Phantom's Revenge

Phantom's Revenge (formerly known as Steel Phantom) is a steel roller coaster at Kennywood amusement park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. When it opened as Steel Phantom in 1991, it featured the fastest speed and longest drop of any roller coaster in the world. The ride was originally manufactured by Arrow Dynamics but was later modified and renovated by D.H. Morgan Manufacturing prior to the 2001 season, when it reopened as Phantom’s Revenge. The changes included an increased drop and track length, as well as the removal of its four inversions. It features a unique characteristic of having a second drop that is longer than its first.

Phantom's Revenge
Previously known as Steel Phantom (1991-2000)
Kennywood
Location	Kennywood
Park section	Lost Kennywood
Coordinates	40.388992°N 79.865978°W
Status	Operating
Opening date	May 10, 1991
Cost	$4.6 million
Replaced	Laser Loop
General statistics
Type	Steel
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Harry Henninger
Model	Hyper Coaster
Track layout	Terrain Mega Coaster
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	160 ft (49 m)
Drop	228 ft (69 m)
Length	3,200 ft (980 m)
Speed	85 mph (137 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:57
Max vertical angle	52°
Capacity	1400 riders per hour
G-force	3.5
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Trains	2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train.
Phantom's Revenge at RCDB Pictures of Phantom's Revenge at RCDB

The ride has been ranked in the top 50 of the annual Golden Ticket Awards every year since 2000, spending a considerable amount of that time in the top 10. In addition, it has been ranked consistently in the top 5 of the National Amusement Park Historical Association Favorite Steel Roller Coaster poll, with the exception of the association's 2008 results.

History

Harry Henniger, the president of Kennywood Entertainment Company, wanted a large steel coaster in the late 1980s. The park had mostly built wooden roller coasters in the past. The park also had a very tight layout and they were not sure how to fit it into the park. On July 27, 1990, Kennywood announced the name of their new roller coaster would be Steel Phantom and it would use the same station as Laser Loop, which it replaced.[1] The ride opened on May 10, 1991,[2] as the fastest and steepest steel roller coaster in the world. The inversions were a vertical loop, a Boomerang, and a corkscrew. As a result of the inversions, riders experienced more-than-usual head banging. Shortly after its debut, a trim brake was added because the coaster was traveling faster than it should through the inversions and riders were experiencing pain in their necks.[3][4]

Phantom's Revenge when it was originally Steel Phantom.

Due to the coaster being rough, ride operators told riders to remove their earrings before boarding the train. They would not only check their restraints, but their ears as well. The train would leave the station once riders had their earrings removed.[5]

In March 2000, Kennywood announced that they would dismantle Steel Phantom. A replacement for Steel Phantom was not announced at the time. "Just about anything is on the table" said Kennywood spokeswoman, Mary Lou Rosemeyer.[6] After the decision to remove Steel Phantom was announced, the park started receiving complaints and emails about the decision. Kennywood ultimately decided to keep the roller coaster but make modifications to it.[7][8] After the ride closed on Labor Day weekend in 2000,[9] Steel Phantom underwent extensive changes by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing, most notably the removal of all of its inversions.[8] According to Kennywood, this was done because of rider complaints of how rough the coaster was on their heads and necks. The modified coaster reopened as the Phantom's Revenge on May 19, 2001.[10] The coaster only operated with one train in its first season. In 2002, magnetic brakes were added to the ride so a second train could be used, and its top speed increased to 85 mph (137 km/h).[4][7] Because of the modifications, both Morgan style and Arrow style track have been utilized.[7]

Ride experience

The ride is considered to be a terrain roller coaster, meaning the ride experiences various elevation changes. Unlike most roller coasters, the ride's second drop is longer than the first. It drops through Thunderbolt's structure, which is located at the bottom of a hill in a ravine.

Layout

The notable second drop of Phantom's Revenge.

Phantom's Revenge

After leaving the station, the train makes a slight turn to the right before climbing the 160-foot (49 m) chain lift hill. After ascending the lift hill, the train drops to the right, reaching a speed of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Riders then enter a straightaway before climbing a second hill which drops them 228 feet (69 m), reaching a top speed of 85 miles per hour (137 km/h). The train then makes a 280-degree turn, passing back under the Thunderbolt's structure. Next, the train circles around the Turtle ride before traveling back under the second drop through a bunny-hop. Riders then make a turn to the left, passing under the ride's brake run and entering a second bunny-hop. The train then enters a 180 degree curve, going through the last bunny-hop and entering the brake run. One cycle of the ride takes approximately 1 minute and 57 seconds.[10][11][12]

