I am unsure if any ideas similar to this have been shared but I have come up with re-theme ideas for the existing rides in Katanga Canyon and also a new ride idea that I would like Alton Towers to create in Katanga Canyon's future. I like Katanga Canyon and I think it works well, but I thought these ideas could work.
The new roller coaster
This roller coaster would be partly indoors and resemble Dollywood's Mystery Mine. It would be built in the Katanga Canyon car park. A possible name could be Thunder Falls Mine. The storyline would be explained in the queue. The storyline is as follows: While mining for Katanga Rock the miners hit a part of the Congo Cargo river causing part of the mine to flood, however the miners have managed to escape. The aim is to asses the damage and salvage the remaining rock.
The water has been blocked off but the rickety mine is still unstable and you should be careful on your mission
The features of this ride
This ride would be similar to Th13teen but with the additional thrill of some inversions. The riders would start off in a mine shaft which is actually a lift that elevates the riders to the top of the first drop. The riders would sit at the bottom of this lift in the ride car as a voice tells them about their mission. The lift would then raise about two metres off the ground and would start to tilt side to side. The oil lamps would also be flickering on and off. After this a loud creak would be heard and a waterfall effect would turn on releasing torrents of water from the lift shaft wall. As this happens the lift would quickly ascend and stop on some block breaks at the top. While waiting a voice tells them the water has rushed into the mine and they must take the emergency shaft out of the mine. Suddenly the oil lamps would go out again and a roaring sound of water would be heard. Water effects in the cars would squirt at the riders. When the lights come back on a waterfall is seen in front of the car blocking the way out. The oil lamps turn off and the riders launch which is enhanced by water effects representing them going through the waterfall. The train proceeds through tight helixes and air time hills in mostly darkness apart from some mine equipment that is lit up. Steam sheets will also be fired in this roller coaster section, they are seen bursting out of broken pipes and cracked walls. After this section you reach a small chamber that has a second lift in it. The car stays on the lift as a voice shouts- "let's get this lift going-". After that a huge crank wheel with wires starts turning and sparks shoot out of it, the voice then says- "The mine's going to blow"-. The lift goes up the shaft quickly and sits on top of the indoor ride building. At the top of the shaft it starts shaking violently and four water fountains come out of the mine shaft. The riders go down the slope and start weaving through the discarded rocks and mine equipment while fountains erupt from the ground. The fountains represent the water coming out of the mine. The riders then return to the station.
The Runaway Mine Train
The Runaway Mine Train would be re-themed to allow it to link to the new roller coaster. The Runaway Mine Train would not keep it's current name and would be called Katanga Mine Train. It would be themed to a Katanga Rock transport system. The entrance would keep its current structure but signs saying things such as-"Danger, Katanga Rock collection point ahead" and "Warning, unsteady mine shafts" would be attached to it. The platform housing the bell would have a big pile of boulders stacked on it representing Katanga Rock. The plant beds on both sides of the entrance would have rock effects placed there along with pick axes. The station would remain the same apart from a sign reading "Mines ahead". The tunnel would have mining equipment lodged in the walls and mine scaffold scenery on the roof and walls. These are just slight adjustments as The Runaway Mine Train already has a good theme to support this idea but would need some scenery to make the connection clear.
The Congo River Rapids
The Congo River Rapids would be themed to the river that flooded the mine roller coaster and would change it's name to Congo Cargo River. The station would have Cargo boxes full of mine equipment stacked on it and would also have signs saying" Mines liable to flooding" and "Beware, river rough in bad weather". The tunnel theming is explained in The Runaway Mine Train section however in the rapids side of the tunnel there is a sign saying- "Danger, mine rupture ahead". The side of the river after the tunnel has small mine shafts and buildings scattered along it with sudden jets of water shooting out of them, although small there would be lot's of them. The waterfalls would have a rickety looking scaffold built around it so it appears that the water is pouring out of the mine, like in the mine roller coaster.
I hope you like these ideas, they are purely what I would like to see and I know that they are unlikely to happen
