Stormforce 10 Construction 1998-1999

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)