Troika (ride)

The Troika is an amusement park ride designed and manufactured by HUSS Park Attractions in the mid-1970s. The name Troika means "group of three" in Russian, a reference to its three armed design. There are several variations on the design.

Design

HUSS Park Attractions designed and manufactured the first Troika ride in the mid-1970s. It is named after the Russian word meaning "group of three", a reference to its three armed design.

Description and operation

A Troika consists of three arms radiating from a central column. At the end of each arm is a wheel-like assembly (star) holding seven gondolas, each of which seats 2 people side by side.

When the ride is activated, the central column rotates clockwise, while the Star at the end of each arm rotates counterclockwise. Hydraulic cylinders then raise the arms to an angle of 40°. The gondolas do have some capacity to rock from side to side, but this is minimal. At the end of the ride cycle, the arms are lowered, and the rotation stopped. Because it is a relatively mild thrill ride, it is a good ride for younger children or beginning riders who aren't up to riding more extreme attractions, like Huss's own Enterprise or Top Spin.

The main safety restraint is a buzz bar system, which locks into one of five positions. Huss recommends that riders be at least 42 inches tall with an adult or over 50 inches tall to ride alone.

Variants and modern adaptions

The ride is available in both transportable and permanent forms, although due to the total weight and size of the ride (35 tons, plus an additional 27 tons for the temporary base and platform), transportable Troikas are unpopular and uncommon.

Portable versions of the Troika can be disassembled, but due to the size and weight of the machinery and platform, rack onto no fewer than three trailers.

AirBoat

Huss now makes a modern version of the Troika, called the AirBoat. It is smaller and can only carry 24 people (with 3 pods and 4 cars per pod). It runs at about the same speed. One example that is no longer running was the Gator Bait ride at Six Flags New Orleans; this ride closed due to damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Scorpion

The Tivoli Scorpion is based on the same pattern as the Troika, but a much smaller gondola wheel diameter results in greater speed and centripetal force experienced by the riders (claimed to be over 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph)). The Scorpion is significantly lighter than a Troika, making it more popular for operation at carnivals and fairs.

Troika Installations

Name Park Country Manufacturer Opened Closed Details
Scorpion Adventure Island United Kingdom Tivoli 2001 2018 Now operates as a travelling fair ride.
Troika Adventureland United States HUSS 1976 1983 Leased to park by German immigrant Willy Miller.[1]
Troika Al-Rawdah Sharaco Amusement Park Saudi Arabia HUSS 1988 Closed Park and ride presumed closed.[2][3]
Тройка (Troika) All-Russia Exhibition Center Russia HUSS 1976 2016
Тройка (Troika) Anapa Russia HUSS 2018 Open [4] Originally manufactured 1974.
Turbo Star Alton Towers United Kingdom HUSS[5] 1984 1989
Tomahawk Attractiepark Slagharen Netherlands HUSS Open
Unknown Barry Island Pleasure Park HUSS Closed Now operates at Carowinds
Adrenaline Test Zone Calaway Park Canada HUSS Open [6]
Triple Play California's Great America United States HUSS 1976 2004
Do-Si-Do Carowinds United States HUSS 2017 Open Previously traveled with German showman Schafer between 1974 and 1976 before operating at several European parks between 2004 and 2010. Sold to Cedar Fair among other European flat rides.[7]
Troika Cedar Point United States HUSS 1976 Open [8]
Unknown Coney Beach Pleasure Park Wales HUSS Closed Now operates at Carowinds
Kaleidoscope Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom United States HUSS 2017 Open [9]
Troika Dreamland Margate 1983 1997
Troika Elitch Gardens Theme Park United States HUSS 1995 Open Originally manufactured 1976.[10]
Goldcurse Familiepark Drievliet Netherlands HUSS Open Includes extensive theming package.[11] Previously operated as Turbo Star. Serial number 26360.[12]
Troika Fuji-Q Highland Japan HUSS Closed [13]
Troika Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo United States HUSS 2008 Standing but not operating after park closed. Removed sometime between 2011 and 2015 and relocated to Santa's Village AZoosment Park.
Wellenreiter (Wave Rider) Hansa-Park Germany HUSS 1978 Open [14]
Scorpion Horn Luna Park Serbia Tivoli Enterprises 1997 Open Traveling version.
Bad Apple Kings Dominion United States HUSS 2002 Open [15]
Shake, Rattle & Roll Kings Island United States HUSS 1975 Open [16] Serial number 26731.
Humla Kongeparken Norway 1997 Open [17]
Diablo La Ronde Canada 1978 2003
Troika Linnanmäki Finland HUSS 1974 1974 Relocated to Särkänniemi. Ride originally bought for Särkänniemi, but Särkänniemi did not open until 1975 and so the ride was rented to Linnanmäki for 1974 season.
Unknown Loudoun Castle United Kingdom HUSS Closed Now operates at Carowinds
Tumble Bug Luna Park Sydney Australia HUSS 1995 2020 [18]
L'aigle Noir (The Black Eagle) OK Corral Theme Park France HUSS 1970 Open
Super Star Palace Playland United States 1980s Open [19]
Tri-Star Pleasureland Southport United Kingdom 1974 1983 Built under license by English firm Bennett. Relocated to Spanish City.
Tri-Star Pleasureland Southport United Kingdom Fairmatt 2013 Open
Unknown Pleasurewood Hills United Kingdom HUSS Closed Now operates at Carowinds
Tri-Nado Santa's Village AZoosment Park United States HUSS 2015 Open Relocated from Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo.[20]
Troika Särkänniemi Finland 1975 Open
Riptide Rescue Sea World San Antonio United States Huss Open Airboat
Riptide Rescue Seaworld San Diego United States Huss Open Airboat
Spider Selva Magica Mexico Open
Warp 2000 Six Flags AstroWorld United States HUSS 1981 2005 Most parts moved to Six Flags Over Texas for usage on its Troika.
Thrillbilly Six Flags Darien Lake United States HUSS 1979 1983 Ride removed with changes in park ownership.
Triple Play Six Flags Great America United States HUSS 1976 Open [21]
Wild Flower Six Flags Great Adventure United States HUSS 1975 1977 Previously Wild Rider.
Gator Bait Six Flags New Orleans United States HUSS 2005 AirBoat version. No longer in operation after Hurricane Katrina but still standing.
Harley Quinn Spinsanity Six Flags Over Texas United States HUSS 2006 2017 Previously Crazy Legs. Relocated from Six Flags AstroWorld.
Tri-Star Spanish City 1984 1984 Relocated from Pleasureland Southport.
Scorpion Talley Amusements, Inc. (Showman) United States Tivoli Open [22]
Calgary Stampede Thorpe Park United Kingdom 1993 2003
Troika Toshimaen Japan HUSS 2020
Mustang Runner Worlds of Fun United States HUSS 2017 Open [23]
Dancing Queen Unknown - German Showman Germany Open Traveling version in Germany.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Troika (ride).

