Thunderbolt (2014 roller coaster) explained

Thunderbolt
Location:Luna Park
Locationarticle:Luna Park, Coney Island (2010)
Status:Open
Year:2014
Cost:US$9 million
Type:Steel
Manufacturer:Zamperla
Lift:Vertical chain lift
Height Ft:115
Drop Ft:112
Length Ft:2234
Speed Mph:56
Inversions:4
Duration:00:38
Gforce:4.3
Restriction In:50
Trains:3
Rowspercar:9
Ridersperrow:3
Rcdb Number:8788
Pay Per Use:available

Thunderbolt is a steel roller coaster at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City. It is located near Surf Avenue and West 15th Street, on the Riegelmann Boardwalk next to the B&B Carousell.

History

A wooden roller coaster named the Thunderbolt was originally operated by George Moran on Coney Island from 1925 to 1982. It was demolished in 2000 due to neglect.[1] [2]

In June 2013, it was announced that the operators of Luna Park at Coney Island, Zamperla, would construct a new steel roller coaster which would use the Thunderbolt name.[3] Due to the small footprint required for the coaster, the original plans called for the coaster to use an elevator instead of a lift hill.[4] The ride's manufacturer Zamperla announced further details in November 2013, which showed that the ride would have a vertical lift hill.[5]

Published reports stated that Thunderbolt was expected to be completed and opened by Memorial Day 2014,[6] but construction delays pushed the opening date back.[7] On Memorial Day, which fell on May 25, 2014, the opening was delayed to early June[8] [9] and revised to open by June 6.[10] [11] Just before the scheduled opening on June 6, the opening date was once again delayed.[12] Thunderbolt finally opened on June 14, 2014.[13]

Characteristics

Thunderbolt was manufactured by Zamperla at a cost of US$9 million[14] and has a 90-degree vertical drop and four inversions.[15] [16] [17] [18] From the beginning of the initial drop, to the end of ride, it takes 38 seconds. The ride features 2234feet of track and runs at a top speed of .[19] Thunderbolt is a pay-per-use attraction, as guests must pay $10 for each time they ride on the coaster.

After leaving the station, the train turns 180 degrees to the left and enters a 90-degree, 125abbr=NaNabbr= lift hill. It immediately descends 90 degrees and enters a vertical loop, followed by a Zero-G Roll to the left. After the second inversion, the train enters a leftward-sloping Stengel dive, followed by an Immelmann loop to the right. The train goes over two camelback hills before entering a right-hand corkscrew. After the corkscrew, the train enters another camelback hill before hitting the brake run and entering the station.[20]

Each train consists of a single car with nine seats, arranged in three rows of three. This is different from conventional coaster trains, which are usually arranged in rows of two or four across.

Other installations

Coney Island's Thunderbolt is the first of five Zamperla coasters manufactured under the "Thunderbolt" brand .[21] [22] There are three possible layouts for the Thunderbolt coaster model. The first version is 681m (2,234feet) long. This layout is used by Coney Island's Thunderbolt and two other coasters: Rapid Train at Gyeongnam Mason Robotland in Gyeongnam, South Korea; and Rollin' Thunder at the Park at OWA in Foley, Alabama.[23] The second version is 675m (2,215feet) long while the third version is 375m (1,230feet) long. Both alternate versions are meant to operate on wider lots with a shorter depth.[24]

Notes and References

  1. Thunderbolt. Coney Island - George Moran. 423. November 16, 2013.
  2. News: Calder. Rich. New Thunderbolt roller coaster to join Cyclone at Coney Island. November 16, 2013. New York Post. June 11, 2013.
  3. Web site: Coming Soon! The Thunderbolt. Official Website of Luna Park. January 10, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140110182206/http://lunaparknyc.com/about-us/whats-new.html. January 10, 2014. mdy-all.
  4. Web site: Thunderbolt at Luna Park. COASTER-net. en. 2019-07-05.
  5. Web site: Blau . Reuven . November 14, 2013 . SEE IT: New Thunderbolt roller coaster to open at Coney Island summer 2014 . September 18, 2022 . New York Daily News.
  6. Web site: Restored B&B Carousell is open in Coney Island (slide show). Halperin. Rory. 2013-06-05. Timeout.com. 2014-06-04.
  7. News: Foderaro . Lisa W. . 2014-05-23 . Got Nerves of Steel? Meet the Thunderbolt Roller Coaster . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-09-18 . 0362-4331.
  8. News: Memorial Day kicks off summer with a splash. Pesce. Nicole Lyn. 2014-05-25. NY Daily News. 2014-06-04.
  9. Web site: News and Rumors - Luna Park. Screamscape.com. 27 May 2014.
  10. Web site: New Thunderbolt Roller Coaster to Open Friday in Coney Island. 3 June 2014. ALL MEDIA NY. 4 June 2014. Anthony Bell.
  11. Web site: After Delays, Coney Island's Thunderbolt To Open Next Week [Updated]]. 2 June 2014. Bensonhurst Bean. 4 June 2014. Ned Berke.
  12. Web site: Change Comes Once Again for Coney Island's Thunderbolt. 5 June 2014. Curbed NY. 10 June 2014. Kensinger, Nathan.
  13. Web site: Coney Island's new Thunderbolt roller coaster officially opens. 14 June 2014. NY Daily News. 29 June 2014. Brown, Stephen R..
  14. News: Foderaro . Lisa W. . Got Nerves of Steel? Meet the Thunderbolt Roller Coaster . November 15, 2020 . The New York Times . May 23, 2014.
  15. Thunderbolt. Luna Park. 8788. November 16, 2013.
  16. Web site: Luna Park breaks ground on new roller coaster, the Thunderbolt, on Coney Island - News 12 Brooklyn. 2014-03-10. Brooklyn.news12.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20140311180202/http://brooklyn.news12.com/news/luna-park-breaks-ground-on-new-roller-coaster-the-thunderbolt-on-coney-island-1.7344601. March 11, 2014. dead. 2014-06-04. mdy-all.
  17. News: Foderaro . Lisa W. . March 10, 2014 . New Roller Coaster Promises Coney Island a Return of Thrills . The New York Times . March 21, 2023.
  18. Web site: Coney Island's Luna Park To Get New Roller Coaster « CBS New York. 2014-03-10. Newyork.cbslocal.com. 2014-06-04.
  19. http://www.lunaparknyc.com/about-us/media/118-nycedc-announces-new-qthunderboltq-roller-coaster-to-be-built-at-coney-island.html NYCEDC Announces New "Thunderbolt" Roller Coaster to be Built at Coney Island
  20. Web site: Thunderbolt front seat on-ride HD POV Luna Park, Coney Island. June 26, 2014. CoasterForce. YouTube. July 5, 2019.
  21. 13619. Thunderbolt. Zamperla. October 26, 2019.
  22. Web site: Seventh project with OCT Group . Zamperla . June 16, 2018 . October 26, 2019.
  23. 14547. Thunderbolt: Layout 1. Zamperla. October 26, 2019.
  24. Web site: Thunderbolt . Zamperla . October 26, 2019.