A bit of History about the ride. The Black hole is a Schwarzkopf Jet star 2 coaster with a length of 1919ft, Height of 44’3 and a duration of 1min 50 seconds. It was originally brought to Alton Towers as the Black hole in 1983 before going through a couple of name changes, New Black Hole, Black Hole 2 and finally back to Black hole again. The ride was closed in 2006.

So finally heres a set of photographs taken in July 2007 from inside the Black Hole Tent at Alton Towers.

From outside, some of the old artwork.

Some of the original theming still hanging about

A bit dark but showing the full dome.

Track lying across the floor

Shot of the cars.

Clearly showing the supports still in place.

The ride cars.

Control systems

The loading bay, still pretty much intact.

If you want to use any photographs on this blog please get in touch paul@ridemad.com im quite happy to share and have high resolution copies of everything used, to see the complete gallery visit the Ridemad Gallery

Thanks for Reading.

Knightmare, one of the most anticipated coasters between enthusiasts finally opened this month with an offical media day launch on Friday 27th July. One of my Club pleasure beach friends Chris Hughes took the day off work and spent a few hours taking photographs at Camelot.

Thanks for Chris for the use of his photographs in this article.

King Arthur offically opening the ride.

Knightmare designed by Schwarzkopf and was originally called the Bavarian Mountain railroad before been renamed to BMRX in 1997 when the ride was re-themed.

King Arthur ready to ride.

The ride is from Kobe Portopialand, Japan. Where it had some very elaborate theming, check out the pictures on the RCDB Website.

Some general shots of the media day.

Locals forming an orderley line.

Some stats from courtesy of RCDB Website.

length of 2601ft
height 86ft
max speed 43.5mph
duration 1:56
g-force 5, although this is debatable at the moment as it seems a few people say different levels.

I would like to thank Chris Hughes for the use of his photographs.

Thanks for reading

Remember a time when it was cool to have straight hair, stonewashed denim, t-shirts that changed colour when you got hot and spandex shorts. It was a time before B&M coasters graced alton towers and we had rides that were very tame in comparsion to todays launched and suspended coasters.

In 1992 a day at Alton involved long queues for rides like “The Thunder Looper” and “Corkscrew” the towers were open and you could walk around the whole towers getting lost. Here im going to take a trip back to 1992, I dont remember the date but it was sometime in the summer and id just bought my first SLR camera a Canon EOS 1000FN and didnt have a clue how to work it. For the trip id hired a brand new “Ford escort” which cost about £15.

The Thunder looper

One of my all time favourite rides, it was a Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop coaster, from memory it was offically opened by Daley Thompson – I was at the park the day it opened and the staff all had a go, as an opening ceremony the track had fireworks/smoke cannisters placed on it and when the train went past it triggered them. It wasnt very effective as it was still light but the smoke could be seen for a couple of hundred metres,

The ride was 722ft in length and had a height of 137ft. The propulsion was a cable which was connected to a huge weight which was enclosed when the 40 ton weight dropped it propelled the train to its top speed of 53mph.

The ride operated at Alton towers from 1990 until 1996

The Corkscrew.
Still opening today the corkscrew come to the park in 1980, one it first offical opening day the local roads were blocked with visitors and the traffic chaos went as far as the M6 motorway, the ride had huge publicity on local and national TV and it was a one of a kind ride in the UK.

The ride was built by Vekoma and is 2400ft in length, I dont ever remember getting my ears hurt so much in 1992, today the pain can be terrible and i almost walk past the ride before nostalgia gets hold and forces me to ride. the one at Flamingo land is allot more comfortable.

Corkscrew is 75ft high has 2 corkscrew inversions and runs at a top speed of 40mph. The park management first rode the ride in Vekomas factory before it was shipped over to the UK.

From memory back in 1992 we queued for about 90 minutes to get on the ride, i think the cars have changed since then but everything else is the same.

The train climbing the hill.

At the top of the hill.

The first drop.

The Congo River Rapids.

I use to love attempt these shots with a slow 1/2 second shutter speed, even after 15 years I still havent perfected it

Nothing much has changed with this ride since it was built, the majority of the theming is still in place.

Ive not seen this jet of water running for some time.

The ride was built by Intamin in 1986 and is 725m in length.

The duration of the ride is about 6 minutes.

Model Railway in the towers.

The railway was broken up after the 92 season.

The daily processions.

When a time that Alton tried to copy the daily procession’s disney style.

The log flume.

Nothing much has changed with this apart from the ride has gained a sponsor and the station has a new roof.

Runaway mine train.

The Swan ride.

The towers and views from the towers.

The Farm before foot and mouth.

The haunted house, before it was ruined with guns and targets.

If you want to use any photographs on this blog please get in touch paul@ridemad.com or use the contact form im quite happy to share and have high resolution copies of everything used, to see the complete gallery visit the Ridemad Gallery

Thanks for Reading.