Exploring a Sketchy Abandoned Roller Coaster in Australia! Orphan Rocker at Scenic World

Today we're visiting Katoomba, Australia! Nestled in the gorgeous Blue Mountains, this beautiful area is home to a handful of rides and attractions, including one that never opened to the public! Orphan Rocker has sat SBNO since 1988. With a height of 82 feet, a max speed of 28 mph, and a layout mostly consisting of straight track, it didn't appear to be an overly exciting attraction. Although at one point it did get very close to the edge of a cliff, which would've made for a terrifying moment!
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Production, Filming, & Editing: Taylor Bybee and Sarah Anderson
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[@JamesonThomas24]

I appreciate Sarah’s hard hitting journalism. “HEY ARE YOU BUILDING A ROLLER COASTER?” 10/10. I was wondering when I saw the track haha

[@coolboykiller3609]

What was the trick?

[@halesej]

“I don’t know… maybe that would’ve been good if you didn’t ram into a tree…”

[@AG7-MTM]

The S&S Axis coaster would be perfect to create an insane but legal sucessor to Orphan Rocker - they should call it "Orphan Roller"

[@hellfox911]

ONE OF THE SCARIEST ROLLER COASTER IN PARC ASTERX, FRANCE ! ! ! ! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXm8iYeheJ6Jbrs

[@jacksonseyl1063]

Actually, the true successor is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Disneyland.

[@triple7marc]

This remains one of the greatest coaster names of all time, and I'm being serious. The fact that it's located near Orphan Rock, and the cars themselves ROCK, means that "Orphan Rocker" is the PERFECT name, even though it is quite funny when you first hear it. It's up there with Circuit Breaker, Steel Eel and Boardwalk Bullet for me. More coaster names should be this clever.

[@revimfadli4666]

It could literally rock orphans who ride it And now it's been orphaned

[@Lemonaidz7]

Those transitions look like something you’d see on a realistic planet coaster video

[@maricrookshanks1335]

Angel's Flight is an old funicular in Downtown LA that used to carry passengers up and down the hills when the area was more residential

[@benrobson4041]

The Duquesne Incline is one of two incline railways across the river from downtown Pittsburgh that take passengers from West Carson Street to Mount Washington and back. I wouldn't call them thrilling (especially compared to the one in this video), but they're very unique and scenic.

[@verybighomer]

Can recommend that one! Beautifully restored with a lot of old wood and a nice view. Really nice historic attraction, they have put a lot of effort into it.

[@tequila725]

I live in Pittsburgh and was so excited to see that on the list!

[@missybarbour6885]

I was just impressed by the correct pronunciation of Duquesne lol

[@Nismo-gy3wz]

We were at the park in the early 1980s and actually saw the Orphan Rocker cycling. We enquired about the ride and were informed it would be opening very soon. So sad that day never came. I know that the family who owned the park had all ridden it hundreds of times but it became very political, and the local council were never letting it open. RIP OR

[@Thestuffnope]

Probably wise to never open it. Those transactions look really sketchy.

[@dmbennell1799]

Yes I also recall it running around the track, over and over - empty of course.

[@Aerolandaircraft]

The Blue Mountains would be the perfect place for an RMC! Just imagine a twisting terrain layout through pristine rainforest. Perfect ride for the park!

[@triple7marc]

Coaster enthusiast moment

[@moekitsune]

I would rather not have that

[@DoomPlague]

Not even Ron Toomer would approve of those transitions.

[@Marty_NZ]

Good to see Orphan Rocker's track design still lives on in Mack coasters today.

[@urbex_coasters]

They should build an alpine coaster here, potentially on Orphan Rocker's footprint if it's big enough of a descent. On the picture of steepest railways you were looking at visualised, the Duquesne railway is in Pittsburgh so the next time you go to Kennywood it might be something you check out. Although it's no where close to as impressive as the one you did looked to be.

[@JerseyDevils21]

I'm going to Australia for my next deployment! Hopefully I can check out scenic world after I go to movie world

[@donoakes85]

There is footage around of Orphan Rocker operating with those test people. It’s very hard to find. I was amazed when I stumbled upon it.

[@stevenbrock899]

At 3.25 of the link I've included you can see the Orphan Rocker in operation. It was ridden by Gary Who was a well known comedian and actor in Australia. The segment was presented on an afternoon show called Just For The Record in Sydney in the 1980's. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqCtZXeHhtaiqKM

[@donoakes85]

@@stevenbrock899 thanks to your link I found the one I watched a couple years ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKXTeKSsgtN7i5o which had parts in the link you sent.

