Twist Coaster Robin
Twist Coaster Robin (Japanese: ツイストコースター ロビン) was a steel roller coaster at Yomiuriland amusement park near Tokyo, Japan. The coaster was noteworthy for its steeper-than-vertical first drop of 93 degrees.[1] It is also one of two S&S coasters to have run for less than a week, the other being Ring Racer.
| Twist Coaster Robin | |
|---|---|
 A diagram of the ride | |
| Yomiuriland | |
| Location | Yomiuriland |
| Coordinates | 35.625317°N 139.519394°E |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 19 March 2014 |
| Closing date | 19 March 2014 |
| Cost | ¥450 million |
| Replaced by | Hashibiro GO! |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Sansei Technologies |
| Designer | S&S Worldwide |
| Model | El Loco |
| Height | 62.3 ft (19.0 m) |
| Length | 1,026.9 ft (313.0 m) |
| Speed | 38.5 mph (62.0 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Max vertical angle | 93° |
| G-force | 3.9 |
| Trains | a single car. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 4 riders per train. |
| Twist Coaster Robin at RCDB | |
Description
Twist Coaster Robin was a custom installation of the El Loco roller coaster model.[2] The coaster was built by a collaboration between Sansei Technologies[1] and S&S Worldwide (the usual manufacturer of El Loco coasters, and of whom Sansei Technologies is a majority owner).[2][3] The coaster featured two inversions: an inline twist and a dive loop.[1] In addition, the coaster had a helix and an unusual element known as a "reverse-cant curve", intended to give riders the feeling that they will be thrown off of the coaster. Park guests could see the Shinjuku skyline when riding Twist Coaster Robin.[4] The coaster had single-car trains, each of which had four riders in two rows of two.[1]
History and incidents
The construction of Twist Coaster Robin cost a total of 450 million yen, which a Yomiuriland spokesperson called "the largest investment on a single attraction (in the park) since 1997".[4] The grand opening for Twist Coaster Robin occurred on 19 March 2014—the 50th anniversary of Yomiuriland's opening.[5]
On the same day that Twist Coaster Robin opened, two coaster cars collided. Although no riders were hurt, the park suspended operation of the coaster.[6] Roller Coaster DataBase notes that the coaster only operated in March 2014. It was removed from the park in 2016.[1]
References
- Marden, Duane. "Twist Coaster Robin (Yomiuriland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- "Special" (PDF). Kirmes & Park Revue (English ed.) (200): 96. March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- Seifert, Jeffery (May 2014). "2014 International Park Preview" (PDF). Amusement Today: 9. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- "Theme parks go all out with new attractions as economy picks up". Nikkei Asian Review. Tokyo: Nikkei Inc. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- "Yomiuri Rando ni, kaien50 shūnen o kinen shite, shingata rōrā kōsutā 'Tsuisuto Kōsutā Robin' ga debyū!" よみうりランドに、開園50周年を記念して、新型ローラーコースター「ツイストコースター ロビン」がデビュー！ [The Yomiuri Land, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the park, the new roller coaster "Twist Coaster Robin" debut!]. Livedoor (in Japanese). LINE Corporation. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- "Yomiuri Rando de kōsutā ga gyakusō. shōtotsu kega-nin nashi" よみうりランドでコースターが逆走・衝突 けが人なし [No injuries collision and run reverse coaster at Yomiuri Land]. Asahi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun Company. 20 March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.