Expedition GeForce

First departure

The Expedition GeForce [ ekspɪdɪʃn dʒi ː fɔ ː s] (in short: EGF) Holiday Park in Haßloch is one of the largest roller coasters in Europe and was associated with an initial slope of 82 degrees and simultaneous rotation of 74 degrees about the longitudinal axis long time the steepest in Germany.

The displaced by the manufacturer under the product Megacoaster train accelerates to the approximately 1.3 kilometer stretch up to 120 km / h ( average speed 74.6 km / h), with accelerations up to 4.5 g (4, 5 times the acceleration of gravity) and seven Airtimes (phases of weightlessness or negative acceleration, work -1,1 g) on the body of the rider at the maximum. The highest point of the plant is 62 m at the beginning of the runway, of which 53 m to the rail height and 9 m on a rail attached to the flagpole.

The railway was opened to mark the 30th anniversary of the theme park on 18 June 2001 for an investment cost of about 10 million euros. The maximum capacity is 1,300 people per hour, which is achieved with two-car trains and seven cars for a total of 28 people. The train rests on 209 pillars which are established up to 20 m deep; were processed 1,600 tons of concrete, 1,300 tons of steel and 38 tons color.

The web was made by the Swiss roller coaster company Intamin, in collaboration with the engineering firm stalks. The lift system is identical with the American railway Millennium Force, in which the trains are pulled instead of the usual chain with a patented, also called " Catch Car" mentioned steel cable - carriage system. Until the opening of Silver Star at Europa-Park in Rust ( Freiburg im Breisgau) the Expedition GeForce roller coaster was the highest of the European mainland.

The American Richard Rodriguez opened in 2003 on the web to a world record in continuous roller coaster ride.

The track won the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and then again in 2012 the well-known Fan Award " Steel Internet Coaster Poll" and reached already in the opening year 2001, 2006 and 2007, the second in the voting. In 2008, the Megacoaster reached third place. In the, of the U.S. trade magazine Amusement Today, awarded Golden Ticket Awards, the Expedition GeForce sat through eleven times in a row in the category Best steel roller coaster in Europe.

The special feature of the roller coaster is at the heart line twisted, very steep first drop is at the felt on the rear seats of the trains airtime.

Since 2008, the roller coaster is referred to in a joint advertising campaign with radio station bigFM as " bigFM Expedition GeForce ".

On 28 April 2010, there was an incident with several slightly wounded because of a broken axle bolt, which made stop a train with 26 people on one of the hills in 20 meters height. After 3 months break and a detailed investigation of the incident by TUV, manufacturer Intamin and prosecutors the web has the operation resumed on August 5, 2010.

Pictures

The lift hill with his first drop

The First Drop

The big hill