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Tower of Terror (roller coaster)
Encyclopedia
The Tower of Terror II is a steel
shuttle
roller coaster
located at the Dreamworld
amusement park
on the Gold Coast
, Queensland
, Australia
. When the Tower of Terror opened on 23 January 1997, it was the first roller coaster in the world to reach 161.9 kilometres per hour (100.6 mph) speeds making it the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. The ride is situated on the Dreamworld Tower
which also houses the Giant Drop
free fall ride. The ride was originally known as the Tower of Terror until it was modified and relaunched in September 2010.
The steel and concrete structure cost A$16 million to construct. The original ride featured a shorter, 80 metres (262.5 ft) tunnel, a rigid lap bar using a hydraulic locking system and would carry 15 passengers at a time.
The relaunched ride takes 14 passengers. It propels passengers to just under 161 kilometres per hour (100 mph) with a maximum of 4.5Gs and 6.5 seconds of weightlessness. As of 2010, the ride is 4th in the tallest roller coaster rankings, 3rd in the tallest roller coaster drop rankings and 4th in the fastest roller coaster rankings.
16 million.
On 23 January 1997, the Tower of Terror was officially opened by Rob Borbidge
, Premier of Queensland
at the time. A plaque was dedicated in its honour detailing its opening status as the tallest and fastest ride in the world.
would take photographs of riders.
The first steel passenger vehicle, known as the Escape Pod, would carry 15 passengers in four rows and weighed around 6 metric tons (5.9 LT). The car was equipped with four large steel road wheels that run on the track, measuring 600 millimetres (23.6 in) in diameter at the front and 900 millimetres (35.4 in) at the rear. Smaller jockey wheels run on the other side of the track such that the track sits between the pairs of wheels.
The original Tower of Terrors restraint system consisted of a thick, rigid lap bar with hand grips mounted to the lap bar. This type of restraint feels like a lap bar restraint, while still providing the safety of a traditional over-the-shoulder restraint.
These restraints used a hydraulic locking system (rather than a ratchet) which allowed them to be pulled down to any position; when "locked", they could move down to any position but not up. In contrast, a ratchet-based restraint only locks at each "notch", and will often be too loose or uncomfortably tight for riders. In order to speed up loading, riders were asked to secure their own restraints if they were able to. The minimum height restriction is 120 centimetres (47.2 in), the same as most other major coasters. In addition, it is actually possible for a rider to be too tall to ride the Tower of Terror, if they are over 200 centimetres (78.7 in) tall.
Up to 14 riders at a time are electro-magnetically accelerated to 160.9 kilometres per hour (100 mph) in seven seconds along the extended, 206 metres (675.9 ft) launch tunnel. The track then pitches up 90 degrees to the vertical, with the passengers pulling 4.5Gs
. Riders are weightless during the entire vertical section of the ride for about 6.5 seconds, 3.25 seconds going up and 3.25 seconds falling back down. The car then pitches back down to horizontal and enters the tunnel where an on-ride camera
takes photographs of riders. The vehicle continues to hurtle back into the station where it comes to a fairly rapid stop.
and Wiggles World
, to the inside of an 11 metres (36.1 ft) tall skull. From there, the line bends into a tunnel where riders have to walk 270 degrees anti-clockwise, crossing a metal bridge below which a model city is displayed. This is followed by some stairs at the top of which is a Dreamworld staff member in charge of letting people pass. Fourteen people at a time are allowed to pass through to the second waiting area where they wait for instructions to proceed. In the third waiting area, riders are asked to form four queues with two people in the front queue and four people in each of the remaining three queues. The doors to the Escape Pod then open up, allowing riders to embark.
In the station, a kicker tyre system is used to propel the car into the launch, and also to stop the returning car. Once in the launch, a linear synchronous motor (LSM) system is used to accelerate the car along the horizontal part of the track, and also to slow the returning car.
Following the ride, riders are let out an exit on the opposite side to the entry, which leads into a passageway containing a metal lift. This takes the riders back down to ground level and opens up to the Tower of Terror Warehouse merchandise shop. The shop contains souvenirs and photos of the riders in the Escape Pod for purchase.
in the United States
. Although the ride experience of the two rides is identical, the structure of Superman: The Escape is slightly taller. The title of the World's Fastest Roller Coaster was shared between the two rides for the next four years until Dodonpa
at Fuji-Q Highland
opened in December 2001. The title of the World's Tallest Roller Coaster Drop remained for a longer period of time. In 2003, Top Thrill Dragster
opened at Cedar Point
with a drop 21 metres (68.9 ft) taller than the drop of the Tower of Terror.
