roomraider
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In what was very much news to me and I suspect a few others the European Coaster Club's new First Drop Magazine reported in their latest issues that the Infamous Daidarasaurus that ran at Expoland In Japan from 1970 to 2007 actually opened at a 5 track racing coaster before 3 sides were cut later on.
The 5 tracks existed at the 1970 Osaka Expo (which was on the site before Expoland) and lasted at least until 1975 and possibly quite a bit later.
The ride ran from one station and released all 5 trains at the same time but at the top of the lift the rides seperated. 2 cut left and race each other, 2 were slightly taller and duelled each other (These were the ones kept later on) and a 5th track featured less drops and was designed for younger patrons.
If you have the chance I highly recommend you get yourself a copy of First Drop as the magazine has some brilliant shots of the ride running all 5 cars.
But for now heres some images dug up from around the net. Explanation and sources will be found on each picture.
A Satellite image of the Expoland site in 1975. Showing all 5 tracks. Racers to the left, Duelers to the right and the family one running through the middle.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/エキスポランド
Picture showing the crazy mass of tracks with 5 rides
http://atamatote.blog119.fc2.com/blog-entry-319.html
The top of the lift hills for the rides. the Dueling ones to the left are slightly taller than the other 3.
http://kinkansnews.jugem.jp/?day=20160821
Model of the ride at Expo 1970 showing all 5 tracks
http://esotericsurvey.blogspot.com/2017/08/expo-70-osaka.html
Small amount of footage of the ride running (at 7:33)
At some unknown point the ride was obviously cut down to 2 (the duellers) which then ran until 2007 when the park shut following the death on the standup and decline in visitor numbers. The park at one point joined the 2 remaining duelling sides together to make what was at the time the worlds longest coaster (cheating sure but still).
Funny thing is I have had pictures of this ride from 1970 for years and never noticed the extra 3 tracks. I guess I saw what I expected to see which was 2 very long racing coasters. Interesting none the less
The 5 tracks existed at the 1970 Osaka Expo (which was on the site before Expoland) and lasted at least until 1975 and possibly quite a bit later.
The ride ran from one station and released all 5 trains at the same time but at the top of the lift the rides seperated. 2 cut left and race each other, 2 were slightly taller and duelled each other (These were the ones kept later on) and a 5th track featured less drops and was designed for younger patrons.
If you have the chance I highly recommend you get yourself a copy of First Drop as the magazine has some brilliant shots of the ride running all 5 cars.
But for now heres some images dug up from around the net. Explanation and sources will be found on each picture.
A Satellite image of the Expoland site in 1975. Showing all 5 tracks. Racers to the left, Duelers to the right and the family one running through the middle.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/エキスポランド
Picture showing the crazy mass of tracks with 5 rides
http://atamatote.blog119.fc2.com/blog-entry-319.html
The top of the lift hills for the rides. the Dueling ones to the left are slightly taller than the other 3.
http://kinkansnews.jugem.jp/?day=20160821
Model of the ride at Expo 1970 showing all 5 tracks
http://esotericsurvey.blogspot.com/2017/08/expo-70-osaka.html
At some unknown point the ride was obviously cut down to 2 (the duellers) which then ran until 2007 when the park shut following the death on the standup and decline in visitor numbers. The park at one point joined the 2 remaining duelling sides together to make what was at the time the worlds longest coaster (cheating sure but still).
Funny thing is I have had pictures of this ride from 1970 for years and never noticed the extra 3 tracks. I guess I saw what I expected to see which was 2 very long racing coasters. Interesting none the less
