552:
924:
342:
333:, England. It opened with the theme park in 1987 as the Runaway Train. The original ride was closed in 2012 for refurbishment and reopened on 14 March 2014, with the same track layout but new name and theming. Scorpion Express is set in a small mining village, featuring an animated metalwork scorpion. Scorpion Express closed in July 2022 following an incident, and, as of September 2024, it was revealed in the future planning proposals for the park that it would not return.
540:
564:
503:
576:
297:
273:
588:
285:
1131:
600:
612:
433:
58:
373:
49:
1143:
524:
must be accompanied by a person aged 16 or over. The layout is a basic figure of 8 loop with a straight piece of track at the back and consists of several helixes, some of which go over and under the queue line, which itself snakes around the ride. The ride makes at least two laps of the circuit, and more on off peak days. An
397:
Days after the ride's soft opening, adverts for the attraction were broadcast across
British television. Several other media stunts including newspaper articles about the ride appeared at this time. None of the footage used in the Scorpion Express TV adverts was from the actual ride, instead shots of
523:
The ride takes guests on a train journey through an abandoned mining town, across deserts and near to the mine itself. It features animatronic scenery, smoke, fire and water effects. The height minimum is 90 cm, while guests with a torso +51 inches are not able to ride. Riders under 110 cm
510:
The new ride in
Mexicana starts with a long winding queue. At the start of the queue, a radio station can be heard playing in the background, notices from the Governor of Scorpion Valley are pinned up in the queue, which reveal the ride's backstory. Riders then enter and queue in a dark, mine-themed
393:
During the resort's annual
February Half-Term event – African Adventures – advertising for the ride was placed on large billboards at the zoo entrance and on the back of the gate maps. At the same time a mini site for the ride was launched on the park's website, which showed the concept art for the
418:
As of June 2024, even though the ride no longer appears on any maps or other promotional material for the park, the 'Ride
Availability' page of the official website still lists Scorpion Express as 'Closed until further notice'. It is currently unknown if Scorpion Express will ever reopen, but it's
368:
The coaster was originally designed to travel in and out of a cave feature, which enclosed half the track and hid much of the structure, creating an interacting rocky landscape. However, due to its semi-temporary construction and prolonged lack of maintenance over the years, the cave feature was
414:
Scorpion
Express closed indefinitely following an incident in July 2022. Whilst no official announcements have been made by the park confirming any details about the incident, reports about the ride indicate that a fire broke out on the ride vehicle, damaging it. Despite a glimmer of hope for a
380:
In 2013, the area surrounding the
Runaway Train was boarded off with notices up saying that the ride would be "Re-launching in 2014". Over the closed season, the animatronic scorpion was installed after 208 hours of off-site construction. During this downtime, the ride had all its original cave
493:
The ride's premise revolves around a town named
Scorpion Valley, which has supposedly been overrun with scorpions after an explosion caused the gold mine to collapse and all the residents fled the town, according to text and posters stuck up in the switchback queue line. The Town Governor has
405:
Scorpion
Express received mixed response since its launch in 2014, largely to do with its minimal theme featured compared to how the ride was originally designed. However, it remained a popular family attraction as it had since opening in 1987.
656:
A few weeks ago, it was believed that
Scorpion Express at Chessington has a minor incident and caught fire, since then the ride has remained closed. The ride vehicles have since been removed and the exposed train can be seen in the photos
384:
The ride was complete on time to open for the park's Annual
Passholder Preview Days when it soft-opened. The ride officially launched on Wednesday 19 March after having slight alterations and theming adjustments.
871:
1220:
494:
supposedly left behind a giant, mechanical steam-powered scorpion fashioned from scrap metal from the debris of the explosion, in an attempt to guard the gold from chancing looters.
864:
1200:
857:
394:
attraction among other details. During this time, it was also announced that the ride would feature fire, water and smoke effects, as well as an animated scorpion.
1250:
1240:
1116:
551:
1230:
1185:
1235:
1225:
1210:
1135:
1147:
800:
At the end of July 2022, reports of an incident began to surface. People claimed that the ride had caught fire. ... The ride is sadly still closed.
1255:
1215:
1205:
1245:
101:
974:
480:
454:
906:
923:
1195:
1180:
880:
816:
677:
326:
86:
75:
65:
1190:
1015:
458:
381:
design, landscaping and theming features removed, now placing the track completely in the open and the queue on flat ground.
