Thunderbolt (Kennywood)

Thunderbolt, previously known as Pippin, is a wooden roller coaster located at Kennywood amusement park near Pittsburgh in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. It was originally built and designed by John A. Miller and opened in 1924. It was later renovated for the 1968 season, which involved a major track expansion designed by Andy Vettel. It reopened to the public as Thunderbolt. It is partially known for being one of the few rides at Kennywood to require a partner.

Thunderbolt
Previously known as Pippin (1924–1967)
Kennywood's Thunderbolt
Kennywood
LocationKennywood
Coordinates40°23′20″N 79°51′54″W
StatusOperating
Opening date1968 (1968)
ReplacedPippin
General statistics
TypeWood
DesignerAndy Vettel (1968)
John A. Miller (1924)
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height70 ft (21 m)
Drop90 ft (27 m)
Length3,250 ft (990 m)
Speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:41
Height restriction52 in (132 cm)
Trains3 trains with 4 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
WebsiteOfficial website
Thunderbolt at RCDB

History

Pippin

In 1924, Pippin opened with trains by Miller and Baker. The original trains were replaced by three Century Flyer trains built by the National Amusement Device Company in 1958, which remain in operation today on the Thunderbolt.

Thunderbolt

The Pippin roller coaster was expanded and partially rebuilt as the Thunderbolt in 1968. Most of the ride was left intact except for the double dip, station, and station turn-around to the first hill which were removed for the addition of the new front helix hills. The four original drops down a ravine were incorporated in the Andy Vettel-designed Thunderbolt coaster.

In 1969, a small "speed bump" hill was removed from the inner helix near the loading station. The Thunderbolt was rated the #1 roller coaster by the New York Times in 1974.

On May 17, 1968, A 15-year old Greensburg boy died after a fall from the roller coaster. The exact cause of death was under investigation but never confirmed.[1]

In 1991, the tunnel located at the end of the first dip was removed, providing for a view of Steel Phantom. In 1998, for Kennywood's 100th anniversary, the headlights on the front of the trains were restored when the trains themselves were refurbished.

In 1999, an accident happened when operators failed to brake the train coming into the station, causing a collision with the train being loaded. Thirty people were injured in the crash.[2] After the accident the headlights on the cars were removed partially due to the vibration of the cars.

Installation of Phantom's Revenge resulted in Thunderbolt being closed for a few weeks in 2001 so that the new ride could be built through the structure near the Turtle Ride. Phantom's Revenge retains Steel Phantom's drop through the Thunderbolt. In 2006, the trains could be seen sporting the famous T-bolt logo on the fronts of the cars where the center headlights had been.

Ride experience

Thunderbolt follows the surrounding terrain with a track length of 3,250 feet (990 m). Its maximum height is 70 feet (21 m), but because of the track layout and the natural ravines, the maximum drop is 90 feet (27 m). Reaching a maximum speed of 55 mph (89 km/h), the ride takes 101 seconds to complete its circuit.

A feature of the Thunderbolt is that after departing from the station, the train does not immediately go up the lift hill as on most coasters. Instead, it goes into the first drop, and the lift hill is in the middle of the ride after the second drop. After the lift hill, riders go through a 90 ft (27 m) long drop. After this drop is a tight bend which results in the rider on the right squishing the rider on the left because there is no seat divider. Kennywood tells guests to have the smaller rider sit on the right to avoid larger riders squishing smaller riders. After this, riders experience several turns and hills before returning to the station.

Awards and rankings
lift hill

Thunderbolt is an ACE Coaster Classic and Coaster Landmark.[3][4]

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year1998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202120222023
Ranking 9[5]11[6]14[7]14[8]15[9]19[10]18[11]22[12]19[13]21[14]19[15]23[16]14[17]14[18]15[19]15[20]14[21]15[22]21[23]17[24]15[25]18[26]19[27]20[28]18[29]
NAPHA Survey: Favorite Wood Roller Coaster[30]
Year 2005
Ranking
4
  • Thunderbolt entrance.
    Thunderbolt entrance.
  • Thunderbolt helix with Phantom's Revenge in background
    Thunderbolt helix with Phantom's Revenge in background
  • Thunderbolt cresting hill in front of Phantom and Pitt Fall
    Thunderbolt cresting hill in front of Phantom and Pitt Fall
  • A view of the signature drop on Phantom's Revenge, which passes over two and under two Thunderbolt tracks
    A view of the signature drop on Phantom's Revenge, which passes over two and under two Thunderbolt tracks
  • Start which immediately goes into the first drop, taken from the first seat before the ride begins.
    Start which immediately goes into the first drop, taken from the first seat before the ride begins.

References
  1. "Death on Kennywood Thunderbolt". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 17, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  2. "RideAccidents.com – 1999 Accident Reports and News". Archived from the original on June 6, 2004.
  3. "Coaster Landmark Awards". Archived from the original on October 12, 2018.
  4. "ACE Coaster Classic Awards".
  5. "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1998. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  6. "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1999. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  7. "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  8. "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  9. "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  10. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  11. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  12. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  13. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  14. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  15. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  16. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  17. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  18. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  19. "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  20. "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  21. "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  22. "2015 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 45–46. September 2015. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  23. "2016 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  24. "2017 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  25. "2018 Top 50 Wooden Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  26. "2019 Top 50 Wood Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  27. "2021 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  28. "2022 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  29. "2023 Golden Ticket Award Winners". Amusement Today. 27 (6.2): 71–72. September 2023. Archived from the original on September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  30. "Member Survey". napha.org.
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