Shuttle Loop

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox attraction model

Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf.[1] A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have been located in a total of 22 different amusement parks.

History

The first installation of a Shuttle Loop dates back to 1977 when King Kobra opened at Kings Dominion.[2][3] Two other rides were also installed that year: White Lightnin' at Carowinds and Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (California).[4][5] Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (Illinois) opened in 1978 and was the last to feature the weight drop launch system.[6][7] Also that year, Knott's Berry Farm opened Montezooma's Revenge and Six Flags AstroWorld opened Greezed Lightnin' as the first installations to feature the flywheel launch system.[7][8][9] A number of installations followed across the world.

Twenty-two theme parks have operated Shuttle Loops, with half of the twelve original installations being relocated at some time. since September 2013Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., only five installations are operating, with another one in storage.[8][10][11][12][13] The remaining Shuttle Loops were either demolished or used for replacement parts on other installations.[14][15][16][17][18]

Notable installations

  • The original King Kobra from Kings Dominion is the most traveled shuttle loop, having operated at Kings Dominion, Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Alton Towers and Hopi Hari.[11]
  • Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm is the longest running shuttle loop that is still in its original location. All of the shuttle loops that were installed before it have either been moved or destroyed. Following the closure of Kentucky Kingdom's Greezed Lightnin' in 2009, "Zooma" became the only operating shuttle loop in the United States until Indiana Beach's Shuttle Loop (previously stored at Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World).[19][20] The ride was closed in 2022 for a major refurbishment and was originally set for a 2023 opening.[21] since February 2024Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., the project was halted due to unknown construction issues and the ride is currently standing with its loop and launch track removed. It is currently set for a 2025 reopening.
  • Shuttle Loop at Nagashima Spa Land is the only remaining Shuttle Loop operating in Asia.[19]
  • The first European Shuttle Loop, Sirocco, was installed in 1982 at Walibi Belgium in Wavre, Belgium. In 1999, the ride was partially covered to reduce noise pollution and the name was changed to Turbine. Turbine closed in 2008 and reopened in 2013 with a new Gerstlauer train, a new linear induction motor launch system and a new name, Psyké Underground. The attraction is now fully covered, making it the first covered Shuttle Loop. The attraction closed again in early January 2025 and reopened in early April 2025 with a new industrial theme and another new Gerstlauer train. The attraction has since been renamed Turbine again.
  • The shuttle loop, Greezed Lightnin', that operated at Kentucky Kingdom from 2003 to 2009 was composed of the two Tidal Wave Shuttle Loops from the Marriott's Great America parks in California and Illinois.[14]
  • The final new installation was Shuttle Loop at Oyama Yuenchi in 1990.[15]
  • Kennywood in Pittsburgh, PA included Laser Loop, a shuttle loop coaster opened in 1980 before being closed and relocated in 1990. It is currently stored at Indiana Beach awaiting reconstruction.

Ride

File:WalibiBelgium TurbineTrain.jpg
The original train and station of Turbine at Walibi Belgium

Experience

The train is launched out of the station at a speed of between Script error: No such module "convert". before passing through a vertical loop and up a Script error: No such module "convert".. Once the momentum of the train runs out on the 70° spike, the train begins to traverse the track backwards, returning through the loop. The train then passes back through the station and goes up another 70° steep spike, which stands at Script error: No such module "convert"., until it stalls again and rolls forward back into the brake run and station.[22][23]

File:Amusement ride with vertical track loop - figure 1.jpg
Figure 1 from Anton Schwarzkopf's patent for the Shuttle Loop roller coaster (patent US4165695, "Amusement ride with vertical track loop"). The image shows the overall layout of the ride.

Mechanics

Anton Schwarzkopf designed the Shuttle Loop in the late 1970s. He filed a patent for the concept in 1978 which was approved the following year.[24] The patent describes two launch systems, both of which were implemented in various roller coasters:[22][23][24]

  • Weight drop – a number of the early installations in 1977 and 1978 featured a weight drop launch system.[7] This system involved a catch car attaching itself to the train, which was attached to the weight via a cable. When the launch was triggered, the Script error: No such module "convert". weight was dropped down a shaft pulling the cable and catch car which in turn pushed the train down the launch track.[25][26]
  • Flywheel - from 1978, all of the new installations featured a flywheel launch system.[7] This system consists of a Script error: No such module "convert". flywheel which is spun at over 1000 revolutions per minute. This flywheel engages a drive system, through a system of multiple clutches, that is attached to a cable that in-turn propels the train forward.[26]

Gerstlauer completed an upgrade of Walibi Belgium's installation for the 2013 season. As part of the upgrade Gerstlauer replaced the existing flywheel launch system with a new linear induction motor (LIM) launch system. The company also added a new train. The ride was then completely enclosed and relaunched as Psyké Underground. The flywheel launch system is now displayed in the queue of the ride.[27][28][29]

