A pipeline roller coaster is a type of roller coaster where the trains ride between the tracks as opposed to a traditional roller coaster where they ride above them. The concept was first developed by Japanese ride company TOGO as the Ultratwister model. They built six installations of the design, four of which are still in existence. Arrow Dynamics created an alternate version of the concept, but it never made it past the prototype stage in development. Intamin developed a version known as the Spiral Coaster model, building only one installation, which is no longer in operation.
History The first pipeline coasters were manufactured by TOGO as their Ultratwister model. The company manufactured six of the model, with the first two opening in 1986 at Tokyo Dome City in Tokyo, Japan, and Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States, both named "Ultra Twister."
TOGO's Ultratwister model features an 85-degree lift hill followed by three heartline roll inversions. Between the second and third rolls is a switch track that tilts trains to an approximately 45 degree angle, sending them through the remainder of the course backwards. The Ultratwister at Rusutsu Resort is the only S-II model built by TOGO, featuring a dive loop instead of a switch track.
Arrow Dynamics attempted to develop a pipeline roller coaster, building a prototype at Arrow's facility in Utah. In 1990, John Wardley worked with Alton Towers to attempt to build one at the park. This was later scrapped in favor of Nemesis after Wardley rode the prototype and disliked the experience it offered.
In the 1996, Intamin built Sky Plaza Comet, a Spiral Coaster at Sky Plaza in South Korea. In 2000, the coaster was relocated to Al-Sha'ab Leisure Park in Kuwait (now known as Winter Wonderland Kuwait), before permanently closing in 2005. The ride remained standing but not operating until its removal in 2017.
Installations Coaster name Amusement park Manufacturer Model Opened Status Ultra Twister Tokyo Dome City TOGO Ultratwister 1986 Ultra Twister Nagashima Spa Land TOGO Ultratwister 1989 Ultra Twister Rusutsu ResortWorld Food Festival TOGO Ultratwister S-II 19891988 Closed 1988 Ultra Twister Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland TOGO Ultratwister 1991 Ultra Twister Megaton Greenland TOGO Ultratwister 1994 Closed 2020 Spiral CoasterFormerly Sky Plaza Comet Winter Wonderland KuwaitSky Plaza Intamin Spiral Coaster 20001996 Closed 1999 Ultra CoasterFormerly Ultra Twister South Sabahiya ParkIkoma Skyland TOGO Ultratwister 20082004 or earlier Closed 2012 unknownFormerly Ultra TwisterFormerly Ultra Twister Six Flags AmericaSix Flags AstroWorldSix Flags Great Adventure TOGO Ultratwister 200619901986 20051988
References
External links
Intamin's Official Website