Ride Profile
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FireChaser Express T
Double launch mine train blasts off at Dollywood
Dollywood theme park, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, prides itself on introducing innovative new attractions, and now it has added to its roster with the debut of FireChaser Express by Gerstlauer – America’s first dual-launch family coaster that travels both forward and backward, making it both unique and appealing
he new $16 million (€11.6 million) attraction, which features extensive theming by Dollywood operator Herschend Family Entertainment, provides an exciting journey for family groups thanks to its 39-inch (1 m) minimum height requirement. It opened to the public on 23 March, ahead of most other US parks’ seasons. “We were looking for an adventure for families with smaller children but one they could enjoy as well,” offers Dollywood president Craig Ross. “We are always looking to tell a story based in the Great Smoky Mountains, and the story of volunteer fire departments and the forest rangers who protected the National Park for us. We were looking for something different and with the help of Gerstlauer we created a dual-launch, forward and reverse family coaster. It uses the best elements of several Gerstlauer classics but adds in new elements like the reverse launch.” “Because of the low height requirement, we were able to accommodate a wide age range,” observes Siegfried Gerstlauer, managing director, of Gerstlauer Amusement Rides. “However, it was definitely not easy to design a coaster layout that children loved, but also had enough thrills to make older riders come back for more. We walked the line between these two ridership groups and feel we have a real winner.” Perched 12 storeys above the park’s Wilderness
Pass area, FireChaser Express features a winding 2,427ft (740m) track. The train is projected from the loading station travelling from zero to 16 mph (26kph) in just 1.1 second. Near the end of the ride, a backward launch from zero to 20 mph (32 kph) in two seconds sends FireChaser Express hurtling back to the station in the opposite direction. “My new coaster has folks goin’ in all different directions, and that’s going to be a lot of fun but it teaches an important lesson, too,” says park icon Dolly Parton. “FireChaser Express celebrates our heroes – firefighters – and it reminds the rest of us that we can all be heroes if we’ll just step up and help others.”
On opening weekend it was obvious people enjoyed “goin’ in all different directions.” “Folks love that it is simply fun,” confirms Ross.
“There are a lot of moments of airtime, tight twists and turns and then the dual launches. They also love the story and the idea that anyone can be a hero, all you need do is volunteer. So far, families are loving it. They are riding, getting off and getting back in line. What more could you ask for?”
Trick track
After the initial launch, a 79ft (24m) lift propels FireChaser Express through a “trick track” section
ABOVE LEFT: Dollywood president Craig Ross MAIN PIC: FireChaser Express is one explosive ride!
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