The behind-the-scenes tour of Thorpe Park's Ghost Train is a fascinating dive into the complex inner workings of a ride that was once a high-tech horror experience, and how it has evolved over time. Originally branded as Derren Brown’s Ghost Train when it opened in 2016, this attraction underwent a major rebranding in 2023, shedding the Derren Brown theming but retaining the thrills, now simply called Ghost Train. During its transformation, the project was code-named Project Casper,” hinting at its new theme.
The ride now operates with two trains instead of three, as it did in its previous form. The third train, still bearing the original Derren Brown theme and paintwork, sits in the maintenance shed, where it's being used for spare parts when needed. While the two active trains have been fully repainted and rethemed for Ghost Train, the third remains a nostalgic nod to its origins.
The ride's operations involve a two-person team in the control booth, with one operator focused on controlling the ride's movements while the other oversees camera feeds and special effects. The control booth has an additional, dedicated panel specifically for the motion base, which helps simulate movement effects. An interesting technical feature is the set of QR codes positioned along the track, which help the trains determine their location within the layout, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience.
Inside each train carriage, you'll find little cupboards at either end, which house actors dressed as eerie nuns for the entirety of each ride cycle. Though rethemed, remnants of the original branding remain within the carriages, including stickers that still feature London Underground-style symbols, keeping a subtle link to the previous version.
The ride itself was the work of several notable manufacturers—Intamin, Severn Lamb, and Simworx—who collaborated to bring it to life. Fans of the previous version will enjoy some hidden Easter eggs as they pass through the lost property department room before entering the main warehouse. Objects like an old VR headset and a teddy bear, both relics from Derren Brown’s Ghost Train, provide a nostalgic connection to the ride's original form.
The infamous fake shop that riders once encountered at the end of the experience no longer serves its intended purpose but still stands as a vestige of the past. Another throwback in the crypt area, where a demon ominously flies overhead, is a graveyard in the back of the room, with gravestones that feature the names of the creative team who helped bring the rethemed Ghost Train to life.
In an interesting twist, some parts of the ride's infrastructure are visible during the tour, such as the mechanism used in the second scene of the original experience where a train seemed to rush toward guests after disembarking. Though this mechanism is no longer functional, it can still be spotted backstage, providing an intriguing glimpse into the original ride design.
The ride's pre-show incorporates a classic optical illusion known as Pepper’s Ghost, which projects video onto a mirror to make props appear as though they’re moving on their own. Originally, when Derren Brown’s Ghost Train was in its initial design stages, bars were planned to prevent guests from standing up inside the train, though these were ultimately removed before the attraction opened.
The layout of Ghost Train includes a traverser system rather than a traditional transfer track. This traverser allows the trains to switch from one side of the track to the other at both ends of the building, making for an unusual and intricate track layout.
Many signs throughout the building remain from the original theme, including ones with Derren Brown’s Ghost Train text still hidden from the public view. One nostalgic detail for die-hard fans: the old train departures sign, which used to greet guests as they exited the train, can be found lying by one of the emergency exits, a relic of the ride’s former incarnation.
The tour also reveals the level of hand-crafted detail that went into creating the eerie atmosphere. For instance, the skulls decorating the cave leading into Scene 2 were painstakingly handmade and painted. In the pre-show room, the message board displaying departure times and warnings is not a screen but an actual ticker board, lending a vintage authenticity to the experience.
Throughout the queue line and the pre-show area, visitors can spot posters that reference not only the history of Derren Brown’s Ghost Train but also other classic Thorpe Park attractions. These subtle nods to Thorpe Park's past create a layered experience that pays tribute to the park's legacy while still keeping the thrills modern and fresh.
In all, this behind-the-scenes tour of Thorpe Park’s Ghost Train gives fans a unique glimpse into the ride’s rich history and complex engineering, highlighting the artistry, technology, and nostalgia that blend to keep guests on edge.
