Volume 3, No. 15. August 8,2003
Well-trained
Gary Baker, the
events director of American Coaster Enthusiasts, while organizing last weekend’s
Preservation Conference at Lakeside Amusement Park and Six Flags Elitch Gardens
in Denver, Colorado, heard rumors that Elitch Gardens might be getting new Philadelphia
Toboggan Coaster trains for its Twister Two. That would mean the wood
coaster’s original PTC trains that had run on the legendary 1964-built
Mr. Twister at the original Elitch Gardens were being mothballed
Baker asked Jim Bouy, the vice president and general manager of Six Flags Elitch
Gardens, if the park would be willing to donate one of the cars to ACE’s
National Roller Coaster Museum and Archive. “Let me check; I’ll get
back to you,” Bouy replied. A few days later the GM called Baker. “Would
you like the whole train?” Baker relayed this question to the museum board
and ACE’s archivist, who responded, “You have to ask?”
Sunday, as part of Elitch Gardens’ hosting of the ACE Preservation Conference,
the park officially donated an original Mr. Twister train to the National
Roller Coaster Museum and Archive. The train, with a new blue-painted finish
and festooned with balloons, stood at the entrance to Twister Two, looking
as if had just rolled off the assembly line—or the track. In fact, several
park guests thought the display was part of an announcement for a new ride.
The Mr. Twister train represents the Archive’s largest acquisition.
PTC, whose president Tom Rebbie is chairman of the Museum Board, will transport
the train to its warehouse for storage until the museum is built.
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