Steel Phantom

After leaving the station, the train made a slight turn to the right, climbing the 160-foot (49 m) chain lift hill. After ascending the lift hill, the ride went down a banked drop to the right. After a straight section, the ride went up a second hill that turned slightly to the right. The train then dropped 225 feet (69 m) through the Thunderbolt's structure, reaching a top speed of 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). The train then turned to the left, entering a pair of trim brakes before heading into a vertical loop. After the loop, the train immediately went into a boomerang, an element which turned riders upside down twice. The train then made a right turn into a corkscrew, the fourth and final inversion. After this, riders went through a right turn that passed under the corkscrew. After this, the ride ascended into the brake run. One cycle of the ride took approximately 2 minutes and 15 seconds.[10][13]

Trains

The green train on a airtime hill

Phantom's Revenge operates with two trains; the green train and the purple train. Both have seven cars that seat two riders in two rows for a total of 28 riders per train.[14] After the ride was renovated, the trains were also renovated. Steel Phantom's chassis, that was built by Arrow remained but Morgan built new, aerodynamic fiberglass bodies. Morgan also replaced the over-shoulder-restraints with lap bars and seatbelts.[4][8]

Track

Phantom's Revenge's steel track is approximately 3,200 feet (980 m) in length and the height of the lift is approximately 160 feet (49 m). Before the renovation, the length was 3,000 feet (910 m) and the lift remained unchanged. The track was originally manufactured by Arrow Dynamics and painted black with silver/grey rails and grey supports. After the renovation, D.H. Morgan Manufacturing replaced the majority of the track and it was painted green with black supports.[10] The only Arrow Dynamics track that remains is the lift hill, the station and the brake run/transfer track.[14]

Comparison

Statistic	Steel Phantom	Phantom's Revenge
Operating Years	May 10, 1991–September 4, 2000	May 19, 2001–present
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics	D. H. Morgan Manufacturing
Height	160 feet or 49 metres	160 feet or 49 metres
Drop	225 feet or 69 metres	228 feet or 69 metres
Length	3,000 feet or 910 metres	3,200 feet or 980 metres
Speed	80 miles per hour or 130 kilometres per hour	85 miles per hour or 137 kilometres per hour
Duration	2:15	1:57
Inversions	4	0
Restraints	Over-the-shoulder harness	Lap bar
Height Restriction	52”	48”

Awards and rankings

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters

Year	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Ranking	19[15]	15[16]	7[17]	8[18]	8[19]	8[20]	7[21]	7[22]	8[23]	8[24]	9[25]	5[26]	11[27]	13[28]	11[29]	14[30]	10[31]	12[32]	13[33]	12[34]

NAPHA Survey: Favorite Steel Roller Coaster
Year	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Ranking	4[nb 1]	3[35]	4[35]	–	3[35]	3[35]	2[35]	2[35]	2[35]	2[35]	2[35]	2[35]	2[35]	1[35]	1[35]

Notes

1. Tied with Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure.[35]

References

1. "Kennywood will name new coaster Steel Phantom". The Pittsburgh Press. July 27, 1990. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
2. Blank, Ed (May 8, 1991). "Ed Blank reviews Kennywood 'Phantom'". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
3. "Steel Phantom a bit too fast; Being adjusted". Beaver County Times. May 13, 1991. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
4. "90s Steel Coasters - Part One". Ultimate Roller Coaster. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
5. "Kara Reviews Steel Phantom! (Kennywood Park) Pittsburgh, PA". YouTube. XscreamThrills.
6. Lowry, Patricia (March 7, 2000). "Seeking a new buzz, Kennywood to end Steel Phantom's run". Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
7. "Park's coaster will be redone". The Vindicator. August 11, 2000. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
8. "Kennywood Unveils Steel Phantom Replacement for 2001". Ultimate Roller Coaster. August 10, 2000. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
9. "Phantom fans take one last ride". The Vindicator. September 5, 2000. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
10. Marden, Duane. "Phantom's Revenge  (Kennywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
11. "Phantom's Revenge at Coaster-Net". Coaster-Net. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
12. "Phantom's Revenge POV". YouTube. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
13. "Steel Phantom POV". YouTube. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
14. "The Phantom's Revenge Construction Information". Kennywood. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
15. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
16. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
17. "Top 25 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 7B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
18. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
19. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 18–19B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
20. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
21. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 26–27B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
22. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 36–37. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
23. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 36–37. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
24. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 32–33. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
25. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 34–35. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
26. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 38–39. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
27. "Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 36–37. September 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
28. "2013 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 34–35. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
29. "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
30. "2015 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 19 (6.2): 49–50. September 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
31. "2016 top 50 steel roller coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
32. "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
33. "2018 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
34. "2019 Top Steel". Golden Ticket Awards. Amusement Today. September 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
35. "NAPHA 2005–2011 Survey Results". National Amusement Park Historical Association. Retrieved May 27, 2012.

External links

• Phantom's Revenge at the Roller Coaster DataBase
• Phantom's Revenge Article and Photos on Ultimate Rollercoaster.com
• America Coasters review of Phantom's Revenge