great video. I am an employee, and was on the very last train. We rode in the dark, overlooking an empty parking lot. Every one of us silent, as we knew this would be the very last cycle of an American icon and treasure. After we exited the train, some of us wiped tears from our faces, while commenting on how much fun she still was to ride. Then, we went down to the control room, turned off the main power supplies, and the sub, then removed the cables feeding the drives... It's a night I will never forget. Six Flags has been the best job experience I have ever had. I have been an electrician for over 25 years, but my time at Magic Mountain has been the most rewarding, and fulfilling.
I know this is a very very old comment, but how did you get into maintenance at an amusement park? Looking into getting involved with rollercoasters when I get out of the Navy.
Thank you for posting this! It brought tears to my eyes! Colossus is very sentimental to me. The first time I rode it was in 1982. It was fabulous! There was nothing else like it. We rode it over and over again and backwards and always on the last car, when they started doing that. It was the parks iconic structure when you drove passed the park on the freeway. Sadly I didn’t get to ride classic Colossus for the last time and I regret that. By that time I became afraid of them so even my beloved Colossus was off limits! 😢😢 I miss the original! I always will. When word got out that Colossus would not be demolished but a makeover Sort of a roller coaster cosmetic surgery. If Colossus could talk it would wake up from its anesthetic and give us all a giant evil shot eating grin and a maniacal laugh! Twisted Colossus does the classic justice. The theme from the Six Million Dollar Man comes to mind after the transformation… better, stronger, faster. If Colossus could talk it would say “Don’t cry for me.. For I have never left. When you look upon the park from the freeway it’s still me you see.. if I was once the tallest and fastest I am now the longest and fastest hybrid in the world! Check out my badass twisted steel tracks!”
@@ernestinemaloy8680wow you don’t remember? I first ride it in 1980 and it was racing at that times remember one track was always a little faster than the other. There were two stations. One on the left or the inside track and the other on the right or the outside track. I like the outside track the best.
I never get tired of this footage of Colossus being built. I remember when this took place but you didn’t get to see it! I was only 11 years old. It was massive.
4:32 ( left) That is my grandfather working on the colossus. He worked mostly on the lift hill and first drop since he did not fear heights. His name is Bruce and is still the cool badass he was back then
This is my mother’s favorite rollercoasters ever. I remember going to this park with my family as a child more than going to Disneyland (most of my Disneyland memories are as an adult) and my mom ALWAYS had to get on it. Great video 👌🏻
Great video documentary, thank you. I remember back in '78 riding it for the first time. For me the most the most exciting thing was the first drop, and after the third drop those sequencial bunny hills that left you weightless, they ruined that with the block brake renovation. Although the original track was still there and you could pick it out. I last rode about four years ago. Looking forward to the new incarnation even though it won't be the same. Still angry about Log Jammer.
Fellow Acer here, great video! I grew up in Sol Cal going to Magic Mountain and actually have a I Rode Colossus button. I was lucky to ride it last month. Can't wait for the rebirth.
My Dad rode the original Colossus when he graduated from High School. I can understand how much of an emotional connection one can have with a ride, and how fond of the memories we can be. My first rollercoaster ride, "technically" was a kid coaster at California's Great America in Santa Clara (the photo I have even has a construction wall up advertising Stealth when it was being built then), and the rollercoaster I do remember is X2 at Magic Mountain. I rode with my Dad, and to this day, that memory still tugs at my heart.
Thanks for this great video. I loved all the old footage, wish there was a history of the park done like this using footage like was shown for park construction, ride constructions, etc. Showing what's come and gone. This is fantastic. Kudos.
I rememeber the day I rode Colossus for the first time. It was the summer of 86. I was so excited and so scared. I had only ridden one coaster before that, at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Giant Dipper. The energy I felt that day propelled me into being a coaster junkie. My Mom and I ended up riding het 11 times that summer. I have so many fond memories of Colossus.
Awesome video, thank you for making it and sharing it!!! The old footage was great. Seeing it so white and grand was amazing. So many memories. From when I rode it as a kid with my mother and riding with my kids. Glad I had the honor to be on the last public train.
