Heide Park Colossos retracking (2019)

[Lofty]

Highly doubt it, considering Wicker Man is a very 'British' brand.

 

[CSLKennyNI]

The scaffolding wall has been majorly extended to completely block the view of the final corner of Colossos so it is no longer visible from anywhere in the park, even from Desert Race, Scream or the Monorail.

Pictures from CoasterFriends.de user blindsp_t

 

[balrog]

... But we can still see through it.

 

[Fluorineer]

... But we can still see through it.

It's the worlds largest metaphor for Merlin's advertising strategy. Gotta break at least one world record with this!

 

[CrashCoaster]

And away Colossos goes:-

https://www.facebook.com/

 

[Matt N]

And away Colossos goes:-

https://www.facebook.com/

Before the video appeared, I was genuinely worried that they were erecting a 200ft scaffolding wall to cover the entire ride...

 

[Robert.W]

It is a bit strange though... exactly what are they doing behind that wall? It's a lot of effort (which Merlin aren't exactly known for doing, let's be honest) to hide the retracking, so there must be something else pretty significant being built.. hmmm...

 

[Peet]

Interesting! The tracks don't look like they're in a terrible state. Anyone speak German!?

 

[NeoXIII]

Interesting! The tracks don't look like they're in a terrible state. Anyone speak German!?

Not that much they say really.
Just that they've got the team all working together for this ambitious project and how they're going to replace the track piece by piece (like constructing a model train track).
Though they did mention it's a one of a kind project never done before in the world, which I highly doubt is the case.
Sure other woodies have been retracted completely in one go, if not received even more work (am looking at you, RMC).

 

[DelPiero]

Have they confirmed its a 100% retrack without any changes or could they change the layout? I've drifted through this thread and not paid attention

 

[Ben]

So they're replacing all of the track?

All of it?

As in.

New cred?

 

[Ireeb]

They are changing all tracks and the ledgers below them. The layout will be completely identical. If someone wants it, I can do a translation of the video tomorrow.

 

[Chris Brown]

Can imagine them putting a Zero G / barrel roll in one of the later air time hill locations but that’s about it.

Not convinced they won’t change ANYTHING I think that’d be pretty dumb given they have the opportunity to make minor adjustments and create a USP for marketing purposes

 

[Ireeb]

Can imagine them putting a Zero G / barrel roll in one of the later air time hill locations but that’s about it.
Not convinced they won’t change ANYTHING I think that’d be pretty dumb given they have the opportunity to make minor adjustments and create a USP for marketing purposes

As I already mentioned, he said in the video that the layout will be 100% identical.

 

[NeoXIII]

They did mention in the video that they're replacing the full track piece by piece, but it is 100% identical without any changes.
Maybe that's why they say it's a one of a kind project?
"The first ever complete retracking of a rollercoaster where we literally change nothing at all because we can!"

 

[Hixee]

"The first ever complete retracking of a rollercoaster where we literally change nothing at all because we can!"

Just 'cos it's the first doesn't mean it's good. Please let us not forget they're only having to do this because they didn't take care of their coaster properly.

Also, would this not count: https://rcdb.com/557.htm? Did anything get left behind during that refit?

 

[Ethan]

Can imagine them putting a Zero G / barrel roll in one of the later air time hill locations but that’s about it.

Don't see it happening tbh. Colossos is an airtime machine and the airtime on the last few bunny hops is actually pretty decent, so I'd imagine the shaping and length of the hills wouldn't accommodate a roll. Intamin Prefabs don't ever invert anyway, do they?

 

[DelPiero]

"The first ever complete retracking of a rollercoaster where we literally change nothing at all because we can!"

Hulk?
****ing Merlin.

 

[NeoXIII]

Hulk?
:emoji_zipper_mouth:ing Merlin.

I thought they did change Hulk up here and there? I can't quite remember, though.

 

[NeoXIII]

Just 'cos it's the first doesn't mean it's good. Please let us not forget they're only having to do this because they didn't take care of their coaster properly.

Also, would this not count: https://rcdb.com/557.htm? Did anything get left behind during that refit?

Keep in mind the infamous Merlin phrasing:
"First ever retracking of a wodden rollercoaster of this scale and size". You can market everything as a "World First" if you get reaaaaaally specific... ;D