Hakugei (roller coaster)

Hakugei (白鯨, White Whale) is a steel roller coaster at Nagashima Spa Land in Mie Prefecture, Japan. It was formerly a wooden roller coaster known as White Cyclone (ホワイトサイクロン, Howaito Saikuron) manufactured by Swiss company Intamin that operated from 1994 to 2018.[1] It was refurbished by American company Rocky Mountain Construction, which installed steel track on the ride and made modifications to the ride layout, including the addition of three inversions. The refurbished ride opened on 28 March 2019.[2]

Hakugei
White Cyclone as seen in 2009
Nagashima Spa Land
LocationNagashima Spa Land
Coordinates35°01′49″N 136°44′05″E
StatusOperating
Opening date28 March 2019
Cost¥2,800,000,000
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction
ModelI-Box Track
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height55 m (180 ft)
Length1,530 m (5,020 ft)
Speed107 km/h (66 mph)
Inversions3
Max vertical angle80°
G-force4
Height restriction130 cm (4 ft 3 in)
Trains3 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Hakugei at RCDB
Pictures of Hakugei at RCDB

History

White Cyclone
Closer aerial view of White Cyclone

Before the construction of White Cyclone in 1994, there had previously been only one wooden roller coaster ever constructed in Japan. This roller coaster, Jupiter, was opened in 1992—after height restrictions on wooden structures were relaxed by the Japanese government.[3] Another wooden coaster, White Canyon, opened in 1994—the same year as White Cyclone. In 2013, the roller coasters Jupiter and White Cyclone were two of only four operating wooden roller coasters in Japan,[4] and of only thirteen operating wooden roller coasters in Asia.[5]

White Cyclone was constructed of enough Alaskan timber to construct nearly a thousand homes.[6] The ride was particularly fast for a wooden roller coaster and it incorporated many standard elements such as helixes, large drops and smaller bunny hills.[3] The roller coaster incorporated a double out-and-back design and used cars manufactured by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company.[7] White Cyclone closed on 28 January 2018.[1]

Hakugei

Rocky Mountain Construction refurbished the roller coaster using its patented I-Box Track technology,[8] with the ride being renamed White Whale (白鯨, Hakugei). The ride's height and speed were increased and three inversions were added to the layout. The refurbished ride opened on 28 March 2019.[2]

StatisticWhite Cyclone[1]Hakugei[2]
Years1994–20182019–present
ManufacturerIntaminRocky Mountain Construction
TrackWoodSteel
Height42.4 m or 139 ft55 m or 180 ft
Length1,700 m or 5,600 ft1,530 m or 5,020 ft
Speed102 km/h or 63 mph107 km/h or 66 mph
Inversions03

References
  1. Marden, Duane. "White Cyclone  (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  2. Marden, Duane. "Hakugei  (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  3. Urbanowicz, Steven J. (2002). The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the World's Best Coasters. New York: Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-2309-3.
  4. RCDB list of wooden roller coasters in Japan
  5. RCDB list of wooden roller coasters in Asia
  6. Heacox, Kim (2006). The Only Kayak. Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot. ISBN 1-59228-894-4.
  7. Ultimaterollercoaster's listing for White Cyclone
  8. "White Cyclone at Nagashima Spa Land Closes For RMC Treatment - Coaster101". Coaster101. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
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