Please note that Alton Towers Almanac is no longer maintained or updated, and almost all information will be out of date.

For the latest information, please visit Alton Towers’ official website.

Search results - "Driving"
ccfcon060121_08.jpg
The Cred Street Carousel is no longer running due to the Driving School attraction, and has been covered up.
drivingcon060304_artwork1.jpg
4th March 2006An artist's impression of the Driving School. Amongst other things, it shows the car wash and the CrowNav. Note that the layout resembles the current Vintage Cars ride in terms of an indoor section.
drivingcon060304_artwork2.jpg
4th March 2006Another artist's impression of what can be expected - here you can see the lollipop lady and the zebra crossing (with hedgehogs, naturally).
drivingcon060401_01.jpg
A digger has appeared on the Vintage Cars track.
drivingcon060401_02.jpg
The track will be removed as it will not be needed for the driving school.
drivingcon060401_03.jpg
A closeup on the area where the digger is situated.
drivingcon060401_04.jpg
This sign on the fence announces the attraction to visitors.
drivingcon060401_05.jpg
The Hex Disabled entrance, which will need to be re-routed.
drivingcon060401_06.jpg
Looking down the Hex disabled entrance path.
drivingcon060401_07.jpg
The Fabulous Toyshop, which has been unused for several years, will be converted into a Peugeot showroom as part of the sponsorship deal.
drivingcon060401_08.jpg
This Peugeot was sat outside the Cred Street Theatre, complete with "Tussauds Group" logo on the bonnet.
drivingcon060411_01.jpg
The lower end of Cred Street is now completely closed off.
drivingcon060411_02.jpg
Peering through the fence, you can see all the paving bricks that have been removed, stacked up.
drivingcon060411_03.jpg
Spot anything missing from this photo?
drivingcon060411_04.jpg
The answer is the Cred Street Carousel, which used to be situated where the patch of soil is on this photo.
drivingcon060411_05.jpg
Looking closer at the former Vintage Cars area.
drivingcon060411_06.jpg
Work has been carried out next to what was the Hex disabled entrance.
drivingcon060411_07.jpg
A large skip sat outside the building that used to be the Fabulous Toyshop.
drivingcon060411_08.jpg
The Toyshop sign has not yet been removed.
drivingcon060411_09.jpg
Looking at the area outside the Toyshop.
drivingcon060419_01.jpg
From the top of the Towers, looking towards the fenced-off section of Cred Street.
drivingcon060512_01.jpg
Looking down towards the end of Cred Street, you can see the fence surrounding the construction site has been decorated.
drivingcon060512_02.jpg
A less "Word Art"-esque sign now informs guests of what's to come.
drivingcon060512_03.jpg
Some more road signs on the fence.
drivingcon060512_04.jpg
More decoration on the fence.
drivingcon060512_05.jpg
Looking towards where the Fabulous Toyshop used to be.
drivingcon060512_06.jpg
Not much has changed on this side of the site.
drivingcon060512_07.jpg
Looking over towards where the major work has been done so far.
drivingcon060512_08.jpg
Looking across at where the Cred Street Carousel used to be.
drivingcon060512_09.jpg
You'll note that the Fabulous Toyshop sign has been removed since our last visit.
drivingcon060512_10.jpg
The front of the building has effectively been removed, as this will be turned into the Peugeot showroom as part of the sponsorship deal.
drivingcon060512_11.jpg
Looking down towards the gingerbread house.
drivingcon060512_12.jpg
Looking closer at the vehicles on-site.
drivingcon060512_13.jpg
The Sweet Shop, which was only open sporadically in recent years.
drivingcon060512_14.jpg
At the far end of the site, you can see the changes that have been made.
drivingcon060512_15.jpg
You can see footers in this shot - possibly for the "CrowNav"?
drivingcon060512_16.jpg
A closer look at the gingerbread house, which will be utilised again - you can see the track in the foreground goes inside, just like the old Vintage Cars circuit.
drivingcon060512_17.jpg
Freshly-laid tarmac at the bottom of Cred Street.
drivingcon060512_18.jpg
In the middle of the track sections, you can see an old piece of Vintage Cars theming that has yet to be removed.
drivingcon060512_19.jpg
More vehicles on site. The gingerbread house in the distance is to be redecorated for the new theme, if the concept art is anything to go by.
drivingcon060512_20.jpg
The circuit heads towards where the Cred Street Carousel used to be - hence why it needed to be removed. The tarmac has not yet been laid here.
drivingcon060512_21.jpg
The bare patch of land where the Carousel was sited.
drivingcon060528_01.jpg
More work has been done in the area next to the archway that joins Fountain Square to Cred Street.
drivingcon060528_02.jpg
Not much activity on-site today: the contractors are usually only brought in on weekdays.
drivingcon060528_03.jpg
A lone workman touches up the front of what will become the "car showroom" building.
