Runaway Mine Train (Alton Towers)

Runaway Mine Train
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Alton Towers
Park section	Katanga Canyon
Coordinates
Status	Operating
Opening date	21 March 1992 (1992-03-21)
Cost	£1,000,000
General statistics
Type	Steel – Powered – Mine Train
Manufacturer	Mack Rides
Designer	John Wardley
Model	Powered Coaster
Track layout	steel
Lift/launch system	powered hot rail
Height	36 ft (11 m)
Drop	36 ft (11 m)
Length	1,000 ft (300 m)
Speed	22.4 mph (36.0 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:50
Max vertical angle	29°
Capacity	1062 riders per hour
G-force	2.4
Height restriction	90 cm (2 ft 11 in)
Runaway Mine Train at RCDB Pictures of Runaway Mine Train at RCDB

The Runaway Mine Train is a powered steel roller coaster made by MACK Rides of Germany. The ride is located in the Katanga Canyon area of Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England.

The train normally makes two circuits for each ride, although on quiet days it has been known to run for three or more circuits. The ride runs alongside the Congo River Rapids, with which it shares a tunnel section. Passengers must be at least 0.9m tall to ride with an adult, and over 1.1m tall to ride separately.

As of 2013 it is officially the park's oldest roller coaster, after The Beastie was removed prior to the 2013 season.

Incidents

On 20 July 2006 the failure of a coupling on the train caused it to split into two sections, which then collided in the tunnel. 20 people were injured, 6 of whom were taken to hospital; 4 of the 6 were sent home, and 2 were kept in overnight.

On 6 April 2007 the Runaway Mine Train reopened after being closed for over 8 months. The train was not returned to its full length until the end of June 2007, because some of the carriages were still undergoing refurbishment at MACK Rides.