Runaway Mine Train (Six Flags Over Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Runaway Mine Train |
|
|---|---|
The station of the attraction
|
|
| Six Flags Over Texas | |
| Location | Six Flags Over Texas |
| Park section | Boomtown |
| Coordinates | 32°45′30″N 97°04′07″W / 32.758465°N 97.068487°W |
| Status | Open |
| Opening date | July, 1966 |
| Cost | $1,000,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Development |
| Model | Mine Train |
| Lift/launch system | Chain |
| Height | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Length | 2,400 ft (730 m) |
| Speed | 46 mph (74 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 3:10 |
| Capacity | 2010 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 42 in (107 cm) |
| Runaway Mine Train at RCDB | |
The Runaway Mine Train is an exciting steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. You can find it in the park's Boomtown section. This ride first opened in July 1966, making it the oldest roller coaster still operating at Six Flags Over Texas!
This roller coaster was very important in its time. It was the first of many "mine train" style roller coasters built across the United States. It helped start a new era for steel roller coasters, thanks to the company Arrow Development and its engineers, Ronald Toomer, Karl Bacon, and Ed Morgan. In September 2006, the Runaway Mine Train was recognized as an ACE Coaster Landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, a group that loves roller coasters.
Contents
What to Expect on the Ride
The Runaway Mine Train takes you on an adventure with three different lift hills.
The Journey Begins
Your ride starts with a climb up the first and tallest lift hill. From there, your train travels along the track before reaching the second lift. This second lift is inside a building that looks like a giant rock crusher!
The Ace Hotel and Underwater Tunnel
The final lift hill leads you into a building called the "Ace Hotel and Saloon." This "Ace Hotel" was named in 1974 after John 'Ace' Cocharo, who used to be a foreman (a supervisor) for the mine train ride. After this last lift, the ride drops you into a tunnel that goes right through Caddo Lake! You then emerge from the water just before the ride ends.
Special Features
The Runaway Mine Train uses strong tubular steel rails, similar to those first used on the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride at Disneyland. This coaster has two tunnels, including the famous underwater one. The drop into the 150-foot-long (46 m) curving tunnel under Caddo Lake is the ride's most thrilling part. This was the world's first underwater coaster tunnel! The ride's cars have lap bars that keep you safe, and they can only be opened by the ride operators.
Flooding and Celebrations
Sometimes, after heavy rain, the area around the Runaway Mine Train can flood because it's close to Johnson Creek. In 2016, the "Ace Hotel" part of the ride was decorated with streamers and a birthday cake. This was to celebrate the ride's 50th anniversary!
