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6th September 2001
 

At last we see steel work at Alton Towers. Much of the station, break run and lift hill, track and supports have now arrived and are being stored on the car parks behind the site. Over the past few days we have seen this structure being erected. It seems the station track is now in place and the initial tunnel is starting to be filled over. Note: any new pictures of the Air model will be loaded with the rest onto the August page.
Here we see parts of the break run and station including drive wheels. The supports have been delivered in a dark green colour and the track has been delivered in a bright green colour as seen on the promotional posters in the August section.

In a few days time this view will be obstructed with steel work. In the background the footers for the first drop and inversion and concrete slabs for covering the lift hill tunnel.



More steel supports soon to hold the AIR lift hill in place.

A reminder that this is no ordinary roller coaster.


A view of the station area. The concrete floor is complete and the supports for the station track are in place.
8th September 2001

Construction work progresses and now the lift hill supports are up. As you can see from the picture on the right the lift hill track is not in place yet, but the walkway underneath is in place.

There have been suggestions that the lift hill track will be dark green like the supports to blend in with the surrounding trees, look out for more information in further updates.

15th September 2001


Station track is now in place.

This view will soon be obstructed by the station building and upper floor shop.


More steel awaits in the car parks ready to be installed

 

The station track seen from the Ripsaw arcades
   
23rd September

The lift hill is now complete, as thought before it is dark green to match in with the surroundings. It is slightly higher than the Nemesis lift hill and progresses from underground, under the Monorail and over the final turn of Nemesis.

The distance between the actual track and the walkways indicates that there would be enough room to stand or sit. It also seems the walk way gets closer to the track as the track gets higher.

The first drop and corner seen from the car park.

The lift hill seen from the top of Forbidden Valley.

^ In the background the first inversion which turns riders from the flying position into the lying position is almost complete. In the foreground the lift hill track just leaving the tunnel.
A close up view of the bottom of the main drop, just after dropping under the Monorail track and before inversion one. A close up picture of the first inversion, the second phase of which is ready to be lifted in the next few days.