drivingcon060528_04.jpg
Inside, little has changed in the last few weeks.
drivingcon060528_05.jpg
The showroom interior is looking a lot tidier now, though.
drivingcon060528_06.jpg
You can see that more kerbs have been put in place, outlining the circuit.
drivingcon060528_07.jpg
The steamroller sits motionless on the far side of the construction site.
drivingcon060528_08.jpg
Around the back, we take a closer look at the newer parts of the circuit.
drivingcon060528_09.jpg
This section of tarmac was poured several weeks ago.
drivingcon060528_10.jpg
No theming has yet been added to this island.
drivingcon060528_11.jpg
It's very likely that these trees will stay in place, hence the barriers.
drivingcon060528_12.jpg
A close look to where the road heads into the "tunnel", formerly the gingerbread house. The arch on the right has been heightened to match the door on the left.
drivingcon060528_13.jpg
Looking across the site. There's evidently lots of work still to do.
drivingcon060528_14.jpg
More tarmac has been poured, as you can see to the right of this photo.
drivingcon060608_01.jpg
More parts of the circuit have been poured.
drivingcon060608_02.jpg
Part of the Gingerbread House has been repainted blue, we assume the rest will follow.
drivingcon060608_03.jpg
A new structure has appeared over part of the track. Note also that the previously-yellow wall behind it has been repainted white.
drivingcon060608_04.jpg
This could be a starting light gantry, or perhaps just a small bridge.
drivingcon060608_05.jpg
This could possibly be the "pits" area for storing unused cars.
drivingcon060611_01.jpg
The last sections of the circuit have now got kerbs, and are nearly ready for the tarmac to be poured.
drivingcon060611_02.jpg
Brick paving surrounding this section of the circuit have been removed for the time being.
drivingcon060611_03.jpg
The rest of the old Gingerbread House has been painted blue now, and the facade to the left of the photo is also looking much more vibrant.
drivingcon060611_04.jpg
To the left of this photo you can see what looks like a roundabout.
drivingcon060611_05.jpg
Not much has changed at this end of the circuit.
drivingcon060611_06.jpg
Some of the old Vintage Cars theming is still in place, awaiting removal.
drivingcon060611_07.jpg
Looking from the Vintage Cars area towards where the Cred Street Carousel used to be.
drivingcon060611_08.jpg
Another look at the structure that appeared recently.
drivingcon060611_09.jpg
A full view of the newly-repainted Gingerbread House.
drivingcon060611_10.jpg
If you compare this shot to the identical one taken on April 19th, you can see just how much has changed since then.
drivingcon060616_01.jpg
Looking towards the archway into Fountain Square, past the steel structure that appeared a week or so ago.
drivingcon060616_02.jpg
A mini Peugeot 207 in storage.
drivingcon060616_03.jpg
Some bendy traffic cones also in storage.
drivingcon060617_01.jpg
With the proposed opening date of July 17th only 4 weeks away, the construction site is really starting to take shape.
drivingcon060617_02.jpg
A new speaker has been attached to the wall of the old Sweet Shop, presumably for the attraction's soundtrack, or maybe for sound effects as kids drive around.
drivingcon060617_03.jpg
The metal frame has now been covered - speculation suggests this could be the car wash section.
drivingcon060617_04.jpg
A closer look at the structure which covers a small part of the circuit.
drivingcon060617_05.jpg
A bridge is being constructed to allow guests to get from Fountain Square into Cred Street through the archway, rather than having to go the long way around.
drivingcon060617_06.jpg
A closer look at the steps on one side of the incomplete bridge.
drivingcon060617_07.jpg
And here's the other side. The bridge will probably double up nicely as a viewing platform for parents watching their children enjoy the ride.
drivingcon060701_01.jpg
More progress has been made since our last update.
drivingcon060701_02.jpg
Traffic lights have appeared all around the circuit.
drivingcon060701_03.jpg
The bridge connecting the lower end of Cred Street with Fountain Square is now complete. Note also the pole which will be part of the zebra crossing.
drivingcon060701_04.jpg
Speed limit signs next to the bubble wash, which has a tortoise motif on it.
drivingcon060701_05.jpg
Inside what used to be the Sweet Shop, you can see the decor includes more signs. This is likely to be where kids will get their briefing before heading out onto the circuit.
drivingcon060701_06.jpg
A closer look at the sign at the far end of the site, and the bubble wash.
drivingcon060701_07.jpg
Another look at the direction signs.
drivingcon060701_08.jpg
Looking over to the old Gingerbread house, you can see the "CrowNav" under construction.
drivingcon060701_09.jpg
Next to the CrowNav, you can see what will be a "foam wash".
drivingcon060701_10.jpg
A close-up on the incomplete CrowNav.
drivingcon060701_11.jpg
Mirroring similar shots taken in the last few months, here's another look at the construction site from the top of the Towers.
