The Troubled History of Superman: The Escape - The Delayed FIRST Coaster to Reach 100 Mph
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- Опубликовано: 20 фев 2021
- Join us on Expedition Six Flags as we look at the troubled history of Superman: The Escape, now known as Superman: Escape from Krypton. This coaster opened during the coaster wars of the 90s and 2000s and was delayed during testing. It hoped to be the first roller coaster in the world to reach 100 mph. Was it? well kinda.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it is Superman: The Escape. A rollercoaster that pushed technolgy in the industry forward and made a huge impact around the world.
There are some flashing scenes in this video.
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Blackpool pleasure beach
Nagashima spa land
Icon at Blackpool.
Tomb Raider at Kings Island
Blackpool
40% of my memories at Six Flags consist of me covering my ears as I pass underneath Superman's track. So iconic, but so loud, lol
Whats the other 60%?
@@bravo562 Probably playing in the Looney Tunes fountain
Super loud. That's one of reasons the Las Vegas city council wouldnt let the Stratosphere build one.
Never cover your ears walkin this epic sound for it only works 4 times a year this days so it's something of a rare sound to hear now
I came to SFMM a couple days ago, that ride sounds like thunder lol
“Coaster enthusiasts will travel hundreds of miles for a moment of airtime”
Truer words have never been said
Haha right
I live near Magic Mountain and Superman is the loudest thing in all of Santa Clarita! You can hear it from miles away
So loud haha
lol wait until those apts open next to the park oh the complaining will begin
Only when you're not on it weirdly huh?? Going under during its run was really rough. Didn't have that on the ride lol
@@a-rex5774 the wind in your ears and the screams of the riders don't let you hear anything else 😁
I wonder what the cause of the sound is?
I know this ride isn't exactly a favorite in a lot of people's eyes but I have always enjoyed my rides on this. In the early 2000's, I rode this with only three other people in the train. My friends, who were local to the area, were extremely excited before we launched. I just thought they were happy to be riding but as it turns out, less people made for a much quicker ride. We made it all the way to the top and literally 'kissed' the brakes up there. I just remember realizing how damn close we were to the Superman sculpture and realizing that wasn't normal. I haven't had a faster ride on it since. It was one I won't forget.
Cool! I wonder as I'm getting older now 🤔 how heavy is the feeling of the G-forces of the launch? Also because you are heading backwards now... and is it a shaky ride?
@@dlrpmagic The launch isn't nearly as powerful feeling as I thought it would be, however, it does seem a lot more intense while riding in reverse. I don't find the ride to be shaky at all.
@@SeanFlaharty thanks!
The lack of weight probably made the ride a lot fast but also the breaks needed to work a bit extra due to that. Scary thinking you were close to the sculpture.
I actually rode it yesterday with 3 other people (they need 4+ in order to launch it), it didn’t feel like 100mph but it was still fast. We rode it twice in a row and then it broke down and closed for the rest of the day lol we were the only guests in the park to ride it yesterday. A really good experience lol.
I'm so glad you mentioned the floating banana. This ride was always that "floating banana" ride to me and my siblings. Hell, we probably quote that dude and the floating banana at least once a month. It's just one of those things that's so ingrained into my psyche it's hard to forget. And I've never even rode this coaster.
You could say the delay...
*was its kryptonite*
Yessss
She might not be the tallest or fastest anymore, but surly must be the loudest
It’s true!
I feel like I'm the only one who actually loves its jet sound.
So loud you would think it was doing something epic.
@@jaredungar6552 nah I like it too it allows it to shout it’s name in the park
Just cover your ears while going underneath it
@@jaredungar6552 Same I love the loud noise it makes !
I went to Six Flags MM during the summer of 1996. We were disappointed that Superman had not yet opened and watched as they tested the empty cars, none of them reaching even halfway up the tower. When I finally rode it in 1998, it was definitely worth the wait. Short but FUN! The launch was intense, the sound alone as you accelerated along the track was memorable. A great ride!
Agreed!
If the trains launch backwards, shouldn't it be called "Bizarro Superman: the Not Escape"?
😎🤔
Yes aha
His name is just Bizarro. That would be awesome.
This ride had so many issues and down times when it opened. I remember I got cold waiting in line with my BF. I left him in line, walked out of the park, walked to the car, got my jacket, walked all the way back, then through the queue, and he was still where I left him.
I really miss the Tower of Terror. I know that these rides are a 1 trick pony, but the adrenaline was awesome :)
Agreed!
