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Regina reborn
Park World reports on how Great Coasters International Inc. worked its magic at Tobu Zoo to transform the highly popular wooden coaster Regina into the new and improved Regina II
From its headquarters in Pennsylvania in the United States, Great Coasters International Inc. (GCII) has been designing and building the fastest and smoothest wooden coasters all over the world since its formation in 1994. The coaster company is also widely known for its incredible wooden coaster refurbishment work, which sees the business restoring some of the most iconic wooden coasters across the globe. And this time, GCII has undertaken the task of refurbishing Regina, the wooden roller coaster at Tobu Zoo in Japan. Regina, which has now been renamed Regina II (owing to just how extensive
the repair and replacements of parts was) was originally built in 2000 by Intamin. The wooden coaster has delighted countless visitors with its long, thrilling track and exciting turns. At the time Regina was built, much was still being learned about how to
properly design and construct long-lasting, low-maintenance wooden roller coasters. After years of wear and tear, the coaster was in need of a complete overhaul in order to continue providing a safe, enjoyable, and memorable ride for guests. GCII, renowned the world over for its expertise in restoring wooden
coasters back to their former glory, was brought in to tackle the task. The company’s team of engineers and mechanics carefully examined every inch of the coaster, looking for areas that needed repair or replacement. One of the major upgrades that GCII implemented involved replacing
sections of the wooden track with IPE (a dense wood from Brazil) and #1 dense Southern Yellow Pine. This means that the new track not only provides a smoother ride for guests, but it also means that the overall safety of the coaster has been much improved.
A brand-new ride In addition to the track replacement, GCII also made extensive repairs to Regina’s support structure and wood framework, while adding a new control system and braking system. GCII has also provided Tobu Zoo with new queue
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gates (which were not there before) and new GCII Millennium Flyer trains. These renovations have not only improved the coaster’s functionality but have also rejuvenated its appearance, making it look like a brand-new ride. After months of work, the refurbished Regina II at Tobu Zoo is now open to the public, giving visitors the opportunity to experience this classic coaster in a whole new way. The coaster’s recent refurbishment has not only extended its lifespan, but it has also demonstrated GCII’s ability to deliver high-quality refurbishments that provide a safe and thrilling ride for all guests. In short, the renovation of Regina II at Tobu Zoo has been a great success, thanks to the skilled work of GCII. With the company’s expertise and dedication to providing the best roller coaster experiences, many more iconic coasters can be expected to continue to thrill visitors for years to come.
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