Drayton Manor Park, United Kingdom
I would like to give a big thanks to an ex employee of BEAR (BEst Amusement Rides) GmbH for providing me these photos to share to all enthusiasts of Drayton Manor, flume-based attractions, general ride enthusiasts, and more. Without his help we wouldn't be able to see this wonderful, yet smelly flume ride in a way we would have never expected or thought of.
Stormforce 10:
Opened on the 29th April 1999. Manufactured by BEAR GmbH, Stormforce 10 is the UK's first reverse chute flume ride with 3 drops. During 2017 the ride was closed as it undergone a full refurbishment along side with Pandemonium, and opened later in 2018 towards the beginning of the new season.
The ride recreates the story of a lifeboat rescue and was launched in association with the RNLI. It holds the title of the world’s first charitable ride, accepts donations on site and makes a donation to the RNLI for every ride photograph sold.
The ride has a total of 10 boats but uses only 6-8 boats during an operation day. During the final drop the boat can reach up to speeds of 40mph before landing in a splashdown section. As well as the first reverse chute to use turntables, the ride uses a unique ramp catapult system to lift the boat so that it can travel down the first drop.
Just as a disclaimer - all staff and contractors seen during the construction between 1998-1999 have been blurred out for their privacy. Only Richard Pawley (Operations Director - at the time), Colin Bryan (Owner), and the first public boat of lucky guests can be seen in this blog.
I have tried to make these photos in order during construction and testing but one or two, or a few may be out of place.
"If the photos are blurry then please be patient. The images are loading"
Starting in late 1998:
Canopy supports are starting to be fitted for the inside turntable
High trough section yet to be placed
Pre-lift track ready to be moved to second lift hill
Recently cut wood on the pre-lift track
Canopy supports are finally in place ready for covering
Recently placed pre-lift track for the finally lift section
Look at the final lift that leads to the station
Second lift awaiting the placement of the pre-lift track
Undercover turntable installed
Look at the lift hill motor for the second lift
View of the reverse drop
View of the top of the second lift hill
Main drop with the missing trough seen on floor ready for installation
Another angle of the first lift for the turntable
Worker checking the foundations and bolts for the high trough section
Worker checking the foundations and bolts for final drop landing section
Pre-lift track section for the second lift getting lifted into place
Workers watching as the second pre-lift track is being lowered down into place
Worker getting ready to place the cables around the top trough section
Second pre-lift track section has been installed
View of the indoor turntable
View of the trough that comes from the waterfall section
Final missing trough section soon to be installed
View of the indoor turntable
First drop section outside of the station
View of all the concrete foundations at the bottom of the second drop from the turntable
Worker checking the bolts on the main drop supports
Drive motor for the screw pump
Another view of the screw pump
A look from the ramp section looking down at the first drop
Carpenters and electricians in the operator cabin
Workers at the bottom of the last lift hill
Workers standing on the pre-lift looking at the diagrams layout
Workers checking the recently placed pre-lift track section
Catapult (lifting ramp) to get boats down the first chute
View from the last lift looking down
Currently look of the reverse drop and area is coming along
Extra trough so water can flow along as the boats go up the second lift
View of the second lift hill
Second chute landing area and turntable
Wide shot of turntable and area
Closer view of turntable and second chute landing area
Another view of the indoor turntable section
Ground view of the high trough
View of the station building and the concrete troughs
Huge water screw
Water screw motor
Looking down the first chute
Worker seen working on lift 3
View of the turntable
Chute 2 reverse landing zone
Water pump overflow pit next to chute 1
The viewing area concrete foundations are in soon to be completed
Turntable building is complete
Another view of the complete turntable building
Catapult (lifting ramp) and station
Team meeting for project managers and supervisors
Preparing to let water into the ride for the first time
Double checking before opening the value
Let the water in
Foundation and support for the first chute
Quick inspection of the water coming through into the trough and over areas
Managers looking over the work progression
Watching the water flow through
Richard Pawley overseeing the construction and development
Wide shot of the ride and the progress so far
View from the first chute with boats parked off ride soon ready for testing
Work is still happening on the exit from the turntable
A little bit of dirt but looks really fresh
Closer shot of workers working on the turntable
Boat seen on the turntable as a test fit. Flume has no water flow
Close up of the landing area from chute two
