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Runaway Tram unleashed at Morey’s Piers
Celebrating 50 years on the boardwalk of the Wildwoods, New Jersey, Morey’s Piers has introduced the new Runaway Tram. Paul Ruben reports
70 years ago on June 11, 1949. Originally built for the 1939 New York World’s Fair, the trackless trains take passengers along the two-mile boardwalk while echoing the famed, pre- recorded phrase, “Watch the tramcar please.”
R
“Better than the Flitzer” Representing a total investment of $4 million, the Runaway Tram is similar to Flying Eagle at Legoland, Billund, Denmark. Using a booster wheel lift hill, it climbs 40 feet (12 m) before coasting, twisting, and turning riders along 922 feet (281 m) of track at speeds up to 29 mph. The Zierer Force 280 coaster features one train with 10 two-person passenger cars. It travels the circuit twice, providing an hourly capacity of 430. The attraction design company JRA custom designed the ride’s train and station. To make room for the new ride Morey’s Piers had to move seven rides and completely reconfigured Surfside Pier.
unaway Tram, the new family-friendly roller coaster, pays homage to the Wildwood Sightseer Tramcar, an icon of the Wildwood Boardwalk since it debuted
“The Wildwood Sightseer Tramcar is a beloved sight on
the boardwalk, and it made complete sense to pay homage to this Jersey shore staple as we celebrate 50 years on the piers,” says Jack Morey, second generation partner of Morey’s Piers. “To keep our family business ever-evolving, we strive to create innovative new experiences for our guests that honor the history of Wildwood.” Runaway Tram replaces another Zierer coaster, the Flitzer.
“After over 30 years the Flitzer finally had to be retired, explains Morey. “It was thousands of people’s first coaster ride so this was a very difficult decision. The new Runaway Tram is truly a family ride which meets the majority of our market. People are loving the new coaster because of it’s iconic theming, the three dimensional nature of being able to be under the coaster, and its rider demographic. So far, my favorite quote from guests is, ‘It’s better than the Flitzer,’ which is something we feared impossible 10 months ago.”
L-R: Will, Janice, Karen, Jack Morey
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