Batman & Robin: The Chiller
| Batman and Robin: The Chiller | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Chiller's main, and most distinguishing element | |||
| Six Flags Great Adventure | |||
| Park section | Movietown | ||
| Coordinates | 40°08′12.16″N 74°26′30.75″W / 40.1367111°N 74.4418750°W | ||
| Status | Removed | ||
| Opening date | 1997/1998 | ||
| Closing date | June 28 2007 | ||
| Cost | $15,000,000 USD | ||
| General Statistics | |||
| Type | Steel – Launched – Shuttle – Dueling | ||
| Manufacturer | Premier Rides | ||
| Designer | Werner Stengel | ||
| Model | Dueling LIM Shuttle Loop Coaster | ||
| Track layout | Dueling | ||
| Lift/launch system | LIM Launch track | ||
| Batman | Robin | ||
| Height | 200 ft (61.0 m) | 200 ft (61.0 m) | |
| Drop | 140 ft (42.7 m) | 105 ft (32.0 m) | |
| Length | 1,137 ft (346.6 m) | 1,229 ft (374.6 m) | |
| Speed | 70 mph (112.7 km/h) | 70 mph (112.7 km/h) | |
| Inversions | 1 (2) | 2 (4) | |
| Duration | 0:32 | 0:48 | |
| Max vertical angle | 90° | 90° | |
| Acceleration | 0 − 70 mph in 4 seconds | 0 − 70 mph in 4 seconds | |
| G-force | 5 | 5 | |
| Capacity | 1360 riders per hour | ||
|
Batman and Robin: The Chiller at RCDB Pictures of Batman and Robin: The Chiller at RCDB | |||
Batman & Robin: The Chiller was a sit down multiple dual track looping shuttle roller coaster that operated at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey briefly in 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007. Its been announced that the ride will either be removed and either sold or dismantled for scrap metal. It was designed by Premier Rides.
The ride
This unique roller coaster used a LIM launch system that propels the trains both forwards and backwards on two separate tracks at 70 mph in 4 seconds. Due to the amount of power used by the LIMs, a train could only be launched after the other train cleared the LIMs on the spike. Batman was launched up an inside top hat inversion reaching 140 ft. It then went through a banked inclined S-curve (formerly a zero-g roll) and then repeated the entire process in reverse. Robin had a similar track layout, except it had a cobra roll instead of a top hat. Because of the differentiating heights in the main elements (and therefor the speed required to return through the course) Batman had 14 LIMs on the spike while Robin only had 8.
History
In 1996, Six Flags Great Adventure announced that they would be adding a new roller coaster in 1997 bringing their coaster count back up to seven. It was then determined that the coaster would be a LIM Launched dual tracked shuttle coaster. It's name would be "Batman & Robin: The Chiller". One track would be called Batman and the other Robin. The coaster would be located in "Movietown" across from Batman The Ride, Stuntman's Freefall, and "The Batman Stunt Show Arena". It would be located next to "Movietown Water Effect" water ride.
After several delays, the coaster opened briefly in June of 1997 before shutting down due to further technical difficulties. It opened full time in April of 1998. The coaster was popular, regardless of the fact that due to the shoulder restraints, that the ride was extremely painful at times.
Ride modifications and changes
In September 2001 the Robin track got lap bars and the shoulder restraint was removed. In 2002, the shoulder restraints were replaced by lap bars on Batman track side. Both operated with lap bars by June 2002. The result was a slightly smoother ride and a far less painful ride.
The original ride layout used to have a zero-g roll after the ride's first 2 main elements. Batman would come out of the top hat and Robin would come out of the Cobra Roll and they'd both go through a roll then continue up the 200ft. spike, then go through it backwards.
In December and into January 2007, during the off season, both Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride. The rolls were a problem because if the spike's LIMs failed, the train would occasionally become jammed upside-down in between them (among other speculated reasons for the rolls removal that are unknown at this time). The rolls were replaced by a slightly banked inclined S-curve. Batman's train had its shells painted red so Robin could be ready to open first before Batman. This was done because Robin is more reliable than Batman and the track for Robin was completed first on March 13. It opened on April 7. Batman's track was fully constructed between April 16 and April 20, while the park was closed. Three cars of the old Robin train (the one involved in the accident) have been repaired.
As of September 21 2007 the Chiller is being deconstructed and will no longer thrill guests at Great Adventure. Despite attempts to fix the ride once and for all and open it once again in 2008, time has run out and the coaster has apparently become nothing more than a money pit.
Ride timeline
During the 1997 season, Chiller opened but closed down shortly after due to technical difficulties.
During the 1998 season, Chiller reopened where dual launches ended due to power shortages.
During the 2001 season, Robin got lap bars. Robin ran most of the season while Batman did not.
During the 2002 season, Batman got lap bars. Batman and Robin both ran most of the season.
During the 2004 season, the LIMs on the Robin sides spike failed causing the train to become stuck upside down in the Zero G roll. The cause for the LIMs' failure is still unknown. The Batman side also was closed for a majority of the season. Chiller was also repainted before the season began.
During the 2005 season, Batman did not operate at all due to problems with the LIMs on the spike. Robin's side operated most of the season.
During the 2006 season Batman reopened and ran on and off until June 2, 2006, when a wheel bogie on the third car of the Robin train suffered a mechanical malfunction. While the specifics to what caused the malfunction are still unknown to most people, it has been reported that the train came to a halt on the lowest part of the track (between the Cobra Roll and Zero-G roll) after the launch. This problem is speculated to have happened because of wheel modifications that Six Flags made on Chiller as well as the two Mr. Freeze coasters. Although the train was loaded, no one was seriously injured and all riders were evacuated. Both sides remained closed for the rest of the season.
During the 2007 season, the Zero-G Rolls were removed from the ride and replaced with banked hills. Robin's hill was put in first in March, and then Batman's was put in second in April. Batman's train was painted red so that Robin could use it, because Robin is more reliable than Batman. The Robin side opened April 7th and ran until June 28th where it was closed for the rest of the year. The Batman side did not run at all. Because of all of the problems the coaster has and the numerous failed attempts to fix the coaster, Six Flags has decided to demolish the ride.
Closing
The latest rumors that Batman & Robin: The Chiller will be removed and dismantled at the end of the 2007 season have been comfirmed. Several park employees state that the coaster has been damaged beyond economic repair. The control room and LIM room wires had been cut, anticipating this closure. Several coaster and Great Adventure fan sites had stated that this will likely happen. Until the third week of September of 2007, park management stated that they were keeping their options open and they hope to have Chiller up and running for the 2008 season. On September 18, 2007, however, it was announced that Chiller will indeed be closed and removed from the park. Removal began that same week. As of September 21st, 2007, pieces of the track have already been removed and the rest of the ride is to be dismantled soon.