In September 2011, the Tower of Terror II was placed 4th in the tallest roller coaster rankings, 3rd in the tallest roller coaster drop rankings and 5th in the fastest roller coaster rankings.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
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...
located at the Dreamworld
Dreamworld
Dreamworld is a large theme park situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is currently Australia's largest theme park with over 27 rides including 4 roller coasters. The park is made up of several themed lands: Ocean Parade, Kid's World, Wiggles World, Gold Rush Country, Rocky Hollow, Tiger...
amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
on the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. When the Tower of Terror opened on 23 January 1997, it was the first roller coaster in the world to reach 161.9 kilometres per hour (100.6 mph) speeds making it the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. The ride is situated on the Dreamworld Tower
Dreamworld Tower
The Dreamworld Tower, is a high tower located in the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Tower of Terror II and the Giant Drop both share the tower.-Tower design:...
which also houses the Giant Drop
Giant Drop (Dreamworld)
The Giant Drop is an Intamin drop tower ride located at the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. It is the world's tallest vertical drop ride standing high.-History:...
free fall ride. The ride was originally known as the Tower of Terror until it was modified and relaunched in September 2010.
The steel and concrete structure cost A$16 million to construct. The original ride featured a shorter, 80 metres (262.5 ft) tunnel, a rigid lap bar using a hydraulic locking system and would carry 15 passengers at a time.
The relaunched ride takes 14 passengers. It propels passengers to just under 161 kilometres per hour (100 mph) with a maximum of 4.5Gs and 6.5 seconds of weightlessness. As of 2010, the ride is 4th in the tallest roller coaster rankings, 3rd in the tallest roller coaster drop rankings and 4th in the fastest roller coaster rankings.
Construction and opening
The construction of the Tower of Terror required a mammoth effort by those involved. The ride features more than 600 metric tons (590.5 LT) of steel, 3500 metric tons (3,444.7 LT) of concrete (which was delivered by 175 concrete trucks), 3500 litres (7,396.8 US pt) of paint and over 16,000 bolts which hold the structure together. Total construction costs were estimated to be A$Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
16 million.
On 23 January 1997, the Tower of Terror was officially opened by Rob Borbidge
Rob Borbidge
Robert Edward Borbidge AO , Australian politician, was the 35th Premier of Queensland, and leader of the Queensland branch of the National Party...
, Premier of Queensland
Premiers of Queensland
Before the 1890s, there was no developed party system in Queensland. Political affiliation labels before that time indicate a general tendency only. Before the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, political parties were more akin to parliamentary factions, and were fluid, informal and...
at the time. A plaque was dedicated in its honour detailing its opening status as the tallest and fastest ride in the world.
Original ride
The original Tower of Terror ride featured an "escape pod" weighing 6 metric tons (5.9 LT). Riders would be launched forwards out of a shorter, 80 metres (262.5 ft) tunnel at a rate of 160.9 kilometres per hour (100 mph) before travelling up the 115 metres (377.3 ft) tower. Just 0.25 seconds after the initial launch, an on-ride cameraOn-ride camera
An on-ride camera is a camera mounted alongside the track of a roller coaster, log flume or other thrill ride that automatically photographs all of the riders on each passing vehicle. They are often mounted at the most intense or fastest part of the ride, resulting in humorously distorted...
would take photographs of riders.
Escape Pod
The original Tower of Terrors restraint system consisted of a thick, rigid lap bar with hand grips mounted to the lap bar. This type of restraint feels like a lap bar restraint, while still providing the safety of a traditional over-the-shoulder restraint.
These restraints used a hydraulic locking system (rather than a ratchet) which allowed them to be pulled down to any position; when "locked", they could move down to any position but not up. In contrast, a ratchet-based restraint only locks at each "notch", and will often be too loose or uncomfortably tight for riders. In order to speed up loading, riders were asked to secure their own restraints if they were able to. The minimum height restriction is 120 centimetres (47.2 in), the same as most other major coasters. In addition, it is actually possible for a rider to be too tall to ride the Tower of Terror, if they are over 200 centimetres (78.7 in) tall.