Yeah, I still got one of the tower of terror mugs
...I don't miss it. At 16, I was much smaller than my ridiculously tall family at the time I rode it. The lapbar did nothing because it locked multiple inches off of my thighs. I had to hang on for dear life so I wouldn't get flung out. When I got off I sat outside the exit, curled into a fetal position, sobbed, shook, and rocked back and forth. It took me several minutes before I could explain what happened. Thankfully my hand strength was strong enough to hold onto the bar and I successfully locked my joints too. I hated the Tower of Terror.
The epitome of a one-trick pony. Rode this once and didn't feel the need to get back in line. Plus it's insanely loud🤣
It is really loud aha
That is exactly why I’ve never ridden it. I always dreaded going near it because it hurt my ears so bad. I remember hearing it CLEAR ACROSS THE PARK and having to cover my ears everytime I went under the bridge where the coaster would go over. We used to run underneath it to get it over with faster.
I was waiting for him to mention how loud it was. I remember having to yell to be heard when in its vicinity!
I worked at superman the day it actually reached the top of the coaster. It took the power from the entire park. It happened early in the morning before guest were allowed in.
Did it? I always wanted to ride it when it got up there but they changed that quick.
@@LewisSmithJr yeah why the power was needed from the entire park was beyond me. It was even weirder cause I didn't know there was brakes at the top to make you pause and look at superman for a second.
@@disconnected5495 yeah the whole point was to get the the top hold you there for a few like something really quick like 3-6 then bring you back. It was also around the beginning time when if timed right pennies would float in the air for the same amount of seconds you are paused at the time. Then they went and changed things turned the cars around etc...now they damn ride barely works. You gotta catch it on a good Saturday
Superman and Goliath are the only rides at Magic Mountain where I always say I'm gonna finally go on but every time I go I'm like 'fuck that'.
Goliath is for baby’s Superman tho is some scary stuff
goliath isnt that bad i find x2 more intense
I have ridden this ride back in 2018 and I would say it’s fun. What surprise me the most was the weightlessness, it is super noticeable and definitely my favorite part about this ride.
Agreed!
Here's my story with this ride. I was a teenager visiting Magic Mountain for the first time and by the time we went to ride Superman, I was exhausted. I told my friends that after this ride, I was going back to the car to go to sleep. I even stood under the blowers for the cold theming in the Fortress of Solitude to try to stay awake in the queue. After the ride, I was WIDE AWAKE. My friends and I rode the Gold Rusher and Spin Out numerous times as they had no line. I was totally unaware of the ride's history until this video.
Sounds awesome!
Sunday: The Ride
Sunday the ride
Monday
Sunday: the ride
Sunday: The Ride
Sunday: The Ride
I LOVE this ride. It would be far higher up my coaster rankings than most people, but I love the speed and find it incredibly relaxing flying up the tower with the feeling of weightlessness and seeing the whole park down below. I know it shouldn’t be my favourite ride in the park but somehow it is. Lucky to have got on tower of terror II just a week or two before it’s closure, but hopefully this can keep going for a few more years yet 😊
Speaking as a rider from when this coaster was forward facing, it was and still to this day, is one of my favorite rides I've ever experienced. Only ever closely matched by a coater at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. As many times as I visited the park, this ride had a 50/50 chance of being closed for the day. So the 3/4 times I was able to ride felt like a blessing. I'm glad my dad forced me onto this ride because it will be a moment I will never forget.
Could you do Rock N Roller Coaster next? Love your videos 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Soon and thanks!
@Florida-By-Rail this guy seems to do a good job with his research so I def think he’ll include it’s sister coaster as well.
I’ve ridden the “Tower of Terror” the Aussie version!! Loved the ride!! Was so fun. The ride will be missed.
Yeah shame it closed!
Sadly in the past years superman has only been operating with onside. It never duels anymore. I heard that thats beacause it puts too much stress on the tower. And ive heard that they used one side for spare parts.
I think it's days are numbered sadly
They used our Tower of Terror for parts but even doing that the days for it will be numbered being it's now a one of a kind coaster.
im glad you keep going over the rollercoaster tycoon coasters, this is one of my game favorites!!
Me too!
I want to go on something more thrilling than Superman the escape
As always, another quality Expedition! I remember living in Los Angeles at the time, and you perfectly captured the frustration of the lengthy delays. That’s such a Six Flags Power Move to finish construction just weeks before the scheduled opening date. The ride is painfully short, and probably has the worst queue to experience ratios of any ride to date. That being said, the launch, hang time, and return is unlike anything I’ve encountered. It’s an amazing ride. I’m kinda surprised you didn’t mention the iconic sound that dominates the park. The screaming sleds are deafening, and I feel for the Park workers who are stationed directly below. Cheers!