354:
539:
639:
900:
575:
1075:
728:
443:
672:
341:
462:
447:
968:
563:
1021:
894:
757:
228:
94:
599:
322:
177:
587:
1103:
611:
944:
706:
265:
Single train with 10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 40 riders per train.
173:
1057:
502:
17:
784:
1063:
992:
1098:
1069:
1045:
1027:
912:
48:
1051:
528:
is taken immediately before the train returns to enter the station for the first time.
330:
284:
1174:
1009:
986:
962:
938:
525:
197:
703:"Runaway Train - Chessington World of Adventures (Chessington, Surrey, England, UK)"
1108:
956:
950:
842:
812:
362:
849:
1039:
1033:
515:
feature. Upon exiting, riders go over a bridge, before arriving at the station.
432:
361:
theme, and featured an extensively themed area and queue, primarily designed by
57:
980:
743:
399:
350:
187:
506:
Vinyl posters in the queue for Scorpion Express display the ride's backstory.
116:
103:
372:
358:
365:, taking guests above buildings, around a lake and down into a small mine.
729:"The sting of the Scorpion at Chessington World of Adventures - Jacintaz3"
512:
640:"Scorpion Express Closed For Essential Maintenance | Theme Park Guide"
501:
371:
340:
402:, and computer-generated clips, were used to advertise the ride.
853:
426:
785:"Goodbye Scorpion Express? • Speculation • Chessington Buzz"
673:"Ride Availability | Chessington World of Adventure Resorts"
357:
in 1987 and operated for over twenty-five years. It had an
306:
1155:
758:"Scorpion Express Returns To The Track | Theme Park Guide"
702:
742:
Chessington World of Adventures Resort (24 March 2014).
1091:
1002:
931:
887:
261:
253:
245:
237:
227:
219:
211:
203:
193:
183:
169:
164:
156:
140:
132:
93:
81:
71:
64:
34:
415:reopening in early 2023, the ride did not reopen.
398:a bigger (but similarly themed) family coaster at
1221:Roller coasters operated by Merlin Entertainments
690:Scorpion Express | Closed until further notice
634:
632:
1117:List of amusement parks in the United Kingdom
865:
744:"Chessington 2014 Scorpion Express TV Advert"
8:
461:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
353:Blauer Enzian family coaster opened as the
1201:Roller coasters manufactured by Mack Rides
872:
858:
850:
369:removed in late 2012 and the ride closed.
481:Learn how and when to remove this message
667:
665:
628:
535:
31:
1251:Roller coasters in the United Kingdom
1241:Chessington World of Adventures rides
7:
1142:
709:from the original on 5 November 2013
459:adding citations to reliable sources
1231:Amusement rides that closed in 2012
1186:Roller coasters that closed in 2022
1236:Roller coasters introduced in 2014
1226:Roller coasters introduced in 1987
25:
1211:2012 disestablishments in England
1076:Madagascar Live! Prepare to Party
975:The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure
257:90 cm (2 ft 11 in)
41:Previously known as Runaway Train
1141:
1130:
1129:
922:
610:
598:
586:
574:
562:
550:
538:
431:
295:
283:
271:
56:
47:
27:Mine train themed roller coaster
881:Chessington World of Adventures
817:Chessington World of Adventures
678:Chessington World of Adventures
327:Chessington World of Adventures
76:Chessington World of Adventures
66:Chessington World of Adventures
1256:Rides designed by John Wardley
1216:2014 establishments in England
1206:1987 establishments in England
223:22.4 mph (36.0 km/h)
18:Runaway Train (roller coaster)
1:
1246:Tourist attractions in London
300:Must transfer from wheelchair
376:Boiler feature in the queue
1272:
321:) was a mine train themed
276:Reserve and Ride available
1125:
969:Zufari: Ride into Africa!
920:
345:The Runaway Train in 2010
305:
293:
281:
269:
55:
46:
39:
557:The Runaway Train tunnel
545:The Runaway Train tracks
307:Scorpion Express at RCDB
215:259 m (850 ft)
1196:Powered roller coasters
581:Scorpion Valley theming
207:4.7 m (15 ft)
1181:Closed roller coasters
605:Scattered mine theming
507:
377:
346:
323:powered roller coaster
117:51.349435°N 0.318012°W
1191:Steel roller coasters
1104:Merlin Entertainments
783:Jared (3 July 2023).
505:
375:
344:
288:Wheelchair accessible
762:themeparkguide.co.uk
746:– via YouTube.
644:themeparkguide.co.uk
511:building where live
455:improve this section
419:unlikely to happen.