[@persianking44]

It looks like the kinda of roller coaster you make in Planet Coaster before spamming the smooth button 😂

[@andysee6996]

I wonder if this roller coaster could be re-created in Roller Coaster Tycoon or Planet Coaster. Also, are you aware of Toboggan at Bendix Woods in the state of Indiana. That was an in-house made roller coaster and nearly beat Wiegand to the Mountain Coaster punch by over 20 years. It never opened though because it was too dangerous.

[@vintageradio3404]

Parts of the Orphan Rocker are heritage listed, which is why it is still mostly in place. The stretch below the rail platform is an original part of the roller coaster. There were test rides with staff on board and all survived the test rides. The reason the ride never started service is because the owner at the time was pushing money into other parts of the business. Bear in mind that unlike most roller coasters, including the Big Dipper at Luna Park in Sydney, this one is close to the ground and safety requirements would have been less stringent.

[@jacksonseyl1063]

Orphan Rocker is like a 80's version of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

[@Ihledome1]

It's like roller coaster tycoon come to life! Complete with lost segments in the woods!

[@dmbennell1799]

There was a video I saw of a guy going through the dense woods much closer to the tracks, a few years ago. He showed the closed station where the carriages are forever parked.

[@christianortiz-v1l]

I remember when Theme Park Crazy talked about this ride. It still fascinates me that this was pure wasted potential.

[@Rin_ThePixie]

Expedition Theme Park has a great video on this as well.

[@maxhagenauer24]

2:37 is that an actual tree that grew through the tracks? But anyways, it looks really cool, it was probably pretty fun for the people that did ride it. So much terrain interaction.

[@fletchy40]

lol, this video makes Scenic World look like a failed RollerCoaster Tycoon scenario.

[@talfacprez]

Some people want to cut corners thinking they are going to save money by doing it themselves and it ends up costing them a lot more than if they had contracted a real professional to build it.

[@porkins74]

I did the Scenic Railway Cliffhanger mode a few years ago. It was so much fun. Glad you liked it too.

[@teddym2808]

Dude the orphan rocker was the first coaster with rocking cars and WOULD have been fun because of that, and why there is no or very little banking. I am surprised you guys didn't mention the unique rocking. There are some videos of it in operation testing floating around the web. It's actually a shame it never opened as it was quite fast and the location is what would have made it. Plus track had already been removed before your visit.

[@soespicer]

the duquesne incline is in pittsburgh! you could def check it out on your next kennywood trip

[@SwiftTelly20]

I had no idea about the abandoned coaster. I should go back there to see for myself. Also, really glad you two rode the railway!😃I loved it, glad you did too. Didn’t get to experience the rest of the area, so a good reason to return one day (but in winter instead of summer 😅).

[@missybarbour6885]

I was thinking that if you liked that you should come to Pittsburgh and ride one of our two inclines, and sure enough, they put the Duquesne Incline on the sign! Props to you for pronouncing it correctly lol, seriously check it out after your next Kennywood trip!

[@verybighomer]

It is a pity that they did not get the Orphan Rocker running. From the little bit of footage available online it seems like a good attraction for the park with a little bit of thrill in a very beautiful setting. The idea of having rocking cars is not bad either. However, the execution of the build was absolutely sub-par. Should have asked someone who knows the business. Too bad.

[@Joypyf]

Such a cool experience!! 🤩

[@Hangtime_Davi64]

Not on the list of steep railways is the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway in Chattanooga, TN, which has a 35 degree / 72.7% slope.

[@jammerst1ck125]

scenic world was so fun when I was there!

[@ireeb]

Does this coaster qualify as an example for the Dunning-Kruger-effect? Knowing so little about amusement ride design that you think "eh, I could do that". Transistions? G-Forces? Who needs that. I know it was built 1988, but at that time, for example Schwarzkopf and Arrow were putting out roller coasters that you could actually ride way before that.

[@jeffersonsteelflex4737]

The rarest credit

[@Tyler-vn3ij]

Reminds me of the toboggan run in the Bendix Woods County Park in Indiana.

[@William_Does_Coasters2255]

Are you going to see Shawn and Charlotte when they go to Busch Gardens Williamsburg or Kings Dominion in June?

[@CoasterStudios]

We will be gone all of June :(

[@William_Does_Coasters2255]

@@CoasterStudios Where?

[@Ihledome1]

Twisted timbers or Pantheon?

[@rieskame]

I took my dad there to ride the train on the way to the Bathurst 1000. I wanted to ride the roller coaster when I saw the track!

[@radbricks8298]

its so cool I love that its still there!!! how dare you call it stupid

[@StamfordBridge]

Rocking orphans no more. 😢

[@askjeevescosby2928]

The orphan rocker is located near orphan rock and has been abandond and it self is now a orphan.

