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Background
information
Alton Towers is a growing theme park, always expanding. To attract thrill
seekers it must add major rides on a regular basis. Alton Towers release
a major new roller coaster every 4 years and smaller rides in between.
When Alton Towers start developing a new roller coaster it is like nothing
else, they build up the atmosphere for about a year before opening. The
construction of the ride is part of the experience.
What does SW stand for?
SW stands for
Secret Weapon, again as the name suggests, a SW ride is built in secret,
although you can watch construction, the actual nature of the ride is
not revealed until just before opening.
SW1 and SW2 were never actually built, they were planned to be built behind
Corkscrew and on the site of Nemesis and both were arrow 'In-line twist'
rides. SW3 was the ride which gave Alton Towers its reputation in the
roller coaster industry. Built by B&M and given the excellent theme
of a monster by John Wardley, this beast ruled all others out! Months
of marketing and tv advertising kept the public wondering what it could
be and then in the Spring of 1994 Nemesis was let loose, the wait was
worth it!
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even bigger, promised to be a world first ride, the hype was amazing. A
huge hole surrounded by a large steel fence. Throughout 1997 roller coaster
enthusiasts flocked to Alton Towers to see the ride being built. In Spring
1998 Oblivion - The worlds first vertical drop roller coaster was revealed.
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And now the hype has
started again, in 2002 Alton Towers will be opening their next big roller
coaster - SW5. Throughout 2001 many things will be happening to the SW5
area. This site will monitor all progress and bring you up to date with
what is happening. SW5 is going to be built in Forbidden Valley, next
to Nemesis, where the beast once stood. This is a large area and it looks
as if SW5 will be just as good as previous!
John Wardley
John Wardley is Alton Towers' main man behind developing new rides
and turning pieces of metal into themed machines. He started his working
career by designing props and special effects for James Bond and Hammer
Horror films. His first piece of theme park wonder was the upgrade of
the Ghost train at Barry Island, this was such a success that the owner,
John Collins asked him to work on the Wacky Gold Mine.
Tussauds requested Johns help in 1979 to bring movement to their excellent
Waxwork models and throughout the 80's he move through the Tussauds attractions
including Chessington World Of Adventures, developing it from a zoo into
a large park, with rides such as the Vampire swing coaster. In 1990 Tussauds
bought Alton Towers and straight away set John Wardley onto a 10 year
contract to develop the park into a 'world class park'.
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In 1992 he designed
two new rides for Alton Towers, The Haunted House and The Runaway Mine
Train. During the 90's he thought up many new ideas for the park, including
Nemesis, Oblivion, and Hex!
He is currently working on SW5 due to open in 2002! John does not like
to be known as a designer but an 'imaginer'.
Right : John Wardley
at the ECC meeting at Chessington World Of Adventures 2001
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