12:48 i just about cried, no coaster has ever made its way this far into peoples hearts... its bitter sweet to see such a huge icon leave the park, but Twisted Colossus will easily become the new icon! thank you RMC to help people relive colossus in such a thrilling way as it used to be. :')
You did a great job at making this documentary. I never would have expected to feel pressure building up in my eyes almost close to getting my eyes watery. Not quite but almost. Loved this ride. MM has been such a HUGE part of my childhood and ever since. While I did not keep going into engineering to design roller coasters I still love them and got a part time job as a ride op for fun while I do my freelancing graphic design work. You should submit this to MM. I have no doubt they would absolutely LOVE this. So great. Thank you again for all the massive time that you put into finding and tracking down all the footage, facts, and editing.
Colossus was my first wooden rollercoaster. And It used to be my favorite coaster of all time. Then That Record was taken By Superman, Than Viper (I'm Weird), Than Full Throttle. On my last ride on Colossus, I was in tears the whole time. But Twisted Colossus is AMAZING and is currently my favorite coaster of all time
I think you forgot to inform us on the most important part... which was why did they decide to close Colossus? "After 36 years it was finally time to close it" doesn't explain anything. Was it because the ride was becoming unsafe? Too expensive to maintain? Structural issues? Or were they just ready for something new?
That was fantastic! Thanks for putting it together. The emotional effect desired was felt on this end. I wish I could have ridden that beast. My version was Rolling Thunder at Great Adventure. Not quite the same notoriety I know, but it was very similar sentiment in my heart. I damn near grew up on that thing and was absolutely heart broken when they took it down. Oh to have a Twisted Thunder replace my childhood rite of passage. Thanks again. Really great video!
We need more ACE “Documentaries” I know we have a good one coming next year! But we need more 15-30 minute history videos that are ride specific! Like the history of Vortex (Kings Island) or Cedar Point in the 90s. So many videos that could be made
Rode Revolution in 76' as an 11 yr. old, rode Colossus in 78' as a 13 yr. old. In 76' they already had a scale model of Colossus on display in the park, so the excitement was already building. When we drove into the parking lot in 78' and saw it for the first time it was pretty overwhelming, I'm not sure I had ever seen anything that big, maybe a skyscraper, but nothing that I could walk right up to, and then ride. Just a side note: that Mountain Express rollercoaster was a pretty great ride also.
Twisted Colossus is the best coaster ive ever ridden in my life. And better than anything else at Magic Mountain (i went during halloween 2019). Riding TC in the dark was the highlight of my time in California (In total i think i rode it 9 times over that day, bless those queue jumping wristbands)
this was Freaking Great . I cbecame a coasterhead this last July after riding the Iron rattler, I've hit 12 rides so far and going for the 100 by the end of the season. I would LOVE to join any coaster group as I am Pretty friendless.
this was the top ride on my bucket list life experiences since I was 4 and watched National Lampoon's Vacation... glad to be able to ride before it finally closed, once in 2005 and once in 2011. (living over 6k miles away wasn't an easy task and goal to achieve... and I'm yet to visit SFMM again for the Twisted version...)
the thing that touched me was my favorite ride being clossed :( the cool thing is that no body disliked this video!!!! OMG that's actually really cool. + i almost cried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They NEVER should have tampered with the original, including the trimming down of the “mothers” humps. Not even one mention of Carol Flores, God bless her. Her death was the reason they removed the negative-G. I rode Colossus before they did that surgery, and it is true, you would be lifted up in your seat, and you could feel the car pulling down .
Yes. Strange that they said the 1979 closure and redesign was due to excessive maintenance. Certainly that was one of the considerations, but the ride was closed and redesigned due to the fatality. It was a very thrilling ride in 1978. After the redesign, meh.
There are some factual errors in this video. Six Flags turned one track of Colossus backwards in the 80s using the PTC trains, but it was not related to the Fright Fest event. In fact, that side of Colossus remained backwards year-round until the new trains from Morgan were purchased. The reason Colossus did not operate backwards with the Morgan trains is because they lacked a headrest. At some point in the mid-90s after Psyclone had been built Magic Mountain once again turned one track backwards for the annual FrightFest event using two of the B&M trains from Psyclone. Eventually, Psyclone was demolished, but Six Flags held on to two of the Psyclone trains for backwards operation.
