In 2003, one new Inverted Coaster opened.  Tussaud Entertainment was in the middle of transforming what used to be sleepy Thorpe Park (Chertsey, UK) into Europe’s premier thrill park.  The park opened in 1979 on a partially flooded quarry and Ready Mixed Concrete Ltd. were the owner at the time.  They wanted to diversify their activities and though that an educational theme park built in a good location next to London was the direction to go in.   The quarry mining activities were completed and the gravel pit partially flooded to create various islands.  It was a good idea as local planning permissions were not as difficult to obtain as for other British amusement parks when it came time to build larger rides.

The park originally went with slower themed experiences and the only roller coaster in the park until 1996 was a Mack E-Powered family roller coaster.  In 1998, Tussaud Entertainment purchased the park and took a long look at both their London theme parks.  Chessington World of Adventure was a zoo that legendary designer John Wardley (creator of Nemesis among others) helped transform into a great theme park, but after the park installed the Vampire Suspended Coaster in 1990, the local planning authority became a lot more difficult to contend.  Adding the Huss Top Spin “Ramses Revenge” in 1995 required the park to dig an expensive pit and install the ride at the bottom to make sure the ride could not be seen from outside the park and that no noise reached the neighbors.  The last straw was Rattlesnake, a Maurer-Sohne Wild Mouse installed in 1998 and that also required expensive digging to bury the ride.

Ramses Revenge, buried in its pit.

Rattlesnake, a highly themed and half buried Maurer AG Wild Mouse.

The second half take riders in and out of mine shafts.

Meanwhile, as long as Thorpe Park maintained a water balance among its islands and lakes, Tussaud could build what they wanted at the park.  This started in 2000 when the park introduced Tidal Wave, an 86 feet tall Hopkins Shoot-The-Chute water ride.  Then, that same year, tragedy struck at Thorpe Park when on July 21^st 2000, a fire broke out on the Mr. Rabbit Tropical Travel boat ride.  The fire quickly spread to other parts of the park and also consumed the Wicked Witches Haunt dark ride.  The park was literally gutted and Tussaud quickly brought in a used Huss Enterprise and placed it in another area of the park to try to bring the ride count back up and to hold on to their guests.

The idea worked and in 2001, the ride was made permanent and redressed as the “Zodiac”.  That area became the Lost City when it was joined by the Vortex, a KMG Afterburner 32.  The first ride to replace the destroyed attraction was Detonator, located on part of the old Wicked Witches Haunt building. The park also removed a lot of the older experiences and Tussaud decided to make Thorpe Park their thrill park for the London market while Chessington World of Adventure is to be the family theme park.  In 2002, Thorpe Park premiered Colossus, the world’s first 10 inversion coaster near X:\ No Way Out.  Built by Intamin, this ride only stood around 100 feet tall and this passed planning permission with flying colors, thus paving the way for other thrill rides.

In 2003, the ride that concerns us in this article opened.  The Nemesis Inferno recycles a legendary name in the United Kingdom, but the ride now has a whole different appearance and theme.  The ride occupies all the remaining space of the Wicked Witches Haunt, Mr. Rabbit’s Tropical Travel and the removed Dino Boats.  A large volcano was constructed and this house the waiting line, station, maintenance workshop and beginning of the ride.  A lush tropical theme was installed around the ride as well.

The ride is 95 feet tall and is among the smallest Inverted Coaster built by B&M.  It is 2460 feet long, but features a unique trick among Inverted Coasters:  the train leaves the station and drops into the volcano caldera, shooting through hot fog that is lighted in rich tones of orange to simulate lava and fire.  Once it gets out, it reaches the base of the lift hill and this is where Nemesis Inferno is unique:  it is the only Inverted to not have a pre station speed reducing section.  The train is instead slowed down by a mechanical brake and engage the lift rather quickly.  Once at the top, it drops down like a Batman: The Ride to the left and hits the first inversion, a Vertical Loop.  It then rises up into a Zero G Roll and drops back to the swamp under the ride.

The Vertical Loop. Picture appears courtesy of Flex.

The swamp under the Vertical Loop. Picture appears courtesy of Flex.

It powers around a right hand turn and heads toward the final two inversions:  the Interlocking Flat Spins.  While Dueling Dragons features that element, it is composed of two separate rides.  Nemesis Inferno is the only single track Inverted Coaster to have that element.  After the last Flat Spin, the train goes around an elongated Figure 8 spiral element and then reach the final brakes.

The train in the second flat spin. Picture appears courtesy of Flex.

A nice overview of the ride. Picture appears courtesy of Flex.

The ride features two 7 car trains and has beautiful wheel covers.  Flames were painted under the chassis as well.  The ride track is a rich and impressive dark red and the supports black.