Thunder Looper, Alton Towers.

The chance to stand or sit and watch Thunder Looper racing up and down the track at Alton Towers again. Unfortunately, no riding this time !

[@djavatar68]

Classic!! Such a simple concept but extremely fun.

[@nickreeves4814]

What a fantastic piece of engineering.

[@Tony-450]

I first rode this roller coaster in 1977 when it was the king cobra at kings dominion. It used to pull you up backwards to the top of the lift and hold you at the top looking down for a moment before letting you go flying through the station before the loop and you got a few cycles. What's wild is that this coaster was never completed. It was supposed to be a stand up coaster clone of the king cobra at the sister park kings island. None the less they were both a hit. In the 70s this coaster was a must for thrill seekers and coaster enthusiasts. Glad she's still around giving smiles.

[@djavatar68]

This coaster never pulled you up to start. You are there thinking of another ride called Boomerang.

[@r.d.sussmann9672]

Beautiful. Just beautiful. King Kobra certainly kept her passport up to date. Seeing a Mk1 LaunchingRacer, then seeing a JetStarIII/Jumbo Jet I in the background was so incredible to me. Now THAT is a theme park. Sadly, it is a theme park of our memories.

[@andrewmarshall9309]

Glad you liked it. Yeah and they had a JetStarII in the dark at the other end of the park for good measure too.

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Black holes gone now too...

[@psyclonesteve]

Alton Towers hasn't been the same since !

[@MostlyPennyCat]

psyclonesteve I'll miss you thunder looper... Hyper car acceleration with little to no queue...

[@Bumbaclot213]

I remember this ride when I visited the park as kid in 1990, alongside The Corkscrew and The Mousetrap (which I could have nearly died on, until the belt finally locked in before the drop of the track) - was too scared to ride it, but looks so tame now!

[@jamesphillips5926]

the mousetrap was mental and dangerous

[@fozzieandflup]

Aye I remember the mousetrap was mental - but in a dangerous way!!

[@PRMurphy171]

I'm VERY impressed by the speed of operations with unloading and loading of riders. Nothing seems to move like this anymore.

[@tommycarr8111]

Looks cool! I've only been on an arrow shuttle (revolution) and love that!

[@psyclonesteve]

It was very cool, although the revolution is a great ride in my opinion you can't beat the Schwarzkopf shuttle loop coasters, shame they are so few and far between nowdays ! :-(

[@ilikerollercoasters4757]

The Schwarzkopf shuttle loops are amazing

[@callumporter270]

I agree steve its not been the same since, simplistic but classic Shuttle Loop coaster by Schwarzkopf with an awesome beefy track sound and unlike the revolution it only had lap bars!!

[@abigail3383]

I went on this in the early 90's... loved it... I remember it seeming much higher than it appears here, but after going on Stealth at Thorpe Park perhaps that's why.

[@sixdaysontherun6996]

Legendary stuff

[@Stefanodoagro]

IF someone wants to ride it again, just come to Brazil and go to Hopi Hari

[@MostlyPennyCat]

Vamos Falar de Cavalos? Or Belgium. Brazil would be lovely but Belgium is a bit cheaper to reach. Good chocolate too

[@idkusername4106]

@Lee Claxton what is "Aid victims"? (So you are saying that has people with AIDS in the park?)

[@throttlebot]

I remember this at Alton Towers.... Looks really tame now compared to today's coasters.

[@EastMidlandsVideography]

I would of liked to of seen this still operating at Alton Towers today, Big shame that the locals complaining about it and the ride being higher from the tree lines as chances are it could of still been there today.

[@colinedward3147]

Is that what happened, wondered why it had gone. Was a fave ride and hardly ever a long wait as it was such fast turn over.

[@EastMidlandsVideography]

@@colinedward3147 Alton Towers only have planning permission to build attractions that are not visible above the tree line and the Ropers have always been very notorious for complaining about the park. not only that the noise from Thunder Looper caused the local cows to calve earlier then they should.