1988 PTC trains were retired for Morgan Trains. 1998 two Psyclone trains used for the first time for Colossus backwards. In 1999 the park offered the backwards experience again for spring break and every October thereafter.
***** we rode it backwards on Spring Break this year. In fact, only one track was open and backwards was the only option. It definitely needed to be redone/replaced but it sure was great in its day. Loved that ride. I'd imagine our American Eagle at our home park in Gurnee (Chicago) will have to have something similar done.
mechanicalmusic By "Six Flags turned one track of Colossus backwards", he meant that the ride had two tracks and the trains on one of those two tracks ran backwards. What made you think that he was implying that they reversed the track itself (which is obviously impossible)?
I am about to age myself but I remember when both of these coasters opened. I was 9 when The Revolution opened and 10 when I first got to ride it. I was scared but excited at the same time! After the first time it was easy! We’d get back in line and do it again. I remember when Colossus was being built. They had a model of the coaster you could see and read about what to look forward to. I didn’t ride Colossus until I was 13 in 1980! By that time we had heard all kinds of things good and bad but mostly good. After the first time we rode it again and again throughout the 80s and into the early 90s including backwards! These days I think I am becoming my mom. She was afraid of roller coasters. She couldn’t stand to be even be near them! When we were young and wanted to go the Magic Mountain she dreaded having to go there. I am not quite like that yet. But I do get anxious riding them now. You know, like when I get on to ride I can’t wait for it to be over. I still ride because I want to keep the experience alive of how thrilling and exciting it was. Now after getting off a coaster instead of running to get back in line to ride again I have to sit this one out. I need time to recover! I am sorry about the original Colossus but I would like to try out Twisted Colossus.
So this was the tallest and fastest roller coaster for exactly one year until the beast at Kings Island opened up.... Which to this day is still the greatest coaster in the world.
When Colossus was closed in May of 1979, and reprofiled by Bill Cobb Associates it was to reduce( TOO MUCH EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE G's), which also delivered a very painful ride experience, and not to mention The IAD Trains weren't good for the ride alone. The PTC Trains did offer some Great Floater, and Strong Airtime, without the Black and Blue bruises on the riders thighs, and didn't eliminate all negitive G's as you stated. That Truly was The Best Version of The Once Mighty Colossus. I wish Magic Mountain worked hard to maintain it with Plenty of TLC. The same way Kennywood can keep their Coaster Woodies operating like a Fine Tuned Swiss Watch. The Jackrabbit Rollercoaster Celebrated 100yrs of Operation this past season.
great video! Can't stand the guests that have their cell phones out during the ride. That is super dangerous for the other people riding! Trust me I know being a ride operator for a coaster. We don't allow it. I have seen too many injuries from phones hitting other guests behind them.
I don't know why some of you out there say Colossus was ruined when it was re-profiled and had the PTC Trains added as the rolling stock. Don't know about the rest of you but this was the very best version of Colossus. I first rode the Coaster in 1978 after I graduated from Marine Corps Bootcamp. After making it through 13 very though weeks of Marine Corps Bootcamp, Colossus was the worst Coaster experience ever. Rollercoasters are supposed to be exciting and fun, not painful. Also the Coaster ride was so bad it was shut down more than 50% of the time. Those NAD Trains were way too heavy and the restraints really sucked. They worked well on Revolution, not Colossus. With the re-profiling of the track and the PTC Trains Colossus was still an amazing AIRTIME MACHINE with a increased speed of 62mph and the trains would even travel faster at night. This is the Colossus I remember and miss.
the morgan trains were the beginning of the end. by 1991 its was over. by the time they built goliath it'd become little more than a giant (albeit beautiful) decoration. magic mountain's seemingly deliberate neglect pretty much sealed it's fate . i miss it, not from the way it was in it's final days but the way it was in the 80's.
The only thing is the record was held by the Great American Scream Machine at 105 ft. Tall in 1973 I checked and it said the record was held by The Great American Scream Machine. Sorry if I am incorrect. If I am then I was given false information.
I always wonder, because they got rid of a big section when making Twisted Colossus, plus they added supports, removed some, and of course the new track, if for some weird reason Six Flags wanted to rebuild Colossus, would they be able to? Do they still have the blueprints?