Installations

Name Park Opened Closed Status Length Height Speed Launch
Golden Loop
White Lightnin'		 Gold Reef City
Carowinds		 1989
1977
1988		 Operating
Relocated to Gold Reef City		 Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Weight Drop [4][10]
Greased Lightnin'
Tidal Wave		 Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
California's Great America		 2003
1977		 2006
2002		 Removed
Relocated to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom		 Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Weight Drop [5][16]
Greezed Lightnin'
Viper
Tidal Wave		 Kentucky Kingdom
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags Great America		 2003
1995
1978		 2009[nb 1]
2001
1991		 Removed[nb 2][14]
Relocated to Kentucky Kingdom
Relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia		 Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Weight Drop [6][14][30]
Katapul
Thunder Looper
King Kobra
King Kobra		 Hopi Hari
Alton Towers
Jolly Roger Amusement Park
Kings Dominion		 1999
1990
1987
1977
1996
1989
1986		 Operating
Relocated to Hopi Hari
Relocated to Alton Towers
Relocated to Jolly Roger Amusement Park		 Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Weight Drop [2][3][11][31]
MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress Knott's Berry Farm 1978 Undergoing Refurbishment Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Flywheel [8]
Shuttle Loop Nagashima Spa Land 1980 Operating Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Flywheel [12]
Shuttle Loop Toshimaen 1980 2008 Removed[nb 3] Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Flywheel [17]
Shuttle Loop Ōyama Yūenchi 1980 2005 Removed Unknown Unknown Unknown Flywheel [15]
Shuttle Loop Yokohama Dreamland 1979 2002 Removed Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Flywheel [18][32]
Turbine
Psyké Underground
Turbine
Sirocco		 Walibi Belgium 2025
2013
1999
1982
2025
2008
1998		 Operating Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". LIM
LIM
Flywheel
Flywheel		 [27]
Unknown[nb 4][33][34]
Greezed Lightnin'		 Joyland Amusement Park
Six Flags AstroWorld		 2012
2006
1978
2012
2005		 Scrapped
Ownership transferred to Cliff's Amusement Park
Relocated to Joyland Amusement Park		 Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Flywheel [9][35][36]
Unknown
Unknown
Cascabel 2.0
Cascabel
Laser Loop		 Indiana Beach
Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World
La Feria Chapultepec Magico
Kennywood		 TBA
2022
1994
1980		 2024
2019
1990		 In Storage
Relocated to Indiana Beach
Relocated to Niagara Amusement Park
Relocated to La Feria Chapultepec Mágico		 Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". FlyWheel [37][38][39][20]

Incidents

File:Montezoomas Revenge (Knotts Berry Farm).jpg
Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm

On August 27, 1997, the Sirocco at Walibi Wavre failed to launch at the correct speed. The train went to the loop very slowly and up the spike, to roll backwards. During the backwards passage of the loop, the train halted at the uppermost point, causing the train to get stuck hanging upside-down. The passengers were hanging heads-down for one hour and twenty minutes, only held in place with lap bar restraints. The train was pulled back further down the track with help of the local fire station brigade.[40][41]

A 20-year-old woman died on September 1, 2001, one day after riding Montezooma's Revenge, the Shuttle Loop at Knott's Berry Farm. She suffered a ruptured middle cerebral artery, and an autopsy revealed a pre-existing condition. The ride was closed for several days while an investigation was conducted. Though state investigators concluded that the ride did not contribute to her death, a wrongful death lawsuit was later filed by her family in 2002.[42] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006.[43]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Ceased operation in 2009 before removal in 2013.
  2. ↑ The track was used as replacement parts for the Kentucky Kingdom installation during the 2005/2006 off season.
  3. ↑ Was set to be relocated to Attractiepark Rotterdam in 2018, but was later cancelled.
  4. ↑ Coaster has been in storage near MacKenzie Park (track) and Larson Manufacturing (trains, flywheel and hardware) since 2006.

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References

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  24. ↑ a b <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>Template:Citation/make link, Schwarzkopf, Anton, "Amusement ride with vertical track loop", issued Script error: No such module "auto date formatter"., assigned to Husar, Francis S. and Reece, Randolph A. Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  36. ↑ Rides4u.com http://www.rides4u.com/view/2056
  37. ↑ Template:Cite RCDB
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  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/checkTemplate:Succession box/check World's Tallest Roller Coaster
1977–1978 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

Template:Rollercoaster tracks Template:Intamin Template:Alton Towers Template:California's Great America Script error: No such module "Navbox". Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Kentucky Kingdom Script error: No such module "Navbox".

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