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Runaway Mine Train (Alton Towers)

Runaway Mine Train
Runaway Mine Train (Alton Towers) 01.jpg
Alton Towers
Park section Katanga Canyon
Coordinates 52°59′23″N 1°53′08″W / 52.989668°N 1.885612°W / 52.989668; -1.885612Coordinates: 52°59′23″N 1°53′08″W / 52.989668°N 1.885612°W / 52.989668; -1.885612
Status Operating
Opening date 21 March 1992 (1992-03-21)
Cost £1,000,000
General statistics
Type Steel – Powered – Mine Train
Manufacturer Mack Rides
Designer John Wardley
Model Powered Coaster
Track layout steel
Lift/launch system Onboard motors
Height 36 ft (11 m)
Drop 36 ft (11 m)
Length 1,000 ft (300 m)
Speed 22.4 mph (36.0 km/h)
Inversions 0
Duration 1:50
Max vertical angle 29°
Capacity 1062 riders per hour
G-force 2.4
Height restriction 90 cm (2 ft 11 in)
Runaway Mine Train at RCDB
Pictures of Runaway Mine Train at RCDB

The Runaway Mine Train is a powered steel roller coaster made by MACK Rides of Germany. The ride is located in the Katanga Canyon area of Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England.

The train normally makes two circuits for each ride, although on quiet days it has been known to run for three or more circuits. The ride runs alongside the Congo River Rapids, with which it shares a tunnel section. Passengers on the two rides occasionally wave to each other if they pass in the shared tunnel. Passengers must be at least 0.9m tall to ride with an adult, and over 1.1m tall to ride separately.

As of 2013 it is officially the park's oldest roller coaster, after The Beastie was removed prior to the 2013 season.

On 20 July 2006 the failure of a coupling on the train caused it to split into two sections, which then collided in the tunnel. 20 people were injured, 6 of whom were taken to hospital; 4 of the 6 were sent home, and 2 were kept in overnight.

On 6 April 2007 the Runaway Mine Train reopened after being closed for over 8 months. The train was not returned to its full length until the end of June 2007, because some of the carriages were still undergoing refurbishment at MACK Rides.


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