Please let me know. I was wondering if the ride is smoother now. I'm afraid of getting my back to spasm due to the rough rides. Can someone let me know because I really want to ride the new Colossus.
I feel very fortunate to have ridden Colossus many times. Having ridden Colossus, and then Twisted Colossus - which is good but, it's not better than Colossus...I miss Colossus. 😢
Thank You!! The Absolutely Best version of The Once Mighty Colossus, was after being reprofiled by Bill Cobb Associates. That's when The PTC Trains were added, where riders had to Push Forward, then Pull Down on a Long Lap Bar that had plenty of space off the riders thighs for some of The Best Awesome Airtime. Pure Nirvana!! I'm sorry, but for me, I refer the Coaster today as Twisted Colossucks. Because I still have Very Fond Memories of what this Classic Woodie once was. Especially every time I look at National Lampoon's Vacation, The Screemy Meemy. It makes me tear up with Joy!🥲🎢🎢💞
![Alan Schilke Interview: Former Arrow Engineer [Arrow Bonus Content]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0f5wb8sbEdY/mqdefault.jpg)
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great video. I am an employee, and was on the very last train. We rode in the dark, overlooking an empty parking lot. Every one of us silent, as we knew this would be the very last cycle of an American icon and treasure. After we exited the train, some of us wiped tears from our faces, while commenting on how much fun she still was to ride. Then, we went down to the control room, turned off the main power supplies, and the sub, then removed the cables feeding the drives... It's a night I will never forget. Six Flags has been the best job experience I have ever had. I have been an electrician for over 25 years, but my time at Magic Mountain has been the most rewarding, and fulfilling.
DisposableGorilla Thanks so much for your comment and sharing your story. Colossus will surely be missed. -nl
Thank you for your work at Six Flags! Keeping the best park for coasters up-and-running!
Exactly the same for me at robin hood at walibi..
That is an incredible story. Thanks for the comment.
I know this is a very very old comment, but how did you get into maintenance at an amusement park? Looking into getting involved with rollercoasters when I get out of the Navy.
This video gave me chills. Shows how rollercoasters are more than just rides to some people. Some people are truly passionate about them.
Thank you for posting this! It brought tears to my eyes! Colossus is very sentimental to me. The first time I rode it was in 1982. It was fabulous! There was nothing else like it. We rode it over and over again and backwards and always on the last car, when they started doing that. It was the parks iconic structure when you drove passed the park on the freeway. Sadly I didn’t get to ride classic Colossus for the last time and I regret that. By that time I became afraid of them so even my beloved Colossus was off limits! 😢😢 I miss the original! I always will. When word got out that Colossus would not be demolished but a makeover Sort of a roller coaster cosmetic surgery. If Colossus could talk it would wake up from its anesthetic and give us all a giant evil shot eating grin and a maniacal laugh! Twisted Colossus does the classic justice. The theme from the Six Million Dollar Man comes to mind after the transformation… better, stronger, faster. If Colossus could talk it would say “Don’t cry for me.. For I have never left. When you look upon the park from the freeway it’s still me you see.. if I was once the tallest and fastest I am now the longest and fastest hybrid in the world! Check out my badass twisted steel tracks!”
Colossus looked so good when it was brand new
Impressive structure.
Kevin Ventura Six Flags should build a new one
@@richardmorris7063 I rode it when it was brand spanking new...funny didn't remember it being a racer coaster...
@@ernestinemaloy8680wow you don’t remember? I first ride it in 1980 and it was racing at that times remember one track was always a little faster than the other. There were two stations. One on the left or the inside track and the other on the right or the outside track. I like the outside track the best.
I never get tired of this footage of Colossus being built. I remember when this took place but you didn’t get to see it! I was only 11 years old. It was massive.
I must have rode this coaster over 100 times. I still have dreams I've riding it. Thanks Colossus.
I still watch this......bc I love Colossus and It's still in my heart
4:32 ( left) That is my grandfather working on the colossus. He worked mostly on the lift hill and first drop since he did not fear heights. His name is Bruce and is still the cool badass he was back then
That is so rad! Thank you for sharing this story, and please tell Bruce that he IS, in fact, a coaster badass.