[@juliancoasterking]

The Profiling is just RCT3😅😂

[@Coolharry64]

I might actually recreate this in RCT3 because this guy had a swinging car ride CTR

[@stevenbrock899]

At 3.25 of the link I've included you can see the Orphan Rocker in operation. It was ridden by Garry Who was a well known comedian and actor in Australia. The segment was presented on an afternoon show called Just For The Record in Sydney in the 1980's. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqCtZXeHhtaiqKM As a regular visitor to the Blue Mountains we were waiting for it to open in the mid1980's. It never passed the official inspection and was never allowed to open to the public. When you see it in person you can understand why. Even when it was brand new it had a backyard vibe about it with dubious footings, track and home made trains. The fact that it hugged a cliff made it all the more terrifying.

[@thomasgionet]

Actually, the steepest railway is Stroosbahn Railway (listed as the second steepest on the chart) in Switzerland is at 47.7 degrees. The Katoomba Scenic Railway is steeper at 52 degrees, but despite the name, it is technically not a railway at all. It’s an inclined lift. These are facts I felt the need to share, but that no one in their right mind cares about at all.

[@manbearpig900]

The difference between inclined lift, and railway are not really hashed out. So a lot of people seem to grasp at whatever claim they can get. How is this not a Railway if the Stroosbahn is?

[@jtbowman132]

I haven’t watched yet but the thumbnail looks like a Minecraft “roller coaster” with the mine tracks lmao

[@jordonfreeman166]

Oh for Pete’s sake it’s an inclined lift not a railway because it uses a winch system instead of a counterbalancing carriage, which funiculars use.

[@stevenbrock899]

It’s in the Guinness Book or Records as the World’s steepest railway and has been for years.

[@NavaNoidGMD]

Glad you guys didn't die lol

[@BrianMark1776]

FR everything in Australia is out to kill you. Snakes, spiders, dingos...........

[@pcfllms]

Sharper triangle hills than magnum 😮‍💨

[@ladyche85]

When are you comeing to ride some coasters in the uk

[@tooldtovlogwelch7221]

Really intresting !

[@ultnascarchasefan1039]

I have a question..... How many credits do both of you have?

[@Bushwackerinpa]

Duquesne Incline is in pittsburgh, Pa.

[@triple7marc]

I just rode that the other day lol. The Monongahela Incline too.

[@OneRedRocket]

Angel's Flight is in Downtown Los Angeles

[@themeparkmagic180]

Hi Coaster Studios, of all the different parks you have visited which parks except cedar fair and six flags do you get permission to film on the rides?

[@CoasterStudios]

Every park we visit that we film on ride at, we had permission to do so.

[@themeparkmagic180]

@@CoasterStudios , my question was regarding when you visited these parks in Europe what were the names of these parks that you got permission from. I also wanted to know how you got permission from these parks to film.

[@hainewnumber3963]

I found this ride on RCDB random coaster

[@msharp138]

Angels flight maybe that railroad thing in downtown LA...

[@seminolefantodd4736]

It is. Technically a funicular. www.angelsflight.org/

[@maxhagenauer24]

Are you exited for Columbia tomorrow?!

[@CoasterStudios]

of course!

[@BrianMark1776]

I am SHOCKED that thing isnt running......... I mean........... Have you ever seen smoother transitions? Nope. You haven't. This puts RMC and B&M to shame.

[@eddienhp]

Why is that roller coaster still here? Should it be taken down?

[@triple7marc]

Because it would probably cost a lot of money to remove considering the terrain it was built on. It’s not like it’s operating, so why would it matter if it’s still there?

[@tequila725]

Random Question: Are Tyler and Sarah a couple or just friends/business partners?

[@hiimhorse2375]

Brother that's a Minecraft rollercoaster

[@radbricks8298]

DON"T TAKE IT OUT

[@stoppropaganda2573]

+1

[@thebloodmoonwarrior]

Just wondering why don’t you ever film on the rides you don’t have the right equipment or just don’t want to or not allowed to

[@CoasterStudios]

We do when we have proper permission from the park. A lot of channels film illegally and we don't want to ruin our relationships with the parks by doing that. Plus, it's unsafe. So we only do it when we are allowed to. There is a whole playlist of on-ride reactions if you want to watch them!

[@Onoitsbroko]

Just RMC it. It will be fine im sure.

[@manbearpig900]

You lose so much credibility when you say right at the start "It was pretty dangerous, they lost some sand bags." So????? SO????? Sand bags are to weigh the trains when they are going around the track for testing. If the missing sandbag myth was even true, all that tell us, that is you have no arms or legs, the restrains might not be effective. So no triple, or quadruple amputees, got it. "iT DaNgErOuS CoASTeR!"

[@triple7marc]

The literal reason it never opened was that it failed safety regulations 😂

[@ishitmypantsinacarwheniwas7]

orphan rocker is an amazing name