Alton Towers Almanac: Gallery: 2006

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ATA › Gallery › Features › Winter Photography › 2006 - 2007

November 19th 2006Looking into the empty Forbidden Valley.

November 19th 2006This section of Nemesis' track is one of the faster parts of the ride circuit, and will be closely inspected along with the rest of the track, as it is every winter.

November 19th 2006You can see the reflection of the vertical loop in the water under the bridge that follows.

November 19th 2006Nemesis and Air will not open to the public over the closed season, unlike last year.

November 19th 2006Closer to Air, you can see that the Nemesis Nosh food outlet is being refurbished. Prior to 2002, it was a Nemesis Gift Shop.

November 19th 2006A closer look reveals that it has been gutted completely.

November 19th 2006From the other side, you can see that only the basic structure remains.

November 19th 2006Some of the theming on the other side is still there at the moment.

November 19th 2006Looking through the fence towards the ride's exit path.

November 19th 2006You can see the scrap metal from Nemesis Nosh which has been dumped in the skip.

November 19th 2006Parts of the food outlet are by the Nemesis brake run, they may well be re-used.

November 19th 2006Ripsaw is undergoing its Winter maintenance checks.

November 19th 2006The main gondola is covered up - this stops rains from damaging the exposed wiring inside the uncovered seats.

November 19th 2006Scaffolding around the two arms that move the gondola allows close inspection for fatigue.

November 19th 2006Parts of the ride lie next to the exit ramp.

November 19th 2006A cherry picker is sat next to Air's first drop.

November 19th 2006One of the Nemesis trains sits motionless inside the station.

November 19th 2006Another look at the train, from the front.

November 19th 2006Nemesis' vertical loop, which will also have to be tested for fatigue over the winter period.

November 19th 2006Every ride in the park must pass a stringent test to be allowed to operate for the following year.

November 19th 2006Air's lift hill and the Monorail.

November 19th 2006A wider view of the Air ride circuit.

November 19th 2006A Monorail train, situated next to the Forbidden Valley/Gloomy Wood path. This is also next to where the main Monorail depot is.

November 19th 2006Duel, another ride which will not reopen until March.

November 19th 2006The Runaway Mine Train, which has not operated since July 20th.

November 19th 2006Rumours are that this may be rethemed to a SingStar karaoke theme for next year. We can only hope the rumours are false.

November 19th 2006Scaffolding around the RMT's first turn, which has been there for some time now.

November 19th 2006The Congo River Rapids' empty water channel.

November 19th 2006The other side of the bridge, with the access platform exposed.

November 19th 2006Looking across the Katanga Canyon lake, which provides the water for the Rapids.

November 19th 2006The entry to Katanga Canyon from Merrie England.

November 19th 2006Speaking of which, Merrie England is totally deserted.

November 19th 2006The Flume's remote-controlled ducks are lined up by the lakeside.

November 19th 2006Like the Rapids, the Flume's water channel is also dry.

November 19th 2006The turn after the Flume's final drop.

November 19th 2006The Congo River Rapids boats can be seen lined up by the path next to the ride.

November 19th 2006Next to the Courtyard Tavern in Merrie England, you can see the information point is being redecorated.

November 19th 2006The path that leads to the Towers.

November 19th 2006Looking into the tranquil gardens.

November 19th 2006Looking across the main lake, towards Towers Street.

November 19th 2006Looking across the lawn in front of the towers.

November 19th 2006Guided tours are being given around and inside the Gothic towers this month and next.

November 19th 2006Ug Land and Cred Street were blocked off to the public.

November 19th 2006In the X-Sector, Oblivion has some scaffolding next to the vertical drop.

November 19th 2006You can see the camera that work is being done on. This takes the first of two pictures that make the on-ride photo.

November 19th 2006The work may have something to do with the "interactive" camera system being brought in for 2007, where you can choose to be tracked during the day and collect a DVD of highlights when you leave.

November 19th 2006Submission, like Ripsaw, is covered up to allow inspections to be carried out.

November 19th 2006Oblivion in the fading daylight.

January 1st 2007New Year's day 2007, and another look at the empty Forbidden Valley.

January 1st 2007Work on the revamping of the Nemesis Nosh food outlet has progressed considerably since our last look.

January 1st 2007No visible changes on Ripsaw, which still has the protective cover on.

January 1st 2007Looking across at the Nemesis Nosh construction from the Nemesis viewing plaza.

January 1st 2007Scaffolding underneath the exit of Nemesis' first corkscrew, to allow inspectors to access the track.

January 1st 2007More testing is being done on the downward helix that follows - this is one of the areas of the circuit that is put under a heavy amount of stress.

January 1st 2007Two more platforms further down the slope.