This is my mother’s favorite rollercoasters ever. I remember going to this park with my family as a child more than going to Disneyland (most of my Disneyland memories are as an adult) and my mom ALWAYS had to get on it. Great video 👌🏻
I didn't know about the Six Flags overhaul before -- very interesting.
Vincent Price calling it a "Rolley Coaster" = Priceless! I'm a fan of his
Great video documentary, thank you. I remember back in '78 riding it for the first time. For me the most the most exciting thing was the first drop, and after the third drop those sequencial bunny hills that left you weightless, they ruined that with the block brake renovation. Although the original track was still there and you could pick it out. I last rode about four years ago. Looking forward to the new incarnation even though it won't be the same. Still angry about Log Jammer.
Wow! Great video. Looking forward to riding the new version.
Fellow Acer here, great video! I grew up in Sol Cal going to Magic Mountain and actually have a I Rode Colossus button. I was lucky to ride it last month. Can't wait for the rebirth.
Great Video! It really makes me sad that I never got to ride the original colossus. =(
Quan Narula It was a great ride, but Twisted Colossus is definitely an amazing successor! -
+American Coaster Enthusiasts What is the song that starts at 2:35?
+Edaan Friedman Sounds like a rip off of Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix.
Sounds more like foxy lady than purple haze, which are both great songs.
Same
That was produced very very well!! Great job to everyone who contributed to this!!!
My Dad rode the original Colossus when he graduated from High School. I can understand how much of an emotional connection one can have with a ride, and how fond of the memories we can be. My first rollercoaster ride, "technically" was a kid coaster at California's Great America in Santa Clara (the photo I have even has a construction wall up advertising Stealth when it was being built then), and the rollercoaster I do remember is X2 at Magic Mountain. I rode with my Dad, and to this day, that memory still tugs at my heart.
As a former employee of SFMM, I am honored to have been one of the last riders on Colossus and one of the first riders on Twisted Colossus.
Thanks for this great video. I loved all the old footage, wish there was a history of the park done like this using footage like was shown for park construction, ride constructions, etc. Showing what's come and gone. This is fantastic. Kudos.
I just wish I could ride the original one, I was way to scared of wooden coasters back then.
Wow! Great little documentary! Colossus will definitely be missed.
I rememeber the day I rode Colossus for the first time. It was the summer of 86. I was so excited and so scared. I had only ridden one coaster before that, at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Giant Dipper. The energy I felt that day propelled me into being a coaster junkie. My Mom and I ended up riding het 11 times that summer. I have so many fond memories of Colossus.
Awesome video, thank you for making it and sharing it!!!
The old footage was great. Seeing it so white and grand was amazing. So many memories. From when I rode it as a kid with my mother and riding with my kids. Glad I had the honor to be on the last public train.
Absolutely amazing guys!!! I knew Kurt and Nick were working on something, but I didn't know it was this. Thanks for putting this together!!
***** Thanks for your kind remarks! We are glad you enjoyed it! -nl
I rode the Colossus over 15 years ago and it was great to experience. I hope the new one will be just as much fun. Nice video about it too.
This documentary is still great to this day!
They reprofiled it to remove ALL NEGATIVE G'S? Wow...
And then gave it 15 AIRTIME MOMENTS HOLY CRAP
That was after someone flew out of the car during the double down element and the new owners freaked out forever nerfed it... until it was RMC'd.
I think they got that fact wrong
Because it pitched a fat lady who died
Homefront that was new Texas giant you’re thinking about
The only time I got to ride Colossus was in the dark, and blew away ALL my expectations!
12:48 i just about cried, no coaster has ever made its way this far into peoples hearts... its bitter sweet to see such a huge icon leave the park, but Twisted Colossus will easily become the new icon! thank you RMC to help people relive colossus in such a thrilling way as it used to be. :')
You did a great job at making this documentary. I never would have expected to feel pressure building up in my eyes almost close to getting my eyes watery. Not quite but almost. Loved this ride. MM has been such a HUGE part of my childhood and ever since. While I did not keep going into engineering to design roller coasters I still love them and got a part time job as a ride op for fun while I do my freelancing graphic design work. You should submit this to MM. I have no doubt they would absolutely LOVE this. So great. Thank you again for all the massive time that you put into finding and tracking down all the footage, facts, and editing.
