<i>Steel Taipan</i> Takes Blue Fire to the Next Level

Steel Taipan Takes Blue Fire to the Next Level

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originally posted on 1/21/2022 1:27:18 AM

All photos courtesy of Dreamworld. View full-sized image.

When Europa-Park (Rust, Germany) introduced blue fire Megacoaster in 2009, it was instantly praised. Fans immediately found much to love. The smoothness of the track, the fluidity of the inversions and the brilliance and comfort of the trains all met with unanimous appeal. So successful was this model that in the years since, eight more have been built (two scheduled to open this year). For all intents and purposes, they are clones of the original. (On a coaster nerd note: One is called Blue Fire, but the track and supports are red and yellow. ???) Sadly, as marvelous as this design is, none of the siblings are in the United States.

Dreamworld (Queensland, Australia) has taken the Blue Fire model and expanded it to a new level, making it the park’s biggest investment and a signature coaster with which to draw fans from afar.

Enter Steel Taipan.

View full-sized image.

The main core of the layout remains the same, but the differences are dramatic. The other nine versions have a single linear synchronous motor launch. Mack Rides and Dreamworld have made a spectacular variation that now offers a Blue Fire model featuring a triple launch. ACEers have seen this move before on numerous other rides. S&S has done this on Gale Force at Playland’s Castaway Cove (Ocean City, New Jersey), and Premier Rides’ Skyrocket II models all have the multilaunch beginning.

Steel Taipan utilizes a section of switch track that places trains on the launch zone, allowing for multiple passes through the same area without traversing back and forth through the station area. Where many coasters have a straight piece of track for the reverse point, Steel Taipan has a curled piece of track giving the ride a much more artistic look. A taipan is a type of snake; could this be the tail?

On the third pass, the trains are launched into the layout that has proved to be so popular. Following a high horseshoe banked hill — the tallest portion of the ride at almost 125 feet — four inversions and snappy turns make for a delightful ride experience when taken on trains that don’t sport over-the-shoulder harnesses. It’s gracefully done. Like many of the Blue Fire models, Steel Taipan also has rocky theming and other moments that send riders plunging and soaring through visual elements.

But there is something else. Mack Rides markets it as a HybridTrain. The Australian installation operates with two trains, one of which is this rare configuration. The back car is replaced with a carriage that features a pair of seats that spin. Dreamworld is calling it the Tailwhip. Because of the limited capacity of this special seating, bookings are required. Those wanting to do it will shell out 25 bucks (in Australian currency, of course).