Thank you!!
I rode it forwards in 2004 and have ridden it backwards many times since 2011, and whether or not it's a roller coaster it's always one of my favourite moments of any Magic Mountain day.
Yes!
One of the best parts of this ride was when the LSMs don't kick back in during the return and you fly through the station into the emergency friction brakes . Is way better than any roll back I've had on anything else....
Yeah haha I saw a video of it happen and looks crazy
Really wish you talked more about the tires and the sound. The tires are made of urethane after rubber slowed down the vehicle, but the urethane tires changed the sound profile. It has the DB of a F-14 tomcat fighter and can be heard throughout the area when running.
Honestly I think that shuttle coasters and full circuit coasters should be separated always when it comes to awards. It’s easier and harder for each of them to do stuff so stuff like the worlds longest shuttle coaster should be awarded just as much as worlds longest coaster.
I agree
Please please I beg you do a history video on ghost Rider from Knott's Berry farm please!!!your voice is perfect for narration and it would be awesome it would be one of my favorite videos ever also is my favorite wooden roller coaster
I will in the future! Thank you
5:01 THAT CLIP!!! THAT 13 CLIP AND THE DESPERADO CLIP IN BACK TO BACK VIDEOS LMAOOOOO
Hahaha the dream !
Do I consider it a coaster? No.
Do I ride it every visit? Absolutely.
Dubious records aside, it's still REALLY fun.
Agreed!
I’m old enough to remember when this was THE hot coaster. Back when it was featured on every Discovery Channel documentary about roller coasters, back when we were amazed at going 100 MPH, and the six seconds of substations floater airtime as the train lost momentum and fell back down the tower was considered the “holy grail”. For 5 years, this was one of the hot coasters in the community.
Then Top Thrill Dragster opened in 2003, and suddenly this attraction looked like a “baby’s toy”. It was no longer the hot ride. Today's enthusiasts look at this and go "meh", which I can't blame them. But I remember when this topped every enthusiast's "Best of" list in the late 90s/early 2000s.
It may not personally be my favorite ride at Magic Mountain, but it’s a fun ride for what it was. Though I miss when it went forward, as the launch backwards isn’t nearly as fun.
Yeah!
i love your videos!! this may sound weird but your voice is so soothing and i fall asleep to your videos (in a good way LMAO)
Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.
Thank you!
Thanks for mentioning Desperado. That poor damn roller coaster needs some help.
Poor Desperado!
I remember visiting SFMM when Superman was still in that testing phase. The other rides were making announcements that the ride would not be opening that day, even though it was test firing all day. I remember one of the launches, a car was sparking as it went up the tower. It didn't reach even a third of the way up. That was the last test run for that night.
Now people would wait all day for the chance
Ya know I used to hate your intro but it’s grown on me so much and now I love it
Haha welcome to the dark side!
The now extinct Tower of Terror on the Gold Coast used to vary wildly with its launch speeds as well, even in its hey-day of the early 2000's. I managed to get a ride on it a few weeks before it closed in 2019 (very suddenly, with no fanfare) and it was not the ride of my childhood - it was clunky, much slower, and had an aweful and jarring run back through the brakes, stopping halfway back down the tunnel to limp back to the platform. I hope that Superman remains well maintained and is given an eventual retirement that these two giants deserve. Dreamworld just took theirs out the back and shot it after leaving it to linger for years. Incidently, the Tower of Terror still has a drop tower attached to the structure too - in inovatively named Giant Drop... again, in need of either closing or some significant TLC.
Makes me wonder if the controversy about shuttle coasters and records is why subsequent really tall coasters went to using a tophat instead of a shuttle, so they were technically full circuit roller coasters.
SUPERb stuff Expedition!!
I live here and didn't know so many of these interesting and important details about this ground breaking ride! Indeed the launch system has become of major importance as coasters continue to push forward today (literally!). I'm originally from Australia and around the opening years of this ride friends, and friends of friends, would visit asking about getting on this ride, I didn't know how they even knew about it like what you're saying word got around the world fast! Great info and video thank you Sam!
Thank you!
Excellent video!! 👍🏼
That has some crazy airtime! 😯
Yep!
Rode this back in 2001. It was fun.....and a walk on...so worth the time investment.
@9:18 I loved that! It gave me goosebumps and I was holding on to my seat for dear life!
