Shuttle Loop
Steel shuttle roller coaster
title: "Shuttle Loop" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["mass-produced-roller-coasters", "roller-coasters-opened-in-1977"] description: "Steel shuttle roller coaster" topic_path: "general/mass-produced-roller-coasters" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle_Loop" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Steel shuttle roller coaster ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox attraction model"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Shuttle Loop |
| logo | |
| logo_width | |
| image | Greezed Lightnin' (Kentucky Kingdom).JPG |
| imagedimensions | 250px |
| caption | Kentucky Kingdom's Greezed Lightnin' before it closed in 2009 |
| status | discontinued |
| first_produced | 1977 |
| installations | 12 |
| manufacturer | Anton Schwarzkopf |
| manufacturer2 | |
| designer | Werner Stengel & Reinhold Spieldiener |
| height_m | |
| drop_m | |
| length_m | |
| speed_km/h | |
| capacity | 1,300 |
| vehicle_type | Roller coaster train |
| vehicles | 1 |
| riders_per_vehicle | 28 |
| rows | 14 |
| riders_per_row | 2 |
| custom_label_1 | Inversions |
| custom_value_1 | 1 (traversed 2 times, forward and backward) |
| rcdb_number | 8192 |
| :: |
| name = Shuttle Loop | logo = | logo_width = | image = Greezed Lightnin' (Kentucky Kingdom).JPG | imagedimensions = 250px | caption = Kentucky Kingdom's Greezed Lightnin' before it closed in 2009 | status = discontinued | first_produced = 1977 | installations = 12 | manufacturer = Anton Schwarzkopf | manufacturer2 = | designer = Werner Stengel & Reinhold Spieldiener | height_m = | drop_m = | length_m = | speed_km/h = | gforce = | capacity = 1,300 | vehicle_type = Roller coaster train | vehicles = 1 | riders_per_vehicle = 28 | rows = 14 | riders_per_row = 2 | duration = | restraint = | custom_label_1 = Inversions | custom_value_1 = 1 (traversed 2 times, forward and backward) | custom_label_2 = | custom_value_2 = | custom_label_3 = | custom_value_3 = | custom_label_4 = | custom_value_4 = | custom_label_5 = | custom_value_5 = | custom_label_6 = | custom_value_6 = | custom_label_7 = | custom_value_7 = | custom_label_8 = | custom_value_8 = | rcdb_number = 8192
Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have been located in a total of 22 different amusement parks.
History
The first installation of a Shuttle Loop dates back to 1977 when King Kobra opened at Kings Dominion. Two other rides were also installed that year: White Lightnin' at Carowinds and Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (California). Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (Illinois) opened in 1978 and was the last to feature the weight drop launch system. Also that year, Knott's Berry Farm opened Montezooma's Revenge and Six Flags AstroWorld opened Greezed Lightnin' as the first installations to feature the flywheel launch system. A number of installations followed across the world.
Twenty-two theme parks have operated Shuttle Loops, with half of the twelve original installations being relocated at some time. , only five installations are operating, with another one in storage. The remaining Shuttle Loops were either demolished or used for replacement parts on other installations.
Notable installations
- The original King Kobra from Kings Dominion is the most traveled shuttle loop, having operated at Kings Dominion, Jolly Roger Amusement Park, Alton Towers and Hopi Hari.
- Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm is the longest running shuttle loop that is still in its original location. All of the shuttle loops that were installed before it have either been moved or destroyed. Following the closure of Kentucky Kingdom's Greezed Lightnin' in 2009, "Zooma" became the only operating shuttle loop in the United States until Indiana Beach's Shuttle Loop (previously stored at Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World). The ride was closed in 2022 for a major refurbishment and was originally set for a 2023 opening. , the project was halted due to unknown construction issues and the ride is currently standing with its loop and launch track removed. It is currently set for a 2025 reopening.
- Shuttle Loop at Nagashima Spa Land is the only remaining Shuttle Loop operating in Asia.
- The first European Shuttle Loop, Sirocco, was installed in 1982 at Walibi Belgium in Wavre, Belgium. In 1999, the ride was partially covered to reduce noise pollution and the name was changed to Turbine. Turbine closed in 2008 and reopened in 2013 with a new Gerstlauer train, a new linear induction motor launch system and a new name, Psyké Underground. The attraction is now fully covered, making it the first covered Shuttle Loop. The attraction closed again in early January 2025 and reopened in early April 2025 with a new industrial theme and another new Gerstlauer train. The attraction has since been renamed Turbine again.