Colossus was my first wooden rollercoaster. And It used to be my favorite coaster of all time. Then That Record was taken By Superman, Than Viper (I'm Weird), Than Full Throttle. On my last ride on Colossus, I was in tears the whole time. But Twisted Colossus is AMAZING and is currently my favorite coaster of all time
I was crying so hard!!!!!!! I miss you old buddy!!
I almost did
Heh same here
I almost did
Rusty S me too :(
same here
The Original Colossus. My first big Roller Coaster.
I think you forgot to inform us on the most important part... which was why did they decide to close Colossus? "After 36 years it was finally time to close it" doesn't explain anything. Was it because the ride was becoming unsafe? Too expensive to maintain? Structural issues? Or were they just ready for something new?
Ridership was very low and the park wanted something new. And they succeeded by getting one of if not the best ride currently at the park.
I worked there and would go to the theme park on my days off just to ride this over and over and over again. :D No line every day!
That was fantastic! Thanks for putting it together. The emotional effect desired was felt on this end. I wish I could have ridden that beast. My version was Rolling Thunder at Great Adventure. Not quite the same notoriety I know, but it was very similar sentiment in my heart. I damn near grew up on that thing and was absolutely heart broken when they took it down. Oh to have a Twisted Thunder replace my childhood rite of passage.
Thanks again. Really great video!
this is great. made me cry. thank you.
The "Georgia Cyclone" is also getting the same thing done to it! I can't wait to ride "The Twisted Cyclone"! :D
We need more ACE “Documentaries” I know we have a good one coming next year! But we need more 15-30 minute history videos that are ride specific! Like the history of Vortex (Kings Island) or Cedar Point in the 90s. So many videos that could be made
Nice. My buddy is one of the Colossus 6, cool to see him in here!
This actually made me cry
But it was a great video
Well done video!
Rode Revolution in 76' as an 11 yr. old, rode Colossus in 78' as a 13 yr. old. In 76' they already had a scale model of Colossus on display in the park, so the excitement was already building. When we drove into the parking lot in 78' and saw it for the first time it was pretty overwhelming, I'm not sure I had ever seen anything that big, maybe a skyscraper, but nothing that I could walk right up to, and then ride. Just a side note: that Mountain Express rollercoaster was a pretty great ride also.
Thank you so much for making this video I was wondering what happened to Colossus. I remember being a little kid that thing scared me half to death.
You are welcome - glad you enjoyed it!
Another great doco, thanks!
Twisted Colossus is the best coaster ive ever ridden in my life. And better than anything else at Magic Mountain (i went during halloween 2019). Riding TC in the dark was the highlight of my time in California (In total i think i rode it 9 times over that day, bless those queue jumping wristbands)
Twisted colosus is my favorite roller coaster 🎢🎢🙌🏼😀🙃😝 but original colosus 🤯🤯🤯🤯
"Step by Step - Day by Day" (1991-1998)
ah, the intro. yes sir!
this was Freaking Great . I cbecame a coasterhead this last July after riding the Iron rattler, I've hit 12 rides so far and going for the 100 by the end of the season. I would LOVE to join any coaster group as I am Pretty friendless.
this was the top ride on my bucket list life experiences since I was 4 and watched National Lampoon's Vacation... glad to be able to ride before it finally closed, once in 2005 and once in 2011. (living over 6k miles away wasn't an easy task and goal to achieve... and I'm yet to visit SFMM again for the Twisted version...)
the thing that touched me was my favorite ride being clossed :( the cool thing is that no body disliked this video!!!! OMG that's actually really cool. + i almost cried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mangerang there is one dislike now :(
+mangerang I did cry
5 years later 28 dislikes
Not really sure why but it’s definitely not that bad
They NEVER should have tampered with the original, including the trimming down of the “mothers” humps. Not even one mention of Carol Flores, God bless her. Her death was the reason they removed the negative-G. I rode Colossus before they did that surgery, and it is true, you would be lifted up in your seat, and you could feel the car pulling down .
Yes. Strange that they said the 1979 closure and redesign was due to excessive maintenance. Certainly that was one of the considerations, but the ride was closed and redesigned due to the fatality. It was a very thrilling ride in 1978. After the redesign, meh.
