Tower Boat
Tower Boat
Alton Towers Keeps Coasting Along
Alton Towers, as the UK’s biggest and most popular theme park, needs no introduction. The park is located near Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire and was built upon the site of an eighteenth-century manor, the historic seat of the Earls of Shrewsbury. The ruins of the original Towers remain and since 2000 have been used as an atmospheric setting for an attraction introducing visitors to the local legend of an ancient oak tree which is mysteriously bound in chains, supposedly because it is cursed.
While ghost stories, fictions and fantasies have inevitably grown up around this much-loved location, the factual history of the park is interesting too. The construction of the house and its splendid landscaped gardens continued throughout the first half of the nineteenth century and several generations of Earls.
The estate was first opened to the public in 1860 and fetes were held in the formal gardens, but as the costs of maintenance climbed the family eventually sold the land and house off to a group of local businessmen. Calling themselves Alton Towers Limited, this consortium restored and maintained the gardens with the proceeds from charging visitors one shilling each to enjoy fairground rides, boating and concerts in the grounds – a rather tame predecessor of the modern park.
During the Second World War, the estate was requisitioned by the Army and the grounds used as a cadet training camp. In the 1950s it was restored again and re-opened to the public with traveling fun fairs in the summer and a tea room installed in the old banqueting hall; soon followed by more and more ambitious attractions such as a miniature railway, adventure playground and a sea lion pool. The real beginning of Alton Towers as we know it was around 1980 with the construction of the UK’s first double-looping rollercoaster, the Corkscrew, which remains popular to this day.
The Corkscrew is now the oldest of 33 attractions at Alton Towers, including eight coasters and three water rides. Its two inversions rather pale in comparison to some of the newer, celebrated rides such as Oblivion, the world’s first vertical drop rollercoaster; Air, the world’s first ‘flying’ rollercoaster; and the thrillseeker’s favourite Nemesis, an intense inverted coaster which features four inversions and speeds underground in several places. Not content with the title of ‘Europe’s first inverted rollercoaster’, in 2004 Nemesis secured the world record for the largest number of naked people to ride at a time!
Along with the rides, there are many tamer attractions for young children, a petting zoo, arcades, a water park and spa, speedboat racing, a climbing wall and even mini bungee jumping. There are two official Alton Towers hotels in the grounds, with bars and restaurants, live music and shows in the evenings.
Alton Towers continues to expand, with a new pirate-themed area including a huge boat ride planned to open for the 2008 summer season. With over 2.5 million visitors a year, the park shows no sign of slowing down and seems bound to keep on entertaining, thrilling and record-breaking for many years to come.
About the Author
Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen traveller and watersports enthusiast. Originally from Scotland, she now resides in London.
Commercial Fishing Boat Designs
When seeking out Commercial Fishing Boat Designs, the first step which is necessary for you is to first have an idea of the type of commercial fishing boat which you looking for. This is because commercial fishing boats come in many designs and types and you need to be sure to locate the most accurate boat design.
Let’s take a look at the different types of commercial fishing boats before we go into their designs.
1) The Trawlers – These commercial fishing boats are design to haul fishing nets across the sea and trap fishes that swim in the fishing net’s way. The boat will definitely feature a huge roller where the net is released or retracted when needed. Also, there is a platform where the fishes can be removed and poured from the net so the fishermen can properly categorize and store their catch.
2) The Drifters – This commercial fishing vessel is also one that is designed to operate a fishing net. They are however known as drift nets. The drifters are larger versions of trawlers and thus they have a broader hull when you look into their design. The roller which is responsible for the manipulation of the fishing net is also wider and powered by a stronger motor. Drifters are designed to be huge because they are meant for deep sea fishing.
3) The Seine – The seine being a flat and wide commercial fishing boat, is not that different from the drifter. However, the seine can be larger in size. The seine looks more like a ferry but its actual function is meant for fishing. The fishing net is handled differently in the seine. The seine is designed with a tower like structure which hangs the fishing net vertically in the water. This is to trap the fishes as they are circled into the net. Seines are very big and therefore can also function as storage for fishes in long distance sea fishing. The design would normally include a cold storage beneath the deck.
For more commercial fishing boat designs, you can actually visit a fishing boat dealer and have him show you the actual fishing boats they sell. Remember to compare the designs and you’ll be able to discern the boats that suit your commercial needs and budgets the best.
About the Author
Camon is an author who loves to write on many topics which sparks his interest. His common interests are business, marketing, fishing and herbs. Besides Commercial Fishing Boat Designs, Camon also has an interest in fishing and likes to share his ideas about the fishing ideas to like minded individuals.
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