Relaunch
The first speculations about a relaunch of the Tower of Terror began in December 2009. A Gold Coast Bulletin report detailed a variety of new attractions for the Gold Coast theme parks including the major relaunch of one of Dreamworld's Big 7 Thrill Rides. Although the Tower of Terror was not mentioned in the article, amusement park fanatics agreed that the Tower of Terror would be the most likely to receive the makeover. In February 2010, further fuel was added to the fire when a theme park reporter commented on the possibility of the Tower of Terror featuring a new, backwards launching vehicle. Towards the end of April 2010, steel framework arrived beside the Tower of Terrors launch track. The curved parts confirmed rumours that the tunnel would be extended. In August 2010, Dreamworld officially announced through their website that the Tower of Terror will cease operations on 18 August 2010 and will reopen as the Tower of Terror II in time for the September school holidays. Dreamworld confirmed the rumour that the launch will be in reverse out of the newly extended 206 metres (675.9 ft) tunnel. The ride was relaunched on 17 September 2010.Up to 14 riders at a time are electro-magnetically accelerated to 160.9 kilometres per hour (100 mph) in seven seconds along the extended, 206 metres (675.9 ft) launch tunnel. The track then pitches up 90 degrees to the vertical, with the passengers pulling 4.5Gs
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
. Riders are weightless during the entire vertical section of the ride for about 6.5 seconds, 3.25 seconds going up and 3.25 seconds falling back down. The car then pitches back down to horizontal and enters the tunnel where an on-ride camera
On-ride camera
An on-ride camera is a camera mounted alongside the track of a roller coaster, log flume or other thrill ride that automatically photographs all of the riders on each passing vehicle. They are often mounted at the most intense or fastest part of the ride, resulting in humorously distorted...
takes photographs of riders. The vehicle continues to hurtle back into the station where it comes to a fairly rapid stop.
Queue and station
The queue line begins with a footpath that extends from the underpass linking Tiger IslandTiger Island (Dreamworld)
Tiger Island is wildlife attraction at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In 2010, the area was home to twelve tigers and two cougars. The exhibit is home to both the Bengal and Sumatran tiger species.-History:...
and Wiggles World
Wiggles World
Wiggles World is a themed land at the Dreamworld amusement park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. On 17 September 2005, the area opened replacing the previous Gum Tree Gully section...
, to the inside of an 11 metres (36.1 ft) tall skull. From there, the line bends into a tunnel where riders have to walk 270 degrees anti-clockwise, crossing a metal bridge below which a model city is displayed. This is followed by some stairs at the top of which is a Dreamworld staff member in charge of letting people pass. Fourteen people at a time are allowed to pass through to the second waiting area where they wait for instructions to proceed. In the third waiting area, riders are asked to form four queues with two people in the front queue and four people in each of the remaining three queues. The doors to the Escape Pod then open up, allowing riders to embark.
In the station, a kicker tyre system is used to propel the car into the launch, and also to stop the returning car. Once in the launch, a linear synchronous motor (LSM) system is used to accelerate the car along the horizontal part of the track, and also to slow the returning car.
Following the ride, riders are let out an exit on the opposite side to the entry, which leads into a passageway containing a metal lift. This takes the riders back down to ground level and opens up to the Tower of Terror Warehouse merchandise shop. The shop contains souvenirs and photos of the riders in the Escape Pod for purchase.
Vehicle
The new 5 metric tons (4.9 LT) passenger vehicle, called the 'Escape Pod', seats 14 riders in a configuration consisting of three rows of 4 and one row of 2. The vehicle features a lower-profile than its predecessor.Poll Ranking
| Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Ranking |
- No Steel Roller Coaster Poll was held in 2000.
- Not enough riders to rank the roller coaster this year.
Records
At the time of opening, in January 1997, the Tower of Terror was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world. The ride held this title by itself for two months until it was superseded by in height by a twin-tracked version named Superman: The Escape (since rethemed as Superman: Escape from Krypton), located at Six Flags Magic MountainSix 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Although the ride experience of the two rides is identical, the structure of Superman: The Escape is slightly taller. The title of the World's Fastest Roller Coaster was shared between the two rides for the next four years until Dodonpa
Dodonpa
is a roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi in Japan. It opened in 2001 and is a steel sit-down roller coaster with a compressed air launch. The ride was built by S&S Power of Utah, U.S.A....
at Fuji-Q Highland
Fuji-Q Highland
Fuji-Q Highland is an amusement park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan.The theme park is near the base of Mount Fuji. It has a number of roller coasters, as well as The Haunted Hospital, the world's second largest haunted attraction, and Thomas Land, a children's area with a Thomas the Tank Engine...
opened in December 2001. The title of the World's Tallest Roller Coaster Drop remained for a longer period of time. In 2003, Top Thrill Dragster
Top Thrill Dragster
Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, Hydraulic-launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It was the first "Strata Coaster", loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is over tall. It was built by Intamin and debuted to the public on May 4, 2003...
opened at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
with a drop 21 metres (68.9 ft) taller than the drop of the Tower of Terror.
In September 2011, the Tower of Terror II was placed 4th in the tallest roller coaster rankings, 3rd in the tallest roller coaster drop rankings and 5th in the fastest roller coaster rankings.