There are some factual errors in this video. Six Flags turned one track of Colossus backwards in the 80s using the PTC trains, but it was not related to the Fright Fest event. In fact, that side of Colossus remained backwards year-round until the new trains from Morgan were purchased. The reason Colossus did not operate backwards with the Morgan trains is because they lacked a headrest. At some point in the mid-90s after Psyclone had been built Magic Mountain once again turned one track backwards for the annual FrightFest event using two of the B&M trains from Psyclone. Eventually, Psyclone was demolished, but Six Flags held on to two of the Psyclone trains for backwards operation.
1988 PTC trains were retired for Morgan Trains. 1998 two Psyclone trains used for the first time for Colossus backwards. In 1999 the park offered the backwards experience again for spring break and every October thereafter.
***** we rode it backwards on Spring Break this year. In fact, only one track was open and backwards was the only option. It definitely needed to be redone/replaced but it sure was great in its day. Loved that ride. I'd imagine our American Eagle at our home park in Gurnee (Chicago) will have to have something similar done.
They actually don't turn the track backwards, just the trains.
mechanicalmusic
By "Six Flags turned one track of Colossus backwards", he meant that the ride had two tracks and the trains on one of those two tracks ran backwards. What made you think that he was implying that they reversed the track itself (which is obviously impossible)?
I love how one of the guys keeps calling roller coaster rolly coasters!
I will miss colossus, it was my first coaster that had more than a 100 foot drop
It's fun to watch
Incredible video
I am about to age myself but I remember when both of these coasters opened. I was 9 when The Revolution opened and 10 when I first got to ride it. I was scared but excited at the same time! After the first time it was easy! We’d get back in line and do it again. I remember when Colossus was being built. They had a model of the coaster you could see and read about what to look forward to. I didn’t ride Colossus until I was 13 in 1980! By that time we had heard all kinds of things good and bad but mostly good. After the first time we rode it again and again throughout the 80s and into the early 90s including backwards! These days I think I am becoming my mom. She was afraid of roller coasters. She couldn’t stand to be even be near them! When we were young and wanted to go the Magic Mountain she dreaded having to go there. I am not quite like that yet. But I do get anxious riding them now. You know, like when I get on to ride I can’t wait for it to be over. I still ride because I want to keep the experience alive of how thrilling and exciting it was. Now after getting off a coaster instead of running to get back in line to ride again I have to sit this one out. I need time to recover! I am sorry about the original Colossus but I would like to try out Twisted Colossus.
My first coaster
So this was the tallest and fastest roller coaster for exactly one year until the beast at Kings Island opened up.... Which to this day is still the greatest coaster in the world.
Not the greatest lots are better
The beast is absolute garbage
I love the vincent price plug
When Colossus was closed in May of 1979, and reprofiled by Bill Cobb Associates it was to reduce( TOO MUCH EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE G's), which also delivered a very painful ride experience, and not to mention The IAD Trains weren't good for the ride alone. The PTC Trains did offer some Great Floater, and Strong Airtime, without the Black and Blue bruises on the riders thighs, and didn't eliminate all negitive G's as you stated. That Truly was The Best Version of The Once Mighty Colossus. I wish Magic Mountain worked hard to maintain it with Plenty of TLC. The same way Kennywood can keep their Coaster Woodies operating like a Fine Tuned Swiss Watch. The Jackrabbit Rollercoaster Celebrated 100yrs of Operation this past season.
Let Twisted Collosus come in!
great video! Can't stand the guests that have their cell phones out during the ride. That is super dangerous for the other people riding! Trust me I know being a ride operator for a coaster. We don't allow it. I have seen too many injuries from phones hitting other guests behind them.
Awesome video! :)
I don't know why some of you out there say Colossus was ruined when it was re-profiled and had the PTC Trains added as the rolling stock. Don't know about the rest of you but this was the very best version of Colossus. I first rode the Coaster in 1978 after I graduated from Marine Corps Bootcamp. After making it through 13 very though weeks of Marine Corps Bootcamp, Colossus was the worst Coaster experience ever. Rollercoasters are supposed to be exciting and fun, not painful. Also the Coaster ride was so bad it was shut down more than 50% of the time. Those NAD Trains were way too heavy and the restraints really sucked. They worked well on Revolution, not Colossus. With the re-profiling of the track and the PTC Trains Colossus was still an amazing AIRTIME MACHINE with a increased speed of 62mph and the trains would even travel faster at night. This is the Colossus I remember and miss.