Close up of a steel support wood used to keep boats ground when landing from a chute
View of the final chute landing zone with a bit of water in the trough
Ramp rail from lift two taking the boats into the high trough
Drive wheel used to help get the boat over the crest for the final chute
View of the high trough with a boat placed for measurement testing
Worker looking over the crest for the final chute. Mississippi Showdown can be seen in the background
Soon to have a proximity sensor placed to help with the block and location for the system
Drive wheel soon to be installed for the run up to the chute drop
Aerial photo of the bottom of lift two
Workers overlooking their progress with installing drive motors around the high trough section
Worker posing for a photo on the high trough
Drive wheels get the boat over the crest down the chute. This is used as a block section
The first drive wheel for the crest run up
Drive wheels get the boat over the crest down the chute. This is used as a block section
Looking down the third chute
Drive wheel used to get a boat onto a lift
PA Speaker, CCTV and E-stop system installed
BEAR employee and contractor overlooking their progress
Another view of workers in action
Worker preparing to install another set of drive wheels along the high trough
Drive wheels to push the boat along the high trough. The boats don't free flow
Workers installing and preparing the iconic waterfall element after the first chute
Electricians and fitters getting a drive wheel into place
Aerial view of workers seen on the turntable section installing proximity sensors
Installation of the viewing area is almost complete
9 out of 10 boats can be seen awaiting their day of testing
Workers on the landing trough from the third main chute
Water has started to flow through covering the troughs
Water is now starting to cover everywhere
Full trough for the turntable and chute 2 landing zone
The trough is starting to fill
Full trough for the turntable and exit trough
The end of the free flow section that comes from lift 2
Chute 3 landing zone is full
Another shot of a full trough and turntable
Water flow trough from lift 2 leading to under the indoor turntable. Boats don't use this trough
Chute 2 landing zone
Unnumbered boats placed opposite the entrance and chute 1 landing zone
Motor for the catapult (lifting ramp) used to get the boats down the first chute
The electrical control cabinet (brain of the ride)
The operator panel
Testing day! The first boat to be launched down the first chute from the station
Boat 1 free flows through the turned off waterfalls
Off on it's travels
On it's ways to the first lift
Up the first lift to the indoor turntable
Staff member waiting for boat 1 to reach the top
Might as well test it to make sure it's all good
Down you go
Splash
The hard hat isn't going to keep you well covered
Boat 1 flowing into position for the turntable
Time for a test ride with the people who installed and constructed it
Over the crest they go
Splash
Other workers on look their colleagues after their splashdown
Worker observing the turntable and how it's functioning during testing
BEAR employee with air horn to warn other workers when they commence testing
Worker observing the turntable and how it's functioning with a boat during testing
A new day more testing with boat 10
Boat 10 passes through the turned off waterfalls section
Taken from the top of lift 2, the boat is flowing along side the parks Rio Grande railway
Splashing down into the landing zone. Chute 2 is one of the wettest drops in the UK
Flowing towards the turntable
Over the crest it goes
Only half way down the drop
Off it heads to the lift to take it back to the station
New day for testing
Workers performing checks on the ride in preparation for testing
Aerial view of the trough and bottom of lift 1
Boat 2 soon to move from the indoor turntable once all checks are complete
Completing a track walk looking for any obstructions or anything not secured
They've noticed the photographer
Two workers visually inspecting the turntable
The waterfalls soon to be turned on
Final lift hill walk to check the mechanical and electrical systems
The whole ride is in action and ready to run boats
Last checks underway at lift 2
Colin Bryan on site observing the testing and preparing for a test ride
Doesn't Splash Canyon look different in 1999
Empty boat 2 has left the indoor turntable ready for more boats
Colin Bryan having his first test ride in row 2
Colin travelling down chute 3
Hold onto your hat
Off they go towards the station
Another test ride but Colin has decided to go on the front row
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Splash
Onto the turntable while a BEAR employee is observing
The first 'official' public boat is on the way. This is before the grand opening by Steps
Final drop
Again, I would like to give a big thanks to an ex employee of BEAR (BEst Amusement Rides) GmbH for providing me these photos to share to everyone.
Without his help we wouldn't be able to see these photographs of this ride during it's construction and testing.
(Please contact me on Facebook if you are wanting to use these images. Credit to Harry Rawding and BEAR GmbH for help supplying the photos for educational and non-commercial use)
コメント