I loved RCT (Roller coaster Tycoon)... @ 9:12 is exactly what I used to do when I build that type of ride 😂. Horrible I know.
Hahah we all did I think!
Iron Gwazi plug 😂😂 “Roller Coaster fan continued to press the park”
and Velocicoaster
Hahaha right?!
Nice! I requested this video few days ago. Your fast 😉😉
Ahah yepppp
I am among those who were fortunate enough to ride it when it was Superman: the Escape between the years 2001 (when I first rode it) to 2009 (the second year in a row that I had a season pass to Magic Mountain). I actually started to like better when it turned in Superman: Escape from Krypton in 2011 (there is just something about riding roller coasters backwards that I happen to like) but I do miss seeing the Superman statues that they had on both the tower and in the queue. Plus the Fortress of Solitude has the best air conditioning in the park on a hot summer day.
Great vid as always! I wonder how many of us learned about Six Flags rides first through RCT2 😂
Such a great ride! During a Disneyland trip with the family, my brother and I took a detour to Magic Mountain to ride all their coasters including Superman: The Escape! A great ride experience and memory.
I’m having Six Flags Great America withdrawals, hope we get to see another video on one of the rides there soon lol!
I will in the future
These videos are amazing. Very very well researched and tons of time put into them. I think you should one off Hades 360 and how the Gravity Group started.
Thank you!
I remember being so afraid of getting on this thing but it really is a fun experience and doesn't feel like you are that high compared to when you are slowly going up a hill
I'm A Huge Big Super Awesome Superman Fan. Thanks Mate. X
Thanks Luke!
One thing most people don't realize that I actually like, is that Superman is the loudest roller coaster in the world.
You’re not lying!!! I worked at the arcade under it....it was CRAZY loud!! You couldn’t even talk to guest when they launched the cars! We also heard stories of test run dummies heads getting ripped off 🤷♂️
Great video! Sfmm is my home park and I remember loving this coaster as a kid but it never went over halfway up the tower. Operators would tell me it was too expensive, and they usually only run one side on less busy days. But when it got it’s backwards treatment the ride (tho not consistent) would actually reach higher altitudes more often! I miss it facing forward and the less obnoxious color scheme, but a solid “little” attraction!
Agreed
6:26 -- That day it wasn't just a Superman ride, it was a Bananaman ride as well.
The best kind of ride !
I actually get that.
The RCT clip made me chuckle.
I rode Superman the escape. I was unprepared for the rides speed and how fast it went up the tower. It scared the crap out of me. I came off the ride shaking. That is how good this ride was at the time I rode it. I never road it again and I look at experience as one I will never forget. Thanks for the documentary.
I always hit the like button before I even watch because I know what I’m getting will be great!
Thank you!!
Awesome video!!
Thank you!
The Joker Revenge, the first backward roller coaster.
Classic
Now it's sitting abandoned all because Six Flags was too cheap to fix their New Orleans park.
Is it a bird? is it a plane? No its another awesome Expedition!
Yessssss
You can’t mention Desperado without mentioning Lance Burton
Exactly!
Lance Reddick + LeVar Burton?
(please tell me someone gets that)
Very interesting video
Huge sentimental ride for me - I was a 12 year old enthusiast when S:TE opened and it was the most amazing ride at the time. The queue would go down the hill practically to Gold Rusher those first couple of years. That said, I wouldn't shed a single tear if it was removed. As a now 34 year old enthusiast, it's just so loud and obnoxious 🤣
This ride is on my "no way" list as in there's "no way" I'd ride this! Lol.
I've been on Top thrill dragster, I305, Millennium Force, and other giant coasters but there is something about that backwards plummet I'm like..." Nope" 😅
Before this Coaster was changed to launch backwards, this was also a nope for me. But when I finally went on it, I was in shock that I was even scared of it. It really wasn't that bad, just fun. I have been fortunate to ride this ride forwards and backwards but never got an experience where both tracks were launched at the same time. Also I have been on TTD and Millennium force and Superman is weak forwards and backwards compared to those two. But SFMM being my home park, I still love to ride Superman. Even with its launch not being as strong.
5:03 bro cannot be stopped, he is just immortal
14:24 And now, Magic Mountain has just turned around the train on the left side to face forwards! Also they received the parts from Tower of Terror 2 and now the ride goes back up to its original height.
Just looking for something to watch and then this comes along 👍🏼😁. Thank you.....still waiting for Vekoma Canyon Trip 😉😂
One day!
