Archive for RCCGB FORUM Message Board for Members of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain to discuss club events and all things theme park related.          RCCGB FORUM Forum Index -> UK Park News smiler Alton towers cable cars The referbishment of Alton towers cables cars looks like it will be going on for the 2009 season. The first of the themed cars was on the cables today. There going along the same lines as the monorail trains which looks great and now all the trains are complete. The straberry train is now on the tracks and really looks good. Pics of the themed daisey car here http://www.flickr.com/photos/1080...3642652/in/set-72157607033154774/ Monorail strawberry train http://www.flickr.com/photos/1080...2799201/in/set-72157607033154774/ Magic They look good, I really must renew my season pass and get to the Towers ASAP. Auntie Murial Re: Alton towers cable cars smiler wrote: The referbishment of Alton towers cables cars looks like it will be going on for the 2009 season. The first of the themed cars was on the cables today. There going along the same lines as the monorail trains which looks great and now all the trains are complete. The straberry train is now on the tracks and really looks good. Pics of the themed daisey car here http://www.flickr.com/photos/1080...3642652/in/set-72157607033154774/ Monorail strawberry train http://www.flickr.com/photos/1080...2799201/in/set-72157607033154774/ There are still two more monorail trains to be refurbished. The Skyride will be having a refurb ready for next year, but the car in question that you have the picture of is believed to be a test car.  We / They are still unsure whther it will be the finished product or not yet. bluea61 Looks ok, can you still see out of the windows though? butler Steve, I am goin gon the 13th Sept.I will let you know. Butler Coaster Toaster bluea61 wrote: Looks ok, can you still see out of the windows though? I dont see why you wont be able to see out the windows as you can with the monorails and their windows are designed the same as the skyride by the look of it Steven Burns Does that mean people in the other ways wont be able to see the passengers i the cable car? So we won`t be able to waka wave on coming cars anymore? Boo! That was the best bit about last Scare Fest isn't it   smiler Yeah that does mean people in the other cars cant see you you can only see out of them. There like the new monarail trains you can see ok out of them but you cant see the people in them. Trax  Oh what a shame. Waving to people in the other cars to see if they wave back or are just miserable sods is the highlight of any trip to Alton. In fact I think I invented the game lol. Its the end of an era. Its obvious that the ride needs updating but why cover the windows? I have been on the new daisy car and its impossible to see other riders. Chris xx. stevencaine I know what your  saying i'm not liking the new cable cars at Alton towers at all Anyway welcome too the board Chris is it gonna be face-book next? Trax Thanks for the welcome Steve.  I think the supports for the sky ride needs a lick of paint before the cars get done. They are a right mess.   I said that just to keep in topic so Sarah and Ian dont slap me silly lol. Face book eh?  Sounds complicated for a technophobe like me. This is my second post in 2 years so dont hold your breath lol xx Auntie Murial I wouldnt slap you silly Trax, i know you would enjoy it far too much Auntie Murial http://forum.towerstimes.co.uk/vi...0&sk=t&sd=a&start=660 Some nice new pictures of the new gondolas made for the Alton Towers Skyride, and no vinyl in sight Courtesy of TowersTimes Link Coaster Police I am glad to see the cable cars are getting a make over - and i'm even more pleased to see that they havn't removed the numbers because there's still 8 i've never travelled in ! (of the old series) stevencaine They are looking good  and they have got pink ones just for Vicci coasterprince Rode the new cars yesturday, they do look modern and great colours, find them more cramped than the old ones, they werre filling them with 10 yesturday and it was very cosy   Death Having taken a quick peek at the new gondolas, personally I prefer the older ones. If you compare the two designs, the older ones are larger, more spacious, can accommodate more passengers (Vital in the morning when everyone's dashing over towards Nemesis and Rita) and - Given that I prefer to ride the Skyride standing up - The new ones don't look like they have any decent standing room in them...Assuming they have a capacity of ten passengers seated. Anyone know why AT have decided to buy new cars for the Skyride? Is it simply a refurbishment/modernisation of an aged system, or were there safety concerns over the old gondolas? Although I havn't ridden the Skyride for at least two years, I never noticed anything wrong or concerning about the old ones when I last rode it. Auntie Murial Death wrote: Having taken a quick peek at the new gondolas, personally I prefer the older ones. If you compare the two designs, the older ones are larger, more spacious, can accommodate more passengers (Vital in the morning when everyone's dashing over towards Nemesis and Rita) and - Given that I prefer to ride the Skyride standing up - The new ones don't look like they have any decent standing room in them...Assuming they have a capacity of ten passengers seated. Anyone know why AT have decided to buy new cars for the Skyride? Is it simply a refurbishment/modernisation of an aged system, or were there safety concerns over the old gondolas? Although I havn't ridden the Skyride for at least two years, I never noticed anything wrong or concerning about the old ones when I last rode it. Hi Death, I think it was a mixture of two factors, the age of the old gondolas being one, they had dreadful trouble with the door mechanisms which i believe caused a few cut offs during the season.  