds. In the debut season the ride originally ran dueling as intended for a short time. Due to the amount of power used by the LIMs straining the infrastructure with a duel launch, operations was changed so that a train could only be launched after the other train cleared the LIMs on the spike. Batman was launched into a 140 feet (42.7 m) top hat inversion. It then went through a banked inclined S-curve (formerly a zero-g roll) and then repeated the entire process in reverse. Robin had a similar track layout, except it had a 105 feet (32 m) cobra roll instead of a top hat. Because of the differentiating heights in the main elements (and therefore the speed required to return through the course) Batman required 14 LIMs on the spike while Robin usually only needed 6 or 8.
Ride modifications and changes
In September 2001 the train on the Robin track was retrofitted with lap bars in place of the shoulder restraints. In 2002, the Batman train received the same treatment. Both sides operated with lap bars by June 2002. The result was a more comfortable ride.The original ride layout used to have a zero-g roll on each side after first pair of main elements. Batman would come out of the top hat and Robin would come out of the Cobra Roll and they would both go through the roll before climbing the 200 feet (61 m) spike. After the spike, the trains would repeat the course in reverse.
Several modifications were made to the amount of LIMs on the Robin spike. From opening day to 2004, Robin operated with 7 LIMs on each side of the track. Before the 2004 season, 3 LIMs were taken off on both sides of the Robin spike, leaving 4 LIMs per side. Then two more LIMs were taken off (one per side) the Robin side's spike, leaving three per side before the 2005 season began. A few weeks after the Chiller opened back up again in 2007, two more LIMs were added back to the spike, bringing the total amount back up to 4 per side.
In December 2006 and into January 2007, during the off season, both Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride. The rolls were a problem because if the spike's LIMs failed, the train would occasionally stall
Stall (roller coaster)
A roller coaster is said to have stalled, a roll back, saddle, or valleyed if it is unable to complete the course because of energy loss. This can be caused by friction between the track and wheels, or in the wheel bearings. Weather can also cause a coaster to valley...
(among other speculated reasons for the rolls removal that are unknown at this time). The rolls were replaced by a slightly banked inclined S-curve. Batman's train had its shells painted red so Robin could be ready to open first before Batman. This was done because Robin was more reliable than Batman and the track replacement for Robin was completed first on March 13. It re-opened on April 7. Batman's track was replaced between April 16 and April 20, while the park was closed. Three cars of the old Robin train were repaired following an incident in 2006.
On September 21, 2007, the Chiller began being dismantled in order to make way for future expansions.
Ride timeline
During the 1997 season, Chiller opened but closed down shortly after due to technical difficulties.During the 1998 season, Chiller reopened, although power shortages prevented "dual launches".
During the 2001 season, Robin was retrofitted with lap bars.
During the 2002 season, Batman was retrofitted with lap bars.
During the 2004 season, the LIMs on the Robin sides spike failed causing the train to stall in the Zero G roll. The cause for the LIMs' failure is still unknown. The Batman side also was closed for a majority of the season.
During the 2005 season, Chiller was repainted before the season began, giving a new dark blue color to the Batman side while touching up the Robin side's fading red. Batman did not operate at all due to problems with the LIMs on the spike. The Robin side operated for most of the season.
During the 2006 season Batman reopened on May 5 and ran along with the Robin side on and off until June 2, when a wheel bogie on the third car of the Robin train suffered a mechanical malfunction. While the specifics to what caused the malfunction are still unknown to most people, it has been reported that the train came to a halt on the lowest part of the track (between the Cobra Roll and Zero-G roll) after the launch. This problem is speculated to have happened because of wheel modifications that Premier Rides made on Chiller as well as all other Premier LIM coasters. Although the train was loaded, no one was seriously injured and all riders were evacuated. Both sides remained closed for the rest of the operating season.
During the 2007 season, the Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride and replaced with banked hills. Robin's hill was put in first in March, and then Batman's was put in second in April. Batman's train was painted red so that Robin could use it, because Robin's train was damaged during a previous incident. The Robin side re-opened April 7 and ran until June 28 when it was closed for the rest of the year. The Batman side did not operate at all, but three-out-of-five cars from the original Robin train were placed on Batman's maintenance track. Because of all of the problems the coaster had and the numerous failed attempts to fix the coaster, Six Flags decided to cut their financial and technical losses and dismantle the ride.
During the 2008 season, the ride was completely removed, leaving only the station, observatory, and queue line behind. For Fright Fest that same season, the queue line was reused for the "Escape From The Asylum" Terror Trail. The Fright Fest exclusive attraction turned the former ride area into a Terror Trail maze for guests to walk through while costumed employees were hiding and frequently scaring guests.
During the 2009 season, the remaining foundation caps under the observatory and the former exit ramp were removed. The hands on the side of the observatory were moved to front, and construction began on the interior of the observatory. As of July 3, 2009, the observatory has been remodeled and debuted as the "Xploratorium," a new attraction with many virtual and interactive features for park guests to enjoy. The "Escape From The Asylum" Terror Trail will also be returning for Fright Fest on the former ride grounds.
As of 2011, the "Batman and Robin" sign, originally above the entrance to the queue line, lies on the ground in a restricted area visible to riders atop the Nitro lift hill.