I used to be the Engineer on the Ultimate the Red Train was named after me Jim’s Jet. brings back many memories seeing the views around the track and some of the adventures I had maintaining the trains and attending breakdowns.
This coaster needs to be re-profiled for the following reasons - 1) It's quite a rough ride 2) It doesn't pack a punch until the drop of the second lift hill 3) It under utilises height and speed by hugging the ground too much, it even runs flat and straight in parts 4) Re-profiling would be more economical than a completely new coaster and it could allow for a new name on the revised version 5) Some additional track added to the re-profile (692 ft) could allow it to re-take the crown as the longest coaster in the world
Adrian King What's the point though? It would completely take away the uniqueness of the coaster, which is something Lightwater Valley wants to preserve.
The points would be that The Ultimate could with some less-than-the-cost-of-a-large-new-coaster become the ride it was most likely meant to be. I understand that by keeping the design/construction on these shores it was achieved at an economical-ish rate for a such a long layout ultimately (no pun intended) however the two companies involved were hardly in the game of coaster construction and it showed from the inaugural ride. I'm not saying they created an awful coaster rather one that showed a lack of experience, but they did coup the longest coaster in the world crown back then so the park got a unique ride. We are now seeing a new breed of hybrid coasters come in and a radically reborn 'The Ultimate' could be counted in amongst these as its inherently a hybrid by design anyway and by increasing the length as mentioned heads could be turned towards it across the globe . I understand the reluctance to alter things but god knows so many things are re-booted now so why not a big coaster on these shores, if done right it could be rightly be its namesake..
Adrian King "could be the ride it was meant to be"... You do realise this was constructed in 1991? Hardly gonna be a smooth as butter B&M Hyper is it? Besides, Lightwater Valley are by no means financially stable to paint some fences let alone do what you're suggesting.
Oh dear - I didn't realise that Lightwater Valley were struggling as much as that! I suppose I've been compelled to push for such a thing as I've always harboured a desire for this to be done and remember urging the same on Ultimate Rollercoaster Forums ( pretty much a desert now after Facebook) I rode the ride just after its opening and across the years thereafter always admiring that Robert Staveley had the balls to go for it in the first place! It would be great to have it realised as a coaster in the top 20 with the work mentioned, not necessarily to achieve a svelte beast but more of a thriller incorporating elements of its former self. If I come up trumps with a lottery mega-win then expect this as I ring the park up with an offer.. but for now The Ultimate for me is a tale of two parts, the semi-thrilling coaster it is today and the one long hoped for..
Adrian King Yeah, it's a shame about their financial problems. I don't see them surviving more than 10 years from now if they don't up their game with removing more attractions than they're putting in.
I used to be the Engineer on the Ultimate the Red Train was named after me Jim’s Jet. brings back many memories seeing the views around the track and some of the adventures I had maintaining the trains and attending breakdowns.
Great video! I went on this for the first time. I LOVED it. Lightwater Valley is always gonna be my fave theme park :) Also what's the song?
Song is Something Good Can Work by the Two Door Cinema Club
May I use this footage in a video I'm making about the longest roller coasters ever built? I will give your channel full credit.
They never reply lol
Didn't half let you near the track lol.
Excellent 🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂🥂
nice vid keep it up going here on saturday cant wait to go on this and the other rides :)
seems dangerous that theres no fences around the track anything could climb on and get hit
Wow! This is awesome!
Can't believe people are allowed near the track
No fences!
How did you arrange the track walk?
Wonderful video, but you should add to the stats; "One of the roughest, most painful steel roller coasters in existence."
I cried on it age😱😭😱😳😭😱😭8
What song is this
I have been om this ride
Mnmmmmm
went on this and kept my eyes cosed the hole way
@Alpenghost Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club
@ScreamNagini ik
What song is this?
Something Good Can Work - The Two Door Cinema Club
I went on this 2wice
This coaster needs to be re-profiled for the following reasons - 1) It's quite a rough ride 2) It doesn't pack a punch until the drop of the second lift hill 3) It under utilises height and speed by hugging the ground too much, it even runs flat and straight in parts 4) Re-profiling would be more economical than a completely new coaster and it could allow for a new name on the revised version 5) Some additional track added to the re-profile (692 ft) could allow it to re-take the crown as the longest coaster in the world
Adrian King What's the point though? It would completely take away the uniqueness of the coaster, which is something Lightwater Valley wants to preserve.
The points would be that The Ultimate could with some less-than-the-cost-of-a-large-new-coaster become the ride it was most likely meant to be. I understand that by keeping the design/construction on these shores it was achieved at an economical-ish rate for a such a long layout ultimately (no pun intended) however the two companies involved were hardly in the game of coaster construction and it showed from the inaugural ride. I'm not saying they created an awful coaster rather one that showed a lack of experience, but they did coup the longest coaster in the world crown back then so the park got a unique ride.
We are now seeing a new breed of hybrid coasters come in and a radically reborn 'The Ultimate' could be counted in amongst these as its inherently a hybrid by design anyway and by increasing the length as mentioned heads could be turned towards it across the globe . I understand the reluctance to alter things but god knows so many things are re-booted now so why not a big coaster on these shores, if done right it could be rightly be its namesake..
Adrian King "could be the ride it was meant to be"... You do realise this was constructed in 1991? Hardly gonna be a smooth as butter B&M Hyper is it? Besides, Lightwater Valley are by no means financially stable to paint some fences let alone do what you're suggesting.
Oh dear - I didn't realise that Lightwater Valley were struggling as much as that! I suppose I've been compelled to push for such a thing as I've always harboured a desire for this to be done and remember urging the same on Ultimate Rollercoaster Forums ( pretty much a desert now after Facebook) I rode the ride just after its opening and across the years thereafter always admiring that Robert Staveley had the balls to go for it in the first place! It would be great to have it realised as a coaster in the top 20 with the work mentioned, not necessarily to achieve a svelte beast but more of a thriller incorporating elements of its former self. If I come up trumps with a lottery mega-win then expect this as I ring the park up with an offer.. but for now The Ultimate for me is a tale of two parts, the semi-thrilling coaster it is today and the one long hoped for..
Adrian King Yeah, it's a shame about their financial problems. I don't see them surviving more than 10 years from now if they don't up their game with removing more attractions than they're putting in.
A Vekoma SLC is better than this!
#PacingIssues