Alton Towers Near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK
Alton Towers
Near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK
WHAT AFTER NEMESIS? OBLIVION! Sadly, Oblivion is a bit of a disappointment. A short loop starts with the usual drag lift, slow turn, then you're left hanging over the first drop.
The cars take sixteen people, the eight front row passengers get the best view as the car is held, looking down from the apex of the drop. A cloud of fog is generated to obscure the narrow tunnel mouth and because the car is tilted still, it’s hard to see the track that will guide the vehicle. As you drop, the entrance feels so tight you think the car will not fit through, but now in free-fall for about fifty feet, you neatly slide in. The fall continues in darkness as the track gently swings back from ten or twenty feet below the surface to the open air once more.
The ride is very dramatic, the first (and only) drop is excellent, but it is over-with before you draw breath.
Oblivion is built into its own zone, with the usual fridge magnets, tee-shirts etc. All of the pictures presented here were taken of the drop, there's not much else to be seen. The drop is impressive though, whether as observer or rider.
Alton Towers site is www.oblivion.com
Only one pair of raised arms, you'll note!
Observers can get extreemly close to the action.
Teetering on the egde for a few seconds...
It has only just begun...
It's hard to tell whether these two have been on the ride or are just thinking about it.
Ok, the same thing from a slightly different angle.
photos (c) Ruth Knill
this page has more, bigger pictures than the others at this site. we've all gotten faster modems and better screens in the last couple of years -- i hope the download didn't take too long! the pictures were captured from 35mm with a minolta dimage scan dual film scanner.