Runaway Mine Train (Six Flags Great Adventure)
Runaway Mine Train is a steel roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, NJ. It was the park's first steel coaster, and was built by Arrow Development.[1] It opened with the park in 1974, and is one of four coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure aimed at families and younger children, the other four being Skull Mountain, The Dark Knight, and Harley Quinn's Crazy Train.
| Runaway Mine Train | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Runaway Mine Train turning right above the water into the station. | |
| Six Flags Great Adventure | |
| Location | Six Flags Great Adventure |
| Park section | Frontier Adventures |
| Coordinates | 40°8′14.37″N 74°26′5.87″W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | July 4, 1974[1] |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Mine Train |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Development |
| Designer | Arrow Development |
| Model | Mine Train |
| Track layout | out-and-back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 60 ft (18 m) |
| Drop | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Length | 2,665 ft (812 m) |
| Speed | 38 mph (61 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Max vertical angle | 20° |
| Capacity | 868 riders per hour |
| G-force | 2.6 |
| Height restriction | 44 in (112 cm) |
| Trains | 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 30 riders per train. |
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| Runaway Mine Train at RCDB Pictures of Runaway Mine Train at RCDB | |
The Ride
Immediately following the station, the train makes a small drop out of the station, giving it just enough momentum to make it to the lift hill. Once the train engages the lift hill, it is carried up to a height of 60 feet (18 m). At the top of the lift, the train enters a downwards double helix. Once the train leaves the double helix, riders are pulled through a bunny hop. Upon exiting the bunny hop, riders are pulled up a small slope, and then are pulled to the right into the mid course brake run to slow down the train. After being slowed down, riders are pulled down a banked curve into a ground helix. Riders are then pulled up another banked curve onto a flat section of track. This flat section was once a bunny hop, but it was re-profiled to the flat section that we see today shortly after the ride's construction was completed. The train then drops abruptly over the lake. Riders then are pulled over a bunny hop, dropping back to lake level. The train then makes a banked turn over the lake and then pulls up a banked curve into the final brake run.
Overhaul of the Runaway Mine Train in 1995 was the first project that Larry Chickola completed for Six Flags. He redesigned its motor, cars and computer operating system.[2]
For the 2006 season, Runaway Mine Train's track was repainted with brighter colors and the trains were fitted with new individual lap-bar restraints. However, problems with these restraints caused several lengthy periods of downtime throughout the season due to malfunctions in the trains' locking systems.
References
- Brady MacDonald (24 July 2011). "Top 10 roller coasters at Six Flags Great Adventure". Los Angeles Times. Eddy Hartenstein. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- Gray, Kevin (June 2012). "Engineer of Fear". Men's Journal.