Friday 13th March 2009
Thorpe Park invited Annual Pass Holders to the park today to preview the new Saw The Ride attraction. The theming inside and around the area is stunning and beyond anything ever seen at Thorpe Park Resort before. Actors could also be seen at the park entrance and around the Saw Plaza during the day.
Friday 6th February 2009
News broadcasts can’t stop talking about it, children are loving it and it stopped me flying to Edinburgh - that’s right, snow! I didn’t imagine I would be beginning my update with talk of the freezing weather again but it’s hard not to when, as the morning broke over SAW - The Ride on Monday, the track was blanketed in a light covering of snow. It didn’t stop T.G. Cruse travelling all the way up from Andover though. They were on site bright and early and ride commissioning even started up again in the afternoon. London may have ground to a halt but there was still a buzz of activity at THORPE PARK.
Things are moving along nicely now. We have all 8 ride cars on the track and Gerstlauer and the Park engineers began running them on Tuesday 20th January. So far they have already completed more than 250 test runs as part of the main commissioning of the ride.
Steel work at the entrance to the queue line has also been installed and is awaiting signage, and about half of the paving for the whole SAW - The Ride area has been laid, but obviously the snow makes this job a little difficult. We’ve also erected the retail structure and ride photo booth. They are both now waiting to be themed and fitted.
As well as all this we’ve fitted a lot of the internal theming now. Atmospheric lighting is being installed and props are being put in place inside the station building. Even though I can’t tell you what they are, you are going to love them! Sorry, I don’t mean to tease!
Things are moving along nicely now. We have all 8 ride cars on the track and Gerstlauer and the Park engineers began running them on Tuesday 20th January. So far they have already completed more than 250 test runs as part of the main commissioning of the ride.
Steel work at the entrance to the queue line has also been installed and is awaiting signage, and about half of the paving for the whole SAW - The Ride area has been laid, but obviously the snow makes this job a little difficult. We’ve also erected the retail structure and ride photo booth. They are both now waiting to be themed and fitted.
As well as all this we’ve fitted a lot of the internal theming now. Atmospheric lighting is being installed and props are being put in place inside the station building. Even though I can’t tell you what they are, you are going to love them! Sorry, I don’t mean to tease!
Friday 9th January 2009
Christmas is over and I’ve still got turkey sandwiches for lunch! Not, that I’m getting that much time to eat as we’re even busier on site this year than we were in 2008 - and we’re only 9 days into January.
THORPE PARK got a fantastic early Christmas present from Gerstlauer when we received a delivery of 4 fully themed ride cars. Obviously we were all extremely excited, well it was better than the usual socks that I get in my stocking, and put one straight on the track for a one-off test run on a rainy 13th December (the car that is not my Christmas socks!). What can I say…no really what can I say, it went round!
As I said we’ve been extremely busy recently. The installation of the compressor and pipework, which will help control the brakes and internal theming, is complete, and on the subject of theming, I can confirm that the main elements of internal theming are all now fitted and being tuned and dressed ready to scare you senseless when the ride opens. We’ve also fit two huge industrial fans which can be seen both inside and outside the station building and the disabled lift has been installed and commissioned.
Over Christmas, paving and posts were laid ready for the queue lines and we’ve almost completed construction of the main bridge entrance and water channel that will create SAW - The Ride’s unique island setting. Foundations for the ride shop have started to be laid and CCTV and audio/visual equipment is now being fitted both internally and externally.
And all this has been happening while the lakes, ground and water pipes have been freezing around us. I’m not sure how T. G. Cruse, our main contractor, have managed to work at all on the site over Christmas and New Year but they did and have done a great job in such challenging conditions. Let’s hope the weather warms up a bit soon.
THORPE PARK got a fantastic early Christmas present from Gerstlauer when we received a delivery of 4 fully themed ride cars. Obviously we were all extremely excited, well it was better than the usual socks that I get in my stocking, and put one straight on the track for a one-off test run on a rainy 13th December (the car that is not my Christmas socks!). What can I say…no really what can I say, it went round!
As I said we’ve been extremely busy recently. The installation of the compressor and pipework, which will help control the brakes and internal theming, is complete, and on the subject of theming, I can confirm that the main elements of internal theming are all now fitted and being tuned and dressed ready to scare you senseless when the ride opens. We’ve also fit two huge industrial fans which can be seen both inside and outside the station building and the disabled lift has been installed and commissioned.
Over Christmas, paving and posts were laid ready for the queue lines and we’ve almost completed construction of the main bridge entrance and water channel that will create SAW - The Ride’s unique island setting. Foundations for the ride shop have started to be laid and CCTV and audio/visual equipment is now being fitted both internally and externally.
And all this has been happening while the lakes, ground and water pipes have been freezing around us. I’m not sure how T. G. Cruse, our main contractor, have managed to work at all on the site over Christmas and New Year but they did and have done a great job in such challenging conditions. Let’s hope the weather warms up a bit soon.
Friday 12th December 2008
It’s that time of year when ice starts to cover the lakes around THORPE PARK and people are panic buying all their Christmas presents from Woolworths! And as the festivities fast approach we have been extremely busy on site. CCR’s track is now fully complete and ready to run under the watchful eye of SAW - The Ride as it travels through ‘Area 2′, in which the landscape is now finished.
The theming has commenced - that’s what a lot of people have been waiting to hear! The internal theming…well you’ll just have to wait and see - sorry. But, if you look at the ride from the A320 (or on certain enthusiast forums!), you’ll be able to see how much of the external building theming has already been done. With the corrugated iron sheets and timber having been installed; sandblasting is ongoing; rendering is complete; and the ‘themers’ have started their artwork.
This week we have also seen the arrival and installation of the ‘head-chopper’ effect at the bottom of the 100º drop. We’ve always stated that this ride will not be for the faint-hearted, but for those brave enough - seeing the circular saws from the top will not be the time for them to lose their head!
The internal cladding of the walls and electrical systems continue and the creation of the control and baggage rooms has started. Gerstlauer are currently back on site checking the brakes, electrical and pneumatic installations prior to the commissioning period, due to start in January.
The theming has commenced - that’s what a lot of people have been waiting to hear! The internal theming…well you’ll just have to wait and see - sorry. But, if you look at the ride from the A320 (or on certain enthusiast forums!), you’ll be able to see how much of the external building theming has already been done. With the corrugated iron sheets and timber having been installed; sandblasting is ongoing; rendering is complete; and the ‘themers’ have started their artwork.
This week we have also seen the arrival and installation of the ‘head-chopper’ effect at the bottom of the 100º drop. We’ve always stated that this ride will not be for the faint-hearted, but for those brave enough - seeing the circular saws from the top will not be the time for them to lose their head!
The internal cladding of the walls and electrical systems continue and the creation of the control and baggage rooms has started. Gerstlauer are currently back on site checking the brakes, electrical and pneumatic installations prior to the commissioning period, due to start in January.
Sunday 23rd November 2008
Construction on Saw The Ride continues with the station building now fully enclosed with just the sides left to go on. It would also appear that all of the track is now complete! Posters can also be seen around the park advertising the new rollercoaster.
