http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...re/7718618.stm

Anyone else cut their themepark teeth on this?

'pparently there's a new "world-first" going to replace it - all hush-hush for now...
Rollercoaster for the obese, perchance?

Yes I remember it from "Hold Tight" with Bob Carolgees and Spit the dog.

It wasn't till many years later that I got to finally go on it by which time it was a bit of a bone shaker.

Oblivion was very good.

I prefer Las for the rides now.

I remember riding that brilliant fun, i wonder what they will replace it with.

Btw i wish they would of taken the Black Hole away instead

Yes, the Black Hole was pants. Wasn't that supposed to be the same framework as one of the other rides (Cat and Mouse?) but just in the dark?

Yes and after what happened to us it should of been taken down beaten with baseball bats, chopped with a chainsaw, shot, then burned just to make sure it could never come back

I think it was unceremoniously dismantled (albeit without baseball bats and Hell fire) but it looks like you got your wish.

In 2004...

http://www.towersalmanac.com/areas/rides.php?id=23

Thanks for that after queuing for god knows how long to get on that thing (it was our first time) we was having some fun when suddenly the bleep bleeping thing just stopped so there we where in pitch darkness hanging vertical for about 45 minutes, but this is the corker in the end when they had fixed the problem and we finaly got off it, they said sorry and handed us all free passes to jump the queue (so we would not have to stand in line again) i mean did they really think after what had happened that we wanted to get back on it

I saw the article on the BBC site the other day and I have to say I was saddened by the news.

The corkscrew was the first big rollercoaster ride I ever saw and the first time I went to Alton Towers I was too small to go on, so I had to wait on the platform crying and waiting with my sister as my mum and dad went on.

We went back the next season and I had finally grown that extra couple of cm's so was allowed on From then on everytime I went to Alton Towers (which was sometimes 4 or 5 times a year as we lived nearby) the day wasn't complete without a ride on the Corkscrew. Even though the other rides nowadays are bigger and better, I will miss it. It will no doubt disappear to the rollercoaster graveyard along with the Thunder Looper

I was amused to hear about the items found underneath The Corkscrew, including ancient mobile phones, underwear and a false leg!

If your false leg drops off, does your underwear go with it? (just wondered if there is a connection )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/s...re/7697240.stm

So that`s where my missing leg is, Diamond Wedding ring, and watches are, it is no wonder i lost them all hanging there for so long

DP yes my underwear fell off when i lost my leg

Took the kids on this in its early days - will always remember our younger daughter asking ' have we been upside down yet'

My first rollercoaster.

However Nemesis i think still takes the biscuit in on the UK rollecoaster scene

Have you every been on the Big1 at Blackpool? I will never forget my first and LAST time on that. It is so high they have a light on top so the airplanes can be warned.

No i have never been on it, But i thought its just a normal rollercoaster on top of a tower?
And there are no loopy loops or corckscrews.
Although i imagine its pretty darn scary from way up high.

There is loopy loops, and yes it is damn scary. The worst bit is that it takes so long to get to the top, then it just drops vertical down, but i was determined to go on before i left the UK, and i made my brother come on with me lol

Well now all i want to do is go to blackpool and ride the rollercoaster!
Sounds amazing!
are there any good themeparks around Zurich? does anyone know of any?

Ooh I remember that.....was it also the one featured on Jim'll fix it with the scouts eating burgers and OJ and it flying all over the place? Anyway have done this corkscrew, was prob 'scary' in it's day and its a shame its going but it wasn't all that. What I do REALLY like at A.T. is AIR....that ride is awesome. Scariest ride I've done so far is the corkscrew at Europa Park, Silverstar? Jaysus, think I kept me eyes shut and screamed throughout the whole ride, awesome

You tried europa park near Freiburg, Germany?
http://www.europapark.de/lang-en/c51/default.html

No but it looks amazing,
you can even play golf there!

Thank you!