The Mystery Russian Togo

[roomraider]

Recently a new ride was added to the RCDB called Actpo Kometa (Astra Comet) which is at a park called Maviland in Samara, Russia. The ride drew my attention because it appears to be a clone of the Togo stand-ups that can be found in America and Japan. However I have no evidence either way that it is a Togo or a knock off.

It runs a sit down train which while odd is not unique as the Star Jet at Washuzan Highland also runs one (albeit backwards).

The fact this ride has flown under the radar for so long is in itself interesting. And it appears to have a bit of history as the rides control booth caught fire in February 2012. The ride has since been fixed and is running again and both On and Offride videos of the ride can be found here and here.

Below is a collection of picture I have dug up of the ride. The question is is it really a Togo? and if so was it relocated? I suspect it is a Togo since if it looks like a Togo and has the layout of a Togo it probably is a Togo. But I can't be sure, anyone have any ideas?



Sources: VHCoasters via Samara KP & Travel Drom

 

[Hyde]

Thanks for studying up on this surprise Togo roomraider. I always find it so fascinating when larger roller coasters such as this go "amiss."

It would appear to be Togo, especially in the train construction and layout.

 

[BBH]

The standing-and-sitting train combos aren't all that unique on TOGOs, there are several in Japan with such a configuration.

Between the layout, the track/element shaping, and the train design (but also the copious amounts of unnecessary catwalks) I'd say that this is a TOGO.


Posted while reading your mind.

 

[roomraider]

The standing-and-sitting train combos aren't all that unique on TOGOs, there are several in Japan with such a configuration.

Between the layout, the track/element shaping, and the train design (but also the copious amounts of unnecessary catwalks) I'd say that this is a TOGO.


Posted while reading your mind.

Well there are 2 which run both train types at the same time (Yomiuriland and Washuzan Highland).

But this one has no stand-up train. Its almost certainly a Togo its just odd it flew under the radar for so long.
I'm willing to bet it was relocated from somewhere but where and when I have no idea.

 

[BBH]

Whoops, sorry, thought that for some reason I saw a stand up train. But yeah, the sit down train does look very TOGO ish.


Posted while reading your mind.

 

[roomraider]

Sorry for digging this up 3 years later but there is shock horror an update

It has always troubled me that it clearly came from somewhere and didn't originally come from Maviland which opened in 2002 but I've never been able to track down where.

Today a lot of searching and a fair bit of luck lead me to discover the ride's original location.

The ride originally operated in the Russian city of Tula at the sweetly named Metalworkers' Palace. The ride operated from the early 1990s until 2000 when the ride shut down and was eventually moved to Maviland either in 2001 or 2002. Metalworkers' Palace also closed itself in 2003 following a fire and now sits home to a sports complex.

Below are a couple of pictures of the ride operating in Tula during its final season in 2000.

 

[Hixee]

Bravo!

Where on earth did you start tracking that down?

 

[roomraider]

Bravo!

Where on earth did you start tracking that down?

So I'm currently offshore working and the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) has been down for maintenence my whole shift so far. Huzzah no work for me.

I took the spare time to look into a small ride I found in Belarus yesterday which i needed an exact location for before I send it over to Duane at the RCDB.
At one point i accidentally typed Woods Roller Coaster (in russian) into google since then I've fallen down a rabbit hole of small Russian parks. While composing a rather long list to get up onto the DB. (Currently up to 9 missing parks). This one popped up somewhere along the journey. Couldn't believe my luck as I wasn't specifically searching for it for once.
I know how much Duane loves adding endless Zyclon's, Wild Mice and Wacky Worm's. He is going to be thrilled

perhaps the strangest thing about this Togo is it is mentioned that it was bought by a NGO called Тулачермет (Tulachermet) from Japan for this park. That seems like a strange setup.

 

[Hixee]

You're such a dork. <3

Please keep up the good work!

 

[Mysterious Sue]

Admirable sleuthing! Really going for those end of year awards ;p

 

[roomraider]

I'll take dork

I did also find this gem yesterday. Perhaps my favourite ever roller coaster car figure head.

 

[Mysterious Sue]

That's...I just need that in my life. Is that the one you found in Belarus?

 

[roomraider]

That's...I just need that in my life. Is that the one you found in Belarus?

Afraid this one is no more. It was in Kamenogorsk in Kazakhstan at Metallurg Park. It's been gone a while it seems. Looks like that's probably a good thing.

The Belarus one is brand new and available for your riding pleasure though if you want to goto Zhiliber Park in Grodno.

 

[Mysterious Sue]

I really want to go one day. Mostly, just so I can sing 'I love Belarus' and then leave again.

 

[TilenB]

I'll take dork

I did also find this gem yesterday. Perhaps my favourite ever roller coaster car figure head.
View attachment 1964

Oh, I remember finding this photo a while ago. I believe rcdb had the coaster down as an Analog looper, but that was only based on satelite imagery. This one is a Pax Magic Steed and I believe the unit in Moscow's Gorky Park also had the same trains (there could be more, I guess).

 

[Hyde]

This is amazing. Where do you dig up this scum and villainy?

 

[TilenB]

A bit of a necrobump, but the ride has now been sitting abandoned since 2019 and is reportedly on sale for around $169k.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rollercoasters/s/5HWINKSy4c

Safe to say I'm not feeling particularly hopeful on this one ever running again.

EDIT: @roomraider, how sure are you that the coasters in Tula and Samara were indeed the same ride? A lot of online sources that I could dig up claim that Maviland and the coaster opened in 1996.

There's also this Instagram video dated from 1999 showing the ride in action

В городе Самара on Instagram: "🎢 Американские Горки в Парке Дружбы (Самара 1999г.) #самара #вгородесамара #90е #дети90 #дети90х😎 #самарагород #самарасити #самараград"

128 likes, 4 comments - vgorodesamara on March 31, 2024: "🎢 Американские Горки в Парке Дружбы (Самара 1999г.) #самара #вгородесамара #90е #дети90 #дети90х😎 #самарагород #самарасити #самараград".

www.instagram.com

And on the topic of the Tula coaster, I've found this article from 2018 that says the ride opened on the 18th of July 1993 and was manufactured by a local company called "Podolsk Machine-Building Plant" under Togo's license.

18 июля: 25 лет назад в Туле открыли американские горки

Тульские тайны: Этот день в истории города

myslo.ru

 

[TogoWailer05]

Hello, I'm the reddit person. I shall congratulate roomraider on finding actually 2 TOGOs! As stated in my post Tula one and Samara one are two separate ones opened at the same time, with same layout. Will work on finding photos of them in their prime, as both of them are now defunct

 

[TPoseOnTantrum]

Astro Comet is now being dismantled. Very different from demolished, seems like they're aiming to renovate it;




Source

 

[Pokemaniac]

Having followed recent turns of events in Russia, I think they'll probably slap the coaster parts onto a defunct post van as makeshift armour, then send it to the front.