[@252Scooby]

Fairly sure it's still alive in Brazil

[@psyclonesteve]

Yes, it's now called Katapul at Hopi Hari ( Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil).

[@InfinityCoins]

+psyclonesteve Im Brazilian and I Love katapul, my favorite ride :) I'm Hopímaniako

[@psyclonesteve]

Your very lucky to have it over there. It was my favorite at Alton Towers ! ;-)

[@InfinityCoins]

+psyclonesteve Currently is thematized by Superman , it is with many problems and technical charts

[@psyclonesteve]

It's such a shame that such a superb ride has so many problems ! :-(

[@Amusementnational]

Pitty it left only 6 years after it opened. Dam locals. I must say that even though the ride is a shuttle coaster, the operations are extremely well done! Very fast! 22 seconds! Very efficient

[@johnbrooks715]

The Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop appears to have quite a high hourly capacity seeing how fast it can unload compared to some other coasters similar in size. Nice video! :-)

[@psyclonesteve]

It was a great coaster with a good hourly capacity and certainly a ride that kept me returning to Alton Towers. The place is not the same since it's removal and I'm glad you like the video, I think we are all very lucky that Anton spent the time recording this and many other classic rides when he could have been riding with the rest of us, Thanks Anton ! ;-)

[@andrewmarshall9309]

***** I got plenty rides in as well Steve I wasn't just a spectator you know.

[@psyclonesteve]

Yeah, I know ! ;-)

[@Filipolis]

How did they even stop that weight used for the launch? And why are there so many empty places? Nonetheless, it looks like it was a nice ride! I have Psyké Underground (indoor shuttle loop) not far away from me, but I can't really enjoy it. And that while others would love to ride it, but they can't.

[@Undercoverelevator212-s2n]

The tower under the spike is filled with air. When the ride is dispatched the air is released, lowering the weight (essentially an elevator counterweight). After it is launched the tower fills up with air which raises the weight and the catch car rolls under the track until it makes its way back to the starting point and reconnects to the train. So in a way it’s a pneumatic launch. Though keep in mind it does precede the S&S Hypersonic.

[@jspesh]

What year was this footage taken?

[@psyclonesteve]

I am not sure but the ride was closed in 1996.

[@djavatar68]

Very quick loading on this ride. It's a shame this park had to build every coaster in a hole in the ground due to height requirements.

[@psyclonesteve]

Anthony Martinez I wish it was still there. It was a lot more enjoyable and a lot less trouble than The Smiler and being built in a hole as you put it is not so bad ! ;-)

[@masterdanmonkeyvideos9070]

Yeah I think that because Alton towers has that height restriction the rides are so much more creative unlike ride in the us where the higher the better

[@raplyricsyt]

You are the only Person sho films the weight drop Launch

[@Rancord123]

Shame I never got to ride it as it was WAY before my time

[@jaacaboujessica9129]

Agora é a nossa Katapul - Hopi Hari :)))))))))))))))))))))) Perderam ela, agr ela é nossa, :P

[@Bumbaclot213]

I could have nearly died on the Mouse Trap in the early 90s

[@omgitzzjoshd8249]

Looks very unsafe and rough as hell think Alton towers is better now I have been on revolution at Blackpool

[@psyclonesteve]

+OMGiTzZJoshD It was a fantastic ride, very smooth and in my opinion apart from Nemesis, Alton Towers best ride. Since it was removed my interest in visiting the park has gone .. just like Thunder Looper !

[@psyclonesteve]

Revolution isa great ride... Thunder Looper was outstanding ! (in my opinion ) !

[@risteardconchuir4065]

Me too, it was Nemesis and Thunder Looper that made the park for me and nothing has topped them yet and probably never will unfortunately!

[@risteardconchuir4065]

Love this footage, loved that ride so much!! Bring back Thunder Looper!! I actually had a dream that they'd brought it back and I was so happy until I woke up and reality hit!

[@jeffosborne5184]

R.I.P Thunder Looper