January 1st 2007An overall look at all the work being carried out on Nemesis.

January 1st 2007Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) has been used on the helix to check for hairline fractures.

January 1st 2007Looking down one side of the Forbidden Valley, towards Nemesis and Air.

January 1st 2007Onto the famous gardens for a chilly stroll.

January 1st 2007The gardens are looking very well-maintained.

January 1st 2007Across the other side of the valley, looking across towards the conservatories.

January 1st 2007Looking to the right of the previous photo, we can see the Gothic Prospect Tower across the valley. If you look closely you can also see the Forbidden Valley Sky Ride station nearby.

January 1st 2007The Hog's Head Grill in Fountain Square, which like Nemesis Nosh is also set to be replaced by a restaurant building.

January 1st 2007Looking towards the entrance to Ug Land.

January 1st 2007Rita - Queen of Speed, which has now been operating for two seasons.

January 1st 2007Next to the Towers, looking towards Towers Street and the park entrance.

January 1st 2007Looking back in the direction of the entrance to Fountain Square.

January 1st 2007Next, into the X-Sector. Curiously, Enterprise's main arm has been locked into position halfway between horizontal and vertical, possibly for inspection purposes.

January 1st 2007Oblivion's drop, which is still surrounded by scaffolding.

January 1st 2007The bulbs are being checked - nice to see attention to detail like this, which has sometimes been lacking over the past few years.

January 1st 2007A look across the lawn towards the towers.

February 10th 2007A very chilly February morning at Alton Towers!

February 10th 2007A new poster in Towers Street advertises the return of the Alton Towers Annual Pass.

February 10th 2007The YourDay shop is being set up opposite Towers Trading.

February 10th 2007The iconic towers in the snow.

February 10th 2007Looking across towards the towers.

February 10th 2007The path that leads to Fountain Square.

February 10th 2007From the same spot, looking down one of the pathways into the Gardens, towards the old Swiss Cottage.

February 10th 2007The electronic queue time board, giving out useful advice.

February 10th 2007Into the X-Sector, looking towards one of Oblivion's ride cameras.

February 10th 2007The mini-tower in the queue line is given a clean-up.

February 10th 2007The Meltdown food outlet is also looking quite polished.

February 10th 2007In Old MacDonald's Farmyard, you can see that some of the old theming for Riverbank Eye Spy has been removed...

February 10th 2007...and replaced with new 3D models, similar in style to those used in the Driving School.

February 10th 2007A new 3D pig can be seen at one point.

February 10th 2007Like the Congo River Rapids and The Flume, the water channel is empty during the winter months.

February 10th 2007At the far end of the area, a temporary fence stops guests from getting near the construction site for the new Dung Heap adventure playground.

February 10th 2007Some more new theming for Riverbank Eye Spy in the form of ducks.

February 10th 2007Squirrel Nutty Ride is open for the Towers, Treats and Trails event.

February 10th 2007From the Courtyard Tavern, looking past the Splash Kart Challenge towards the towers in the distance.

February 10th 2007Looking towards Merrie England.

February 10th 2007The Sepia Photography building.

February 10th 2007The Courtyard Tavern.

February 10th 2007Looking towards the final drop of The Flume.

February 10th 2007The lake surrounding it has completely frozen.

February 10th 2007The theming is looking pretty grubby at this stage!

February 10th 2007A wider look at The Flume's final turn.

February 10th 2007Looking towards the ride's station.

February 10th 2007These ducks have found a melted part of the ice.

February 10th 2007The entrance to Katanga Canyon, with some pay-per-play games in the foreground.

February 10th 2007Time for a look around the towers themselves!

February 10th 2007From the top of the house, you can just about see Oblivion in the mist.

February 10th 2007The Star Garden, looking beautiful in the snow.

February 10th 2007Looking across past the Octagon towards the building that houses the Hex "vault".

February 10th 2007Looking across the rooftop of part of the house.

February 10th 2007On the roof, looking towards one of the doorways inside.

February 10th 2007The queue time board now informs guests of the queue times (or lack thereof).

February 10th 2007Another look at the towers, in distinctly foggier conditions than earlier.

February 10th 2007Another look at the front of the house.

February 10th 2007Looking in the general direction of the X-Sector - Oblivion is there, somewhere!

February 10th 2007The main lake, also frozen in the chilly conditions.

February 10th 2007Looking at the footpath between the towers and Merrie England.

February 10th 2007Looking across the lake towards Towers Street.

February 10th 2007One of the features of the Gardens.

February 10th 2007The Splash Kart Challenge and Courtyard Tavern.

February 10th 2007Next to the Tavern, looking towards Towers Street.

February 10th 2007The Splash Kart Challenge.

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