122:51.349435; -0.318012
249:700 riders per hour
113: /
646:. 6 September 2022
508:
378:
355:Runaway Mine Train
347:
254:Height restriction
165:General statistics
1168:
1167:
1113:
1084: (2014-2022)
1078: (2012–2014)
1072: (2005–2017)
1066: (2003–2018)
1060: (2000–2009)
1054: (1999–2003)
1048: (1995–2019)
1042: (1994–2001)
1036: (1990–2016)
1030: (1988–2018)
1024: (1987–1993)
1022:The 5th Dimension
1018: (1987–2012)
1012: (1986–2015)
491:
490:
483:
312:
311:
149:19 March 2014 as
16:(Redirected from
1263:
1160:
1157:
1145:
1144:
1133:
1132:
1111:
1082:Scorpion Express
1064:Hocus Pocus Hall
926:
874:
867:
860:
851:
846:
845:
843:Official website
828:
827:
825:
823:
809:
803:
802:
797:
795:
789:Chessington Buzz
780:
774:
773:
771:
769:
754:
748:
747:
739:
733:
732:
725:
719:
718:
716:
714:
699:
693:
692:
687:
685:
669:
660:
659:
653:
651:
636:
617:Loading platform
614:
602:
590:
578:
566:
554:
542:
486:
479:
475:
472:
466:
435:
427:
410:Fire and closure
317:(originally the
315:Scorpion Express
299:
298:
287:
275:
274:
151:Scorpion Express
128:
127:
125:
124:
123:
118:
114:
111:
110:
109:
106:
89:
60:
51:
35:Scorpion Express
32:
21:
1271:
1270:
1266:
1265:
1264:
1262:
1261:
1260:
1171:
1170:
1169:
1164:
1154:
1121:
1099:Chessington Zoo
1087:
1070:Peeking Heights
1046:Rameses Revenge
1028:Black Buccaneer
998:
927:
918:
913:Mandrill Mayhem
888:Roller Coasters
883:
878:
841:
840:
837:
832:
831:
821:
819:
811:
810:
806:
793:
791:
782:
781:
777:
767:
765:
756:
755:
751:
741:
740:
736:
731:. 8 April 2014.
727:
726:
722:
712:
710:
701:
700:
696:
683:
681:
671:
670:
663:
649:
647:
638:
637:
630:
625:
618:
615:
606:
603:
594:
591:
582:
579:
570:
567:
558:
555:
546:
543:
534:
521:
500:
487:
476:
470:
467:
452:
436:
425:
412:
391:
339:
301:
296:
289:
277:
272:
148:
144:7 June 1987 as
121:
119:
115:
112:
107:
104:
102:
100:
99:
85:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1269:
1267:
1259:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1173:
1172:
1166:
1165:
1163:
1162:
1151:
1139:
1126:
1123:
1122:
1120:
1119:
1114:
1106:
1101:
1095:
1093:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1085:
1079:
1073:
1067:
1061:
1055:
1049:
1043:
1037:
1031:
1025:
1019:
1013:
1006:
1004:
1000:
999:
997:
996:
990:
984:
978:
972:
966:
960:
954:
948:
942:
935:
933:
929:
928:
921:
919:
917:
916:
910:
904:
898:
891:
889:
885:
884:
879:
877:
876:
869:
862:
854:
848:
847:
836:
835:External links
833:
830:
829:
804:
775:
764:. 7 April 2023
749:
734:
720:
694:
661:
627:
626:
624:
621:
620:
619:
616:
609:
607:
604:
597:
595:
592:
585:
583:
580:
573:
571:
568:
561:
559:
556:
549:
547:
544:
537:
533:
530:
520:
517:
499:
496:
489:
488:
439:
437:
430:
424:
421:
411:
408:
390:
387:
338:
335:
331:Greater London
310:
309:
303:
302:
294:
291:
290:
282:
279:
278:
270:
267:
266:
263:
259:
258:
255:
251:
250:
247:
243:
242:
239:
235:
234:
231:
225:
224:
221:
217:
216:
213:
209:
208:
205:
201:
200:
195:
191:
190:
185:
181:
180:
171:
167:
166:
162:
161:
158:
154:
153:
142:
138:
137:
134:
130:
129:
97:
91:
90:
83:
79:
78:
73:
69:
68:
62:
61:
53:
52:
44:
43:
37:
36:
26:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1268:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1178:
1176:
1161:
1159:
1152:
1150:
1149:
1140:
1138:
1137:
1128:
1127:
1124:
1118:
1115:
1110:
1107:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1090:
1083:
1080:
1077:
1074:
1071:
1068:
1065:
1062:
1059:
1056:
1053:
1050:
1047:
1044:
1041:
1038:
1035:
1032:
1029:
1026:
1023:
1020:
1017:
1016:Runaway Train
1014:
1011:
1010:Safari Skyway
1008:
1007:
1005:
1001:
994:
991:
988:
987:Blue Barnacle
985:
982:
979:
976:
973:
970:
967:
964:
963:Flying Jumbos
961:
958:
955:
952:
949:
946:
943:
940:
939:Tiny Truckers
937:
936:
934:
930:
925:
914:
911:
908:
907:Dragon's Fury
905:
902:
899:
896:
893:
892:
890:
886:
882:
875:
870:
868:
863:
861:
856:
855:
852:
844:
839:
838:
834:
818:
814:
808:
805:
801:
790:
786:
779:
776:
763:
759:
753:
750:
745:
738:
735:
730:
724:
721:
708:
704:
698:
695:
691:
680:
679:
674:
668:
666:
662:
658:
645:
641:
635:
633:
629:
622:
613:
608:
601:
596:
589:
584:
577:
572:
569:Ride entrance
565:
560:
553:
548:
541:
536:
531:
529:
527:
526:on-ride photo
518:
516:
514:
504:
497:
495:
485:
482:
474:
464:
460:
456:
450:
449:
445:
440:This section
438:
434:
429:
428:
422:
420:
416:
409:
407:
403:
401:
395:
388:
386:
382:
374:
370:
366:
364:
360:
356:
352:
343:
336:
334:
332:
328:
324:
320:
319:Runaway Train
316:
308:
304:
292:
286:
280:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
210:
206:
202:
199:
198:Blauer Enzian
196:
192:
189:
186:
182:
179:
175:
172:
168:
163:
159:
155:
152:
147:
146:Runaway Train
143:
139:
135:
131:
126:
98:
96:
92:
88:
84:
80:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
59:
54:
50:
45:
42:
38:
33:
30:
19:
1153:
1146:
1134:
1109:John Wardley
1081:
995: (2021)
989: (2021)
983: (2018)
977: (2017)
971: (2013)
965: (2013)
959: (2010)
953: (2002)
951:Tomb Blaster
947: (1995)
941: (1993)
915: (2023)
909: (2004)
903: (1998)
897: (1990)
820:. Retrieved
807:
799:
792:. Retrieved
788:
778:
766:. Retrieved
761:
752:
737:
723:
711:. Retrieved
697:
689:
682:. Retrieved
676:
655:
648:. Retrieved
643:
593:Ride in 2015
522:
509:
492:
477:
468:
453:Please help
441:
417:
413:
404:
396:
392:
383:
379:
367:
363:John Wardley
348:
318:
314:
313:
184:Manufacturer
157:Closing date
150:
145:
141:Opening date
82:Park section
40:
29:
1156:chessington
1040:Terror Tomb
1034:Bubbleworks
932:Other rides
901:Rattlesnake
423:Description
389:Advertising
359:Old Western
241:105 seconds
120: /
95:Coordinates
1175:Categories
1112:(designer)
1003:Past rides
981:Tiger Rock
822:15 October
813:"Mexicana"
713:15 October
623:References
471:March 2024
400:Heide Park
229:Inversions
188:Mack Rides
105:51°20′58″N
1058:Beanoland
993:Croc Drop
513:scorpions
442:does not
160:July 2022
108:0°19′05″W
1136:Category
1092:See Also
945:Seastorm
707:Archived
705:. RCDB.
246:Capacity
238:Duration
176: –
87:Mexicana
72:Location
1148:Commons
1052:Samurai
895:Vampire
532:Gallery
463:removed
448:sources
337:History
178:Powered
794:6 June
768:5 June
684:6 June
657:below.
650:6 June
262:Trains
212:Length
204:Height
136:Closed
133:Status
957:KOBRA
498:Queue
349:This
220:Speed
194:Model
174:Steel
1158:.com
824:2013
796:2024
770:2024
715:2013
686:2024
652:2024
519:Ride
446:any
444:cite
351:Mack
170:Type
457:by
329:in
325:at
1177::
815:.
798:.
787:.
760:.
688:.
675:.
664:^
654:.
642:.
631:^
873:e
866:t
859:v
826:.
772:.
717:.
484:)
478:(
473:)
469:(
465:.
451:.
233:0
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
