The Ride
In 1998 Alton Towers pulled the wraps off of one of it's "secret weapons." After a lot of discussion with B&M, they finally decided on a vertical drop coaster. Oblivion was greatly received. With an 87 degree drop, Oblivion is no more exciting than any other vertical drop coaster, but it was the shock value of the new coaster and it's exciting first drop, that makes coaster fans travel from all around to ride Oblivion.
The Experience
Riders board very expensive coaster cars, that seat 16 passenger with 8 people per row. The trains are carried up about 6 1/2 stories above the ground. Then the fun happens. After rounding a banked turn the cars roll to the top of the drop. As everyone expects to go over the edge, a holding brake activates and locks the train in place leaving riders hanging over a black pit. The brake releases and riders plunge straight towards what looks like a bottomless pit. The trains go another 12 stories below the surface, then it speeds into the sunlight and through a banked turn. Then the trains speed into the brakes, and roll back into the station.
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