References

  1. ^ Mercaldo, Christopher (2014). Adventureland. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 17, 21. ISBN 9781467121705.
  2. ^ "Al-Rawdah Sharaco Amusement Park (Riyadh, Ar Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)". rcdb.com. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  3. ^ "Saudi Constructioneers Ltd". www.saudico.com.sa. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  4. ^ "Тройка". Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  5. ^ "Turbo Star". TowersTimes. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  6. ^ "Calaway Park Website". Archived from the original on 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  7. ^ "Do-Si-Do - Carowinds Website". Archived from the original on 2020-09-18. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  8. ^ "Troika - Cedar Point Website". Archived from the original on 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  9. ^ "Kaleidoscope - Dorney Park Website". Archived from the original on 2020-04-12. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  10. ^ "Troika - Elitch Gardens Website". Archived from the original on 2020-09-22. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  11. ^ Goldcurse // On/Offride // Drievliet, The Netherlands // Huss Troika, archived from the original on 2021-12-19, retrieved 2020-04-12
  12. ^ "Goldcurse - Drievliet (NL) - polypweb.eu". www.polypweb.eu. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  13. ^ "Fuji-Q Highland - Troika". www.themeparkreview.com. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  14. ^ "Wellenreiter - Hansa-Park Website". Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  15. ^ "Bad Apple - Kings Dominion Website". Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  16. ^ "Shake, Rattle & Roll - Kings Island Website". Archived from the original on 2019-07-28. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  17. ^ "Humla - Kongeparken Website". 18 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  18. ^ "Tumble Bug - Luna Park Sydney Website". Archived from the original on 2019-04-11. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  19. ^ "Rides - Palace Playland Website". Archived from the original on 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  20. ^ "Thrill Rides - Santa's Village AZoosment Park Website". Archived from the original on 2019-07-07. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  21. ^ "Triple Play - Six Flags Great America Website". Archived from the original on 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
  22. ^ www.mwdwebdesign.com, Matt's Web Design-. "Talley Amusements - Scorpion". Talley Amusements. Archived from the original on 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  23. ^ "Mustang Runner - Worlds of Fun Website". Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2019-03-16.
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