- The shuttle loop, Greezed Lightnin', that operated at Kentucky Kingdom from 2003 to 2009 was composed of the two Tidal Wave Shuttle Loops from the Marriott's Great America parks in California and Illinois.
- The final new installation was Shuttle Loop at Oyama Yuenchi in 1980.
- Kennywood in Pittsburgh, PA included Laser Loop, a shuttle loop coaster opened in 1980 before being closed and relocated in 1990. It is currently stored at Indiana Beach and Niagara Amusement Park awaiting reconstruction.
Ride
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/WalibiBelgium_TurbineTrain.jpg" caption="The original train and station of Turbine at Walibi Belgium"] ::
Experience
The train is launched out of the station at a speed of between 53 and before passing through a vertical loop and up a 138 ft. Once the momentum of the train runs out on the 70° spike, the train begins to traverse the track backwards, returning through the loop. The train then passes back through the station and goes up another 70° steep spike, which stands at 105 ft, until it stalls again and rolls forward back into the brake run and station.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Amusement_ride_with_vertical_track_loop_-_figure_1.jpg" caption="Figure 1 from Anton Schwarzkopf's patent for the Shuttle Loop roller coaster (patent US4165695, "Amusement ride with vertical track loop"). The image shows the overall layout of the ride."] ::
Mechanics
Anton Schwarzkopf designed the Shuttle Loop in the late 1970s. He filed a patent for the concept in 1978 which was approved the following year. The patent describes two launch systems, both of which were implemented in various roller coasters:
- Weight drop – a number of the early installations in 1977 and 1978 featured a weight drop launch system. This system involved a catch car attaching itself to the train, which was attached to the weight via a cable. When the launch was triggered, the 40 t weight was dropped down a shaft pulling the cable and catch car which in turn pushed the train down the launch track.
- Flywheel - from 1978, all of the new installations featured a flywheel launch system. This system consists of a 6 t flywheel which is spun at over 1000 revolutions per minute. This flywheel engages a drive system, through a system of multiple clutches, that is attached to a cable that in-turn propels the train forward.
Gerstlauer completed an upgrade of Walibi Belgium's installation for the 2013 season. As part of the upgrade Gerstlauer replaced the existing flywheel launch system with a new linear induction motor (LIM) launch system. The company also added a new train. The ride was then completely enclosed and relaunched as Psyké Underground. The flywheel launch system is now displayed in the queue of the ride.
Installations
::data[format=table]
| Name | Park | Opened | Closed | Status | Length | Height | Speed | Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Loop | ||||||||
| White Lightnin' | Gold Reef City | |||||||
| Carowinds | 1989 | |||||||
| 1977 | ||||||||
| 1988 | 863 ft | 138 ft | 57 mph | Weight Drop | ||||
| Greased Lightnin' | ||||||||
| Tidal Wave | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | |||||||
| California's Great America | 2003 | |||||||
| 1977 | 2006 | |||||||
| 2002 | 863 ft | 138 ft | 57 mph | Weight Drop | ||||
| Greezed Lightnin' | ||||||||
| Viper | ||||||||
| Tidal Wave | Kentucky Kingdom | |||||||
| Six Flags Over Georgia | ||||||||
| Six Flags Great America | 2003 | |||||||
| 1995 | ||||||||
| 1978 | 2009Ceased operation in 2009 before removal in 2013. | |||||||
| 2001 | ||||||||
| 1991 | 863 ft | 138 ft | 57 mph | Weight Drop | ||||
| Katapul | ||||||||
| Thunder Looper | ||||||||
| King Kobra | ||||||||
| King Kobra | Hopi Hari | |||||||
| Alton Towers | ||||||||
| Jolly Roger Amusement Park | ||||||||
| Kings Dominion | 1999 | |||||||
| 1990 | ||||||||
| 1987 | ||||||||
| 1977 | ||||||||
| 1996 | ||||||||
| 1989 | ||||||||
| 1986 | 722 ft | 138 ft | 53 mph | Weight Drop | ||||
| MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress | Knott's Berry Farm | 1978 | 800 ft | 148 ft | 55 mph | Flywheel | ||
