Baron 1898

Baron 1898 is a steel Dive Coaster at the Efteling theme park.[4] The first test ride was held on 8 May 2015, after construction of the track was completed, and the first manned operation was conducted on June 18, 2015.[5] Music was created by the Brussels Philharmonie symphony orchestra and several producers, under the direction of René Merkelbach.[6] The ride opened on July 1, 2015.[7][8] It is the first dive coaster manufactured by B&M that doesn't feature a turn between the lift hill and the first drop.

Baron 1898
Overview of the attraction.
Efteling
LocationEfteling
Coordinates51.648168°N 5.050830°E / 51.648168; 5.050830
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 1, 2015[1]
Cost€ 18 million[2]
General statistics
TypeSteel – Dive Coaster
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelDive Coaster
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height30 m (98 ft)
Drop37.5 m (123 ft)
Length501 m (1,644 ft)
Speed90 km/h (56 mph)
Inversions2
Duration130 seconds[3]
Max vertical angle87°
Capacity1000 riders per hour
Height restriction52 in (132 cm)
Trains3 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 6 across in a single row for a total of 18 riders per train.
Baron 1898 at RCDB
Pictures of Baron 1898 at RCDB

Efteling's YouTube channel posted infrequent informational videos on the progress made on Baron 1898, with 10 full-length videos uploaded to date. Each video carefully details and outlines the processes used in each step of the construction of the roller coaster, including features such as aesthetics and track layout.[9]

Story

In 1898, the wealthy baron Gustave Hooghmoed (whose last name is a variation on the Dutch word for hubris) is led to discover a nearby cave that is rich in gold deposits by a spirit known as the Witte Wieven ("Wise women", "Dames Blanches" or "White ladies"); however, this spirit gives Hooghmoed the admonition that if he disturbs the gold in any way, he will suffer terrible consequences for the remainder of his life. In an attempt to circumvent the spirit's threat, Hooghmoed presses the destitute locals into working in his newly opened gold mine, where many of the workers suffer catastrophic accidents or are chased out of the cave by the "Witte Wieven" and her supernatural cohorts.

After the Baron is called out of his office to tend to an emergency in the mine shaft, mine overseer Laars will help guests into his specially designed mine elevator vehicles that are capable of traveling both vertically and horizontally. After the guests board the special mine cars, Laars and the machine shop are suddenly attacked by vengeful spirits of miners who have previously vanished under the influence of the "Witte Wieven". Before Laars's office apparently explodes, he sends the miners out of the mine; as the car ascends, a giant fireball bursts from the opening of the machine shop and almost reaches the rear car of the train. As the train is about to leave the mine, it stops as the "Witte Wieven" can be heard singing from the pit, from which smoke pours and lights can be seen. After a few seconds, the "Witte Wieven" scream, "You shall not evade my curse! Prepare to forfeit your lives!" as the miners plunge down the exit of the mine.[10]

Personnel

Ride

Guests to the Efteling theme park take on the role of one of Hooghmoed's employees; the queue begins with guests crossing an iron bridge over a creek to the mine's central offices and barracks, where guests will have an audience with the headstrong Baron who will, via an application of projections and animatronics, give his newly minted employees a brief safety lecture before sternly warning them against believing in the legend of the "Witte Wieven". Guests will move on from the office into the mine's machinery and maintenance shop to board the special mine cars. The spirits suddenly attack the cars; this effect is achieved through projection technology and animatronics (projected ghosts fly over rider's heads, and several pipes seem to burst.) As the train is about to drop off the lift, it stops as the "Witte Wieven" can be heard screaming from the pit, from which smoke pours. After a few seconds, the riders plunge 37.5 meters into a smoke-filled pit and pull out into an Immelmann loop and return into the same direction. After the first loop, riders experience airtime and drop a second time. This later leads the riders into a zero-g roll before traveling through a fast-paced spiral. The final brake run follows, which leads into the mine complex's equipment storage area, where guests disembark.

The exit hallway is still themed and leads to a cafe named 't Melkhuisje (literally the milkhouse). This is due to a tradition in which miners would generally have a glass of milk after hours of labor work in the mines.[12]

  • December 2014.
  • February 2015.
  • February 2015.
  • February 2015.

Reception

The ride was well received by critics and amusement park fanatics, with praise going towards the theming and the overall quality of the ride. Dave Adams of the Theme Park Insider gave the ride a positive review stating "the Efteling has really done itself proud with this one."[13] Minor criticisms came from the duration of the actual ride, which was much shorter than many had expected.

A negative review came from Edwin Rasser, who complained that the operating staff were cranky and uninterested.[14]

Incidents

Since the opening of the ride on July 1, 2015, Baron 1898 has been involved in 4 minor incidents.

  • July 5, 2015 – A software error prevented the platform from lowering, hindering the ride's operation.[15]
  • July 12, 2015 – Visitors were stranded atop the lift for 45 minutes before evacuation.[16][17]
  • July 19, 2015 – The ride spontaneously ceased to function and a faulty switch was subsequently found to be the cause. The ride resumed operation on July 21.[18][19]
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References
  1. "Openingsdatum nieuwe achtbaan Efteling uitgelekt". loopings.nl (in Dutch). Loopings NL. May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  2. "Eerste trein Efteling-achtbaan Baron 1898 stort naar beneden". Niews.nl (in Dutch). May 8, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  3. "Efteling releases details of Baron 1898 dive coaster's course". Efteling. Efteling.com. February 19, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  4. "Efteling presents spectacular rollercoaster 'Baron 1898'" (in Dutch). Metro News. October 15, 2014. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  5. Quekel, Sebastiaan (June 18, 2015). "Jaloersmakende foto: bofkonten maken allereerste rit in nieuwe Efteling-achtbaan Baron 1898". Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  6. "Eerste testrit met de Baron 1898 in Efteling én de attractiemuziek is bekend (Video)". BN DeStem (in Dutch). June 1, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-29. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  7. "Trein van Eftelingachtbaan Baron 1898 stort voor het eerst 37,5 meter naar beneden (video)". Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). May 8, 2015. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  8. "Openingsdatum nieuwe achtbaan Efteling uitgelekt". loopings.nl (in Dutch). Loopings NL. May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  9. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoulm-mYV-JzzRgu4o6rGVw
  10. Marden, Duane. "Baron 1898  (Efteling, Kaatsheuvel)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  11. Pennings, Matthijs (June 16, 2015). "Jacques Vriens schrijft verhaal achter nieuwe attractie Efteling: Baron 1898". Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  12. Aflevering 9 - The Making-of: Baron 1898 - Efteling
  13. Adams, Dave (July 1, 2015). "Ride Review: Efteling's Baron 1898". themeparkinsider.com. Theme Park Insider. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  14. Rasser, Edwin (August 31, 2015). "Medewerkers in de Blijheidsindustrie". eftelist.nl (in Dutch). Eftelist. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  15. Nijs, Yoeri (July 5, 2015). "Baron 1898 van Efteling korte tijd getroffen door storing: 'Ging om softwarefout'". omroepbrabant.nl. Omroep Brabant. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  16. "Bezoekers drie kwartier vast op hoogste punt nieuwe attractie Efteling". nu.nl (in Dutch). NU Nederland. July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  17. "Efteling-attractie Baron 1898 ontruimd". nos.nl (in Dutch). NOS Nederland. July 13, 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  18. Boere, Raymond (July 20, 2015). "Kapot schakelaartje velde Efteling-attractie Baron 1898". ad.nl. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  19. van Jaarsveldt, Janene (July 21, 2015). "Brand New Efteling ride working again after shutdown". nltimes.nl. NL Times. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
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