The other being that they are trying to give the park a fresh new look and add alot more colour to the park. I personally love the style of these new gondolas, we will have to see if they will infact be a good addition to the park or whether they do infact have poor throughput and lack of space. I do know that after ordering the gondolas and testing them on the circuit, they had to make alot of adjustments to the station buildings to accomodate the vehicles, they simply just did not fit at certain points. Ianto Death Auntie Murial wrote: I think it was a mixture of two factors, the age of the old gondolas being one, they had dreadful trouble with the door mechanisms which i believe caused a few cut offs during the season.  The other being that they are trying to give the park a fresh new look and add alot more colour to the park. I must admit that there have been a couple of occasions where I've had gondolas with doors that didn't close properly - But being the only rider on those runs and one who has enough common sense to use such a gondola safely, this didn't pose me any problems. As it is, I'd be happy to ride the system on the maintenance platform! The new style and colour approach does make sense, I suppose. The old gondolas look rather dated, and - Though I prefer those to the new ones - I suppose most other guests would feel more comfortable and safer in the new ones. Also, the tinted windows on the new ones would also allow them to have cars with completely blacked-out windows, allowing guests with vertigo to use the system without experiencing their fear of heights. Auntie Murial wrote: I personally love the style of these new gondolas, we will have to see if they will infact be a good addition to the park or whether they do infact have poor throughput and lack of space. To me, they look like something out of Tellytubby land - Especially the pink and purple ones! Personally, I'd say that I'm looking at this in a more nostalgic manner - Having visited Alton Towers a number of times over the past twelve years, the idea of seeing the new gondolas doesn't really "fit in" to my view of the park from what I'm used to - And the newer ones would look really out of place over the Gardens. Mind you, part of this might be because - From an engineering perspective - The rest of the system (Towers, cable guides, stations etc.) is of a typically 80's design, and the new cars don't really fit it that well IMO. Auntie Murial wrote: I do know that after ordering the gondolas and testing them on the circuit, they had to make alot of adjustments to the station buildings to accomodate the vehicles, they simply just did not fit at certain points. Hmmm...Looking at the photos (I havn't actually tried one of the new ones yet) they look much smaller than the old ones. Surely the new gondolas would've been designed to fit the existing loading guage, though? On the subject of new gondolas: I feel that they should also have a few smoking cars added. To comply with the new smoke-free laws, they'd have to be a simple open and exposed platform suspended from the cable...But I'd be happy to use those cars, even if I managed to give up smoking! Auntie Murial They had to rip out all of the old guide rails in the station as the new gondolas were not compatible with the ones in the station.  There are a few pictures in the TowersTimes forum of the new gondolas, stations and all other improvements around the park. I also think these new cars look very Retro, lol Rogue Andy went at the weekend with my sister and nieces (I was too ill unfortunately) however he did say that the new cable cars seat 12 however it was cosy with just 10. He was going to stand but got invited to sit next to two women   smiler Some pictures of the new cable cars and the sea life centre can be found here and they both look great for the park. http://www.smilers-photos.fotopic.net/ Auntie Murial smiler wrote: Some pictures of the new cable cars and the sea life centre can be found here and they both look great for the park. http://www.smilers-photos.fotopic.net/ Fantastic Pictures Smiler STEALTHYBUTBAD i came across the new cable car thingys for the first time on monday. The seats are quite comfy but i dont think u can get 12 people seated in them as we did it with me sitting on the floor ! and another person sitting on her other halfs lap. These cars are to me smaller than the older ones. I see what people mean about the park having to change the docking parts of the stations for the gondolas ( i actually managed to say it properly then lol).        RCCGB FORUM Forum Index -> UK Park News Page 1 of 1