Runaway Mine Train
H9 · Fair Staples & Regional Heroes
H9 · № 113/150
Runaway Mine Train
Alton Towers · GB · Mack Rides Custom powered coaster
“In Katanga Canyon, the little railway hurries for the tunnel.”
UNOFFICIAL · NOT PARK-ENDORSED
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Fast facts
- Operating steel powered coaster by Mack Rides at Alton Towers. coasterpedia.net
- Opened in 1992 in the Katanga Canyon area. towersstreet.com
- Height: 11 metres, or 36 feet. en.wikipedia.org
- Top speed: 36 km/h, or 22.4 mph. en.wikipedia.org
- Inversions: 0. en.wikipedia.org
- Listed capacity: 1,062 riders per hour. en.wikipedia.org
- Reported cost: about $1.8 million, converted from a £1 million 1992 cost. en.wikipedia.org
The story of Runaway Mine Train
Runaway Mine Train arrived at Alton Towers in 1992, when Katanga Canyon was newly presented to visitors. The little railway gave the Staffordshire park a family steel coaster set among bridges, paths, planting, and the neighbouring rapids. towersstreet.com· towersstreet.com
Mack Rides supplied the powered coaster, and the ride layout is credited to John Wardley. Instead of a tall lift and great drop, its onboard power keeps the train moving briskly through a compact course of bends and tunnel work. en.wikipedia.org· coasterpedia.net
Its particular scene is the meeting of rail and river. The course runs beside Congo River Rapids and shares a tunnel section, so the visitor finds the clang of the mine train and the watercourse occupying the same busy corner of Katanga Canyon. en.wikipedia.org· altontowers.com
A 2006 coupling failure closed the ride for repairs, and it returned in 2007 before the full train was restored later that season. It remains in operation, an enduring small landmark for travellers making their way through the canyon. coasterpedia.net· towerstimes.co.uk
Sources
- coasterpedia.net Preferred source
- towersstreet.com Acceptable source
- en.wikipedia.org Acceptable source
- towersstreet.com Acceptable source
- altontowers.com Preferred source
- towerstimes.co.uk Acceptable source