drivingcon060707_01.jpg
The cars, fully decorated, are shown in action in this publicity shot.
drivingcon060708_01.jpg
The area is looking even closer to completion now.
drivingcon060708_02.jpg
These three models have been delivered: a zebra, some hedgehogs, and the Lollipop Lady. Comparing this photo with this concept art shows how closely they resemble the initial drawings.
drivingcon060708_03.jpg
A close-up on the zebra.
drivingcon060708_04.jpg
And a look at the hedgehogs.
drivingcon060708_05.jpg
The bendy traffic cones we saw on June 16th are now on-site.
drivingcon060708_06.jpg
Another look at the cones.
drivingcon060708_07.jpg
Looking inside the briefing room, you can just about make out a sign on the wall saying "No Bumping".
drivingcon060708_08.jpg
Painting of the bridge has begun.
drivingcon060708_09.jpg
The sides and the handrail are brown, while the steps themselves have not yet been painted or otherwise covered.
drivingcon060708_10.jpg
The view you'll get coming from Fountain Square and heading over the bridge into the rest of Cred Street.
drivingcon060708_11.jpg
A look from the opposite side of the construction site.
drivingcon060708_12.jpg
Road markings now totally cover the circuit.
drivingcon060708_13.jpg
The Car Wash building, aka the old Gingerbread House, now has signage up. No further work has yet been done to the CrowNav.
drivingcon060708_14.jpg
The Bubble Wash has more kerbing around it now, and the signage has been decorated further.
drivingcon060708_15.jpg
A look at this side of the construction site.
drivingcon060708_16.jpg
The signs that were previously on the fence around the site have now reappeared on the wall near the Bubble Wash.
drivingcon060712_01.jpg
The wrapping has come off the Lollipop Lady.
drivingcon060712_02.jpg
The hedgehogs and the zebra have also had their covers removed. Note the five mini-207's in the background.
drivingcon060712_03.jpg
The legs of the CrowNav have been painted, and a new object has appeared nearby.
drivingcon060712_04.jpg
Another look at the Car Wash and CrowNav.
drivingcon060712_05.jpg
Speakers are now appearing inside the ride circuit.
drivingcon060712_06.jpg
This is where the "broken" Vintage Car used to sit.
drivingcon060712_07.jpg
You can see some of the decoration inside the Car Wash building.
drivingcon060712_08.jpg
A worker puts the finishing touches to the bridge that connects Cred Street and Fountain Square.
drivingcon060712_09.jpg
More pieces of theming have arrived on site. The Driving School is almost ready to open to the public!
drivingcon060715_01.jpg
The bendy traffic cones are all now in place, forming the slalom section of the circuit.
drivingcon060715_02.jpg
In the middle of a roundabout is a snake with a sign for a face!
drivingcon060715_03.jpg
The car wash has now been decorated with a blue and white pattern.
drivingcon060715_04.jpg
You can also see that turf has been laid on this island.
drivingcon060715_05.jpg
A look inside the car wash building, formerly the Gingerbread House.
drivingcon060715_06.jpg
Looking towards the car wash. Notice the random signs that have appeared.
drivingcon060715_07.jpg
Another look at the snake in the middle of the roundabout.
drivingcon060715_08.jpg
Everything seems complete at this end of the circuit.
drivingcon060715_09.jpg
A close-up look at the sign above the circuit.
drivingcon060715_10.jpg
Some tyres have also appeared on site.
drivingcon060715_11.jpg
A new sign has gone up, due to the Hex wheelchair entrance having been re-routed.
drivingschool01.jpg
drivingschool02.jpg
drivingschool03.jpg
drivingschool04.jpg
drivingschool05.jpg
drivingschool06.jpg
drivingschool07.jpg
drivingschool08.jpg
drivingschool09.jpg
drivingschool10.jpg
drivingschool11.jpg
drivingschool12.jpg
drivingschool13.jpg
drivingschool14.jpg
drivingschool15.jpg
drivingschool16.jpg
drivingschool17.jpg
drivingschool18.jpg
drivingschool19.jpg
drivingschool20.jpg
drivingschool21.jpg
drivingschool22.jpg
drivingschool23.jpg
drivingschool24.jpg
drivingschool25.jpg
drivingschool26.jpg
drivingschool27.jpg
fhm_russell_barnes_2.jpg
night_drivingschool01.jpg
night_drivingschool02.jpg
winter0506_74.jpg
March 4th 2006Vintage Cars, which is now confirmed as being converted into the Peugeot Driving School over the next few months.
winter0506_96.jpg
March 16th 2006Preparation for the Driving School - barriers have been put in place for the fire exits and disabled route to Hex, and a fire exit from the Cred Street Playground.
winter0607_85.jpg
February 10th 2007...and replaced with new 3D models, similar in style to those used in the Driving School.
   
162 images on 1 page(s)
Spacer