| Shuttle Loop | Nagashima Spa Land | 1980 | 863 ft | 138 ft | 57 mph | Flywheel | ||
| Shuttle Loop | Toshimaen | 1980 | 2008 | Was set to be relocated to Attractiepark Rotterdam in 2018, but was later cancelled. | 863 ft | 138 ft | 57 mph | Flywheel |
| Shuttle Loop | Ōyama Yūenchi | 1980 | 2005 | Flywheel | ||||
| Shuttle Loop | Yokohama Dreamland | 1979 | 2002 | 920 ft | 138 ft | 56 mph | Flywheel | |
| Turbine | ||||||||
| Psyké Underground | ||||||||
| Turbine | ||||||||
| Sirocco | Walibi Belgium | 2025 | ||||||
| 2013 | ||||||||
| 1999 | ||||||||
| 1982 | ||||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||
| 2008 | ||||||||
| 1998 | 722 ft | 138 ft | 53 mph | LIM | ||||
| LIM | ||||||||
| Flywheel | ||||||||
| Flywheel | ||||||||
| Coaster has been in storage near MacKenzie Park (track) and Larson Manufacturing (trains, flywheel and hardware) since 2006. | ||||||||
| Greezed Lightnin' | Joyland Amusement Park | |||||||
| Six Flags AstroWorld | 2012 | |||||||
| 2006 | ||||||||
| 1978 | ||||||||
| 2012 | ||||||||
| 2005 | 849 ft | 138 ft | 60 mph | Flywheel | ||||
| Indiana Beach | ||||||||
| Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World | ||||||||
| La Feria Chapultepec Magico | ||||||||
| Kennywood | TBA | |||||||
| 2022 | ||||||||
| 1994 | ||||||||
| 1980 | 2024 | |||||||
| 2019 | ||||||||
| 1990 | 876 ft | 139 ft | 54 mph | Flywheel | ||||
| :: |
Incidents
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Montezoomas_Revenge_(Knotts_Berry_Farm).jpg" caption="Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm"] ::
On August 27, 1997, the Sirocco at Walibi Wavre failed to launch at the correct speed. The train went to the loop very slowly and up the spike, to roll backwards. During the backwards passage of the loop, the train halted at the uppermost point, causing the train to get stuck hanging upside-down. The passengers were hanging heads-down for one hour and twenty minutes, only held in place with lap bar restraints. The train was pulled back further down the track with help of the local fire station brigade.
A 20-year-old woman died on September 1, 2001, one day after riding Montezooma's Revenge, the Shuttle Loop at Knott's Berry Farm. She suffered a ruptured middle cerebral artery, and an autopsy revealed a pre-existing condition. The ride was closed for several days while an investigation was conducted. Though state investigators concluded that the ride did not contribute to her death, a wrongful death lawsuit was later filed by her family in 2002. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006.
Notes
References
References
- (1993). "Who's Who & What's What (Part II)". RollerCoaster! Magazine.
- {{Cite RCDB
- MacDonald, Brady. (May 16, 2023). "Knott's Berry Farm delays relaunch of Montezooma coaster".
- (1 November 2011). "Shuttle Loop 1". Schwarzkopf Coaster Net.
- (1 November 2011). "Shuttle Loop 2". Schwarzkopf Coaster Net.
- "Amusement ride with vertical track loop".
- Weisenberger, Nick. (2013). "Coasters 101: An Engineer's Guide to Roller Coaster Design". Nick Weisenberger.
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- Geering, Philipp. (16 May 2013). "Psyké Underground – The new Sirocco / Turbine at Walibi Belgium". Walibi Belgium.
- (September 2013). "Psyké Underground". Park World Magazine.
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- (April 1, 1979). "話題の絶叫機登場 西独製を三精が横浜ドリームに導入 日本初、往復宙返り".
- {{Cite RCDB
- (4 May 2012). "Historic Greezed Lightnin' moving to Cliffs Amusement Park". [[Amusement Today]].
- "Map coordinates 33.610636,-101.834203". Google Maps.
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- Rides4u.com http://www.rides4u.com/view/2056
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- "Unknown, Indiana Beach".
- "Recherche".
- StarParc. "Walibi Belgium – Incident Sirocco 27 août 1997 – Archive".
- Anton, Mike. (8 August 2002). "Knott's Sued in Death of Woman". Los Angeles Times.
- (24 February 2006). "Court upholds dismissal of coaster lawsuit". Orange County Register.
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