It's a good thing they fixed the ride and replaced its launch fins so now it goes higher than it has in years! It goes way into the red now!
“That was stupid. That was really stupid.”
Indeed. Indeed, it was.
Hahaha yes
Very FAKE too.
I wish I had a coaster ridding banana 😪
Me too!!
get one at the grocery store :)
I remember visiting SFMM with friends back in the summer of 1996 and as we got to the parking booth I was shocked and ticked to find out the ride wasn't operational that day. We were nearly 300 miles away on that trip and stopped there before heading back home. But 5 years later I did get to ride it, and boy is it intense.
Omg yessss! I love it when u upload!! I’ve actually learned quite a lot from u
Thank you!
@@ExpeditionThemePark no problemo 👍🏻
Cedar point: *haha, we took your achievement of largest coaster*
Six flags: *let's make the same layout with the same drop tower but just a tiny bit higher and add a little airtime hill*
And add an airtime hill
If 36 feet is tiny to you sure.
@@markvolpe2305 yeah and that too. Good point. Lets not forget faster too.
and terrible restraints
Great video. I remember going to sfmm in 1996 and seeing it advertised on flyers. It wasnt until we got the entrance that we found out it wasnt open. Spoke to a staff member on the sky tower..yes that was open...they said the problems it faced was due to the insane amount of power it needed. They couldnt run the other rides when testing it and had to get a seperate power source to run it..anyways i finally got on it in 2006 and loved it!!
Thank you!
Woo! Australia finally being mentioned!
Lmao I always get a kick out of you including Roller Coaster Tycoon clips
My fav!
What I remember were the debates in online communities (including RRC) back in the late 90s over whether this was a coaster or not.
Also, was this the ride that pioneered the Intamin tradition of innovative but frequently unreliable rides?
One of my favorite rides 👍👍
"Enemies in the Fortress? I'm getting out of here!" - Superman
Hey, Expedition Theme Park! Please do the History of Drachen Fire!
Sure!
@@ExpeditionThemePark wait until 2022. Busch Gardens is rumored to pay homage to Drachen Fire in their 2022 coaster.
Defunctland already made a video on that.
@@Thestuffnope Sure, but Defunctland and Expedition Theme Park videos have different vibes, and I'm always happy to get both perspectives.
I loved riding Superman in 2009, because Id been dreaming about it since seeing a science documentary that featured it back in the late 90s. No it wasn’t very forceful and it’s unbelievably loud but it was fast and it was tall and most importantly it was cool to say you rode it.
Hey you did a great video 👍
Thank you!
My home park, woop woop!!!
Woooo
I don’t even want to remember the way my stomach felt coming down that 😭😭 it was a really fun ride tho tbh
Another awesome video! Do you think you could do a history of X/X2? I would love that!
I plan to yes!
Please leave the Superman ride alone. It’s my favorite. I rode it 10 times back to back once. Love ❤️ it. Lex Luther is awesome. Love them both
When it comes to heigh and speed, my favourite bucket list launch coasters are Dododonpa, (for its rate of launch) Storm Runner (for its straight drop and having a somewhat full layout) and Top Thrill Dragster for only having lap bars and a 400' drop.
All amazing rides!
@@ExpeditionThemePark Technically TTD isn't a bucket list coaster for me because I've already ridden it. But I've not yet ridden it in the front; only the back two cars.
The first time I ride Superman, literally blew my mind. Oh, how I miss Magic Mountain!
was there 24 (?) years ago on its opening weekend. I swear I can still hear the sound of those cars going down the track.
The lance Burton always makes me giggle
I would just like to say that I appreciate you captioning these videos as they come out! It makes it a lot easier for me (and others I'm sure) to follow along :)
Thank you! I have been trying to do it earlier and I’m so glad it helps.
Used to ride this quite a bit with my boys back in the day....way ahead of it's time
Yep!
I love this thing! Thank you Sam, you’ve made us start to plan a visit for next year. Hope you’re doing well.
See you there Mark! 😂
The cars were changed with the Krypton overlay. Gone were the huge steel wheels which appear to have quieted the loud screech that swooped over the entire park originally. I much preferred the original. The weightless feeling was extreme. Really enjoyed just sitting on it during the ACE Spring Conference 1998.
Yeah I wish they would turn one of them around now. The new cars were designed for either
I was incredibly afraid of this ride when it came out. When I finally rode it, it was no problem! Now that it’s turned around backwards, I’m scared to ride it again 😂
Great video for my birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday!
@@ExpeditionThemePark thank you!!!!