- River King Mine Train
Infobox roller coaster
name = River King Mine Train
caption = Entrance of the attraction.
location = Six Flags St. Louis
type = Steel
type2=Mine Train
manufacturer = Arrow Dynamics
designer =
model = Mine Train
status = Open
opened =1971
height = 32
drop = 41
length = 2500
speed = 37
duration = 3:00
inversions = 0
capacity =
rcdb_number= 125The ride currently known as The River King Mine Train has undergone transformations over the years. It was originally installed in1971 atSix Flags St. Louis under the current name. The steel coaster was manufactured byArrow Dynamics , with a top speed of 32 miles per hour and a 41 foot drop just as the ride nears the end. One year after it was installed, the name was changed to the River King Run-Away Mine Train. During the1984 season, major alterations were made to the ride including the addition of stand up cars, paint detail and changes to the track. In addition, the roller coaster was renamed, The River King Run-Away Mine Train became the Rail Blazer. Some of these changes proved to be short-lived when a woman fell out of the ride and died onJuly 7 ,1984 . Much speculation has surrounded the reason for her fall, for example, some believe that she was too heavy or even that she was pushed off the coaster. However, the Six Flags/Bally’s Corporation released a statement which explained that the woman had simply fainted which caused her to slip through the restraints and fall out of the ride. Nonetheless, the ride was converted back into a sit down coaster and given back its former name of The River King Mine Train which remains at the park today. The ride seems to be similar to the rideThunderation atSilver Dollar City , which was also manufactured by Arrow Dynamics Inc.External links
* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/history/1980_1990/ Roller Coaster History]
* [http://www.sixflags.com/parks/stlouis/index.asp/ Six Flags Official Website]
* [http://www.sfstl.net/joomla/ Six Flags St. Louis Official Fan Site]
* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/yellowpages/parks/sfstl_mo.shtml Roller Coasters at Six Flags St. Louis]
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