Take a close look at the riders as the red Train is exiting the Double Down and how they land back down in their seats. LOOKS LIKE AIRTIME TO ME!!!!!!
Wow ace sweet documentary
8:15 Front Car holds airtime for like 40 feet, you can watch it land.
the morgan trains were the beginning of the end. by 1991 its was over. by the time they built goliath it'd become little more than a giant (albeit beautiful) decoration. magic mountain's seemingly deliberate neglect pretty much sealed it's fate . i miss it, not from the way it was in it's final days but the way it was in the 80's.
The only thing is the record was held by the Great American Scream Machine at 105 ft. Tall in 1973 I checked and it said the record was held by The Great American Scream Machine. Sorry if I am incorrect. If I am then I was given false information.
I love RMC
I LOVE TWISTED!
Why am I crying?
@ 2:26.... That FAMOUS MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER LAUGH!!!!
R.I.P M.J. AND MR. VINCENT PRICE!!!!
5:06 only in the 70s and 80s would you see shirtless construction workers lol.
Is the original colossus the same roller coaster from the intro step-by-step?
"Six Flags eliminated all possible airtime on this coaster" sounds about right
I always wonder, because they got rid of a big section when making Twisted Colossus, plus they added supports, removed some, and of course the new track, if for some weird reason Six Flags wanted to rebuild Colossus, would they be able to? Do they still have the blueprints?
No reason to
I dod not get to ride The Original COLOSSUS either im really sad :( !!!!!!!
I'd like to go on that coaster if I ever go to where it is.
What's the song at 6:50, Loved the video by the way! :)
When it says no rollercoasters hold records for long... The Beast??? (40 years)
Please let me know. I was wondering if the ride is smoother now. I'm afraid of getting my back to spasm due to the rough rides. Can someone let me know because I really want to ride the new Colossus.
I heard that twisted colossus is super smooth! The elements do throw you around a bit because it is airtime oriented.
Has anyone else noticed the top gun stall is wrong in the early rendering of the model.
I cried like 2 days in my sleep
I was able to go on the last day for my first time
6:41 What is the song please ACE?
What's the name of the song that starts at 2:35.
Is there an iTunes link for it?
Spinkicker No not that one the one that is similar to foxey lady.
I found it some time ago by the way, it's called Rock Motion or something.
14:09 man I wish TC actually had that crazy banked turn right there
can you send me a mp3 verson of Wave Rider on the disc Back Traxx 2 by Digital Juice
Was Colossus the only coaster to ever use modern IAD wood coaster trains?
Wouldn't The Beast at Kings Island be the world's largest wooden coaster
Colossus opened 1978 beast opened 1979
I wish i was there to ride the old colossus im kinda scared to go on twisted colossus tho... ):
Are they using the steel vengeance music
It closed on my 8th birthday 08/16/14
Colossus was the first "serious" coaster I ever rode (or is it ridden).
I feel very fortunate to have ridden Colossus many times. Having ridden Colossus, and then Twisted Colossus - which is good but, it's not better than Colossus...I miss Colossus. 😢
Thank You!! The Absolutely Best version of The Once Mighty Colossus, was after being reprofiled by Bill Cobb Associates. That's when The PTC Trains were added, where riders had to Push Forward, then Pull Down on a Long Lap Bar that had plenty of space off the riders thighs for some of The Best Awesome Airtime. Pure Nirvana!! I'm sorry, but for me, I refer the Coaster today as Twisted Colossucks. Because I still have Very Fond Memories of what this Classic Woodie once was. Especially every time I look at National Lampoon's Vacation, The Screemy Meemy. It makes me tear up with Joy!🥲🎢🎢💞
Plus, Revolution was in National Lampoons Vacation
What’s the song during 8:00
I visited for the 1st time one week after the original closed :(
Fastest rollercoaster in the world: continues to show Goliath