ATA › Gallery › Features › Access All Areas › Rita - Queen of Speed
Please note that all of the photographs shown were taken with the park's permission. You should not attempt to enter these areas yourself without prior consent.
aaa_rita_01.jpg
 Inside the hydraulics shed, you can see the massive steel drum that pulls the winch cable.
aaa_rita_02.jpg
 When a launch happens, there is a quick and almost voilent noise as the drum spins, and then nothing for a second or so, until you hear the train rumbling above you at 60mph!
aaa_rita_03.jpg
 Looking down the hydraulics shed room. At the end of the room is a computer with software monitoring and logging every single launch.
aaa_rita_03b.jpg
 A look at the screen of the computer with all the launch information, updated live as the trains roar above.
aaa_rita_03b2.jpg
 We move past the viewing window and into the room that houses the drum.
aaa_rita_03b3.JPG
 Looking at the huge structure, with the many pipes sticking out of it.
aaa_rita_03b4.JPG
 Looking at the drum from another angle.
aaa_rita_03b5.jpg
 One of the rooms in the hydraulics shed has this diagram on the wall.
aaa_rita_03c.JPG
 Looking down the Rita launch track, from the back of the loading platform
aaa_rita_03d.JPG
 From the track crossing platform looking down towards the launch.
aaa_rita_03e.JPG
 Looking down the launch from the tubular track.
aaa_rita_03f.JPG
 Another shot looking down the launch from the track crossing platform.
aaa_rita_03f2.jpg
 A slightly lower view of the launch track.
aaa_rita_03f3.jpg
 The catch car is clearly visible in the foreground - it is used to pull the train forward to 60mph in just over 2 seconds.
aaa_rita_03g.jpg
 At the end of the offload platform, looking down towards the station.
aaa_rita_03h.jpg
 Train 2 sat in the station.
aaa_rita_03i.JPG
 Looking down the train full of water-filled test dummies, towards the launch section.
aaa_rita_03j.jpg
 Looking down the launch track from the front row of train 2.
aaa_rita_03k.JPG
 A head-on view of a Rita train.
aaa_rita_03l.jpg
 Another head-on view of a Rita train.
aaa_rita_03m.JPG
 Looking at the train sat in the station.
aaa_rita_03n.jpg
 A close-up of the highly decorative 'bonnet'.
aaa_rita_03o.jpg
 Looking up at the starting lights from the opposite side of the platform to the queue area.
aaa_rita_03p.jpg
 Looking inside the Rita garage from the brake run.
aaa_rita_04.jpg
 Near the end of the launch section, looking towards Ug Swinger.
aaa_rita_05.jpg
 We move forwards a bit and have another look.
aaa_rita_06.jpg
 From the same position, looking back down the launch section of track.
aaa_rita_06b.jpg
 Looking from the control tower at the station platform.
aaa_rita_07.jpg
 Looking from the control tower at the station platform.
aaa_rita_08.jpg
 What the operator can see from the control tower.
aaa_rita_08b.jpg
 The Operator's console in the Rita Control Room.
aaa_rita_08c.jpg
 A closer look at the screen above the Operator's panel in the Rita control booth.
aaa_rita_08d.jpg
 A closeup of the screen on the Operator's console.
aaa_rita_09.jpg
 The announcements console in the Rita control booth.
aaa_rita_10.jpg
 The view of the launch section of track, from the steps by the control tower.
aaa_rita_10b.jpg
 The view of Rita launching, from the steps by the control tower.
aaa_rita_10c.jpg
 The view of Rita launching, from the steps by the control tower.
aaa_rita_11.jpg
 The view the Operator gets of the starting lights.
rita_051101_01.jpg
 The launch of a train, seen from a ride assistant's perspective.
 
39 images on 1 page(s)
Spacer