Expedition GeForce

Expedition GeForce is a steel roller coaster located at Holiday Park in Haßloch, Germany. It is one of the largest roller coasters in Europe and has an 82 degree first drop. The trains travel up to 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) through a course 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) long with seven periods of weightlessness. At its highest, the ride reaches 53 metres (174 ft) above ground.

Expedition GeForce
Holiday Park
LocationHoliday Park
Coordinates49.320°N 8.295°E / 49.320; 8.295
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 18, 2001
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelMega Coaster
Lift/launch systemCable lift hill
Height174 ft (53 m)
Drop168 ft (51 m)
Length4,002.7 ft (1,220.0 m)
Speed74.6 mph (120.1 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:15
Max vertical angle82°
Capacity1300 riders per hour
G-force4.5
Height restriction55 in (140 cm)
Expedition GeForce at RCDB

Until the opening of Silver Star at Europa-Park, it was the tallest roller coaster operating on the European mainland.

Ride information

The ride opened on June 18, 2001 to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Holiday Park's operation, costing approximately €10 million. It has a maximum throughput of 1,300 riders per hour, with two 28-seater trains in operation. The track rests on 209 foundations, which are up to 20 metres deep.

It was constructed by Swiss manufacturers Intamin, which markets this type of coaster as Mega Coaster, in collaboration with German engineer Werner Stengel. Unlike many other coasters, the ride does not employ a conventional chain lift but a faster cable lift with a catch car, very similar to the system used for Millennium Force. It is one of the prebuilt rides in RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and NoLimits.

Ride layout

From the station, the trains ascend the 174-foot (53 m) lift hill and encounter the first drop, which at 82°, makes a 74° right-hand turn. The ride continues with several large hills, which give a sensation of air-time, especially in the rear of the trains, and a number of overbanked turns, before becoming more twisted as the ride runs through woods and over a lake. Just before entering the brake run, the trains negotiate a series of bunny hops, again giving riders considerable amounts of air-time.

Vehicles

The coaster has two trains of seven cars each. Each car seats two across in two rows. The trains are stainless steel with stadium-style seating. Each seat has an individual lap bar in addition to a seatbelt.

Incident

On April 28, 2010 a train full of passengers came to a sudden stop when one of the cars derailed just after completing the ride's first drop. Firefighters evacuated all riders. None were seriously injured.

Rankings
Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202120222023
Ranking 8[1]3[2]4[3]6[4]6[5]6[6]5[7]6[8]6[9]7[10]6[11]3[12]3[13]3[14]4[15]5[16]4[17]5[18]6[19]6[20]6[21]

References
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  16. "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  17. "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  18. "2019 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  19. "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  20. "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  21. "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today. 27 (6.2): 66–70. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
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