By Robert Lashmore
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The crash doors close using a weight on a pulley. In keeping with the tradition of the ride, the pulley weight is an old wheel from one of the carriages.
We make a sharp Right hand turn and then turn left as we see... |
The first stunt, to your left as you enter,which is this Pipe Organ. This is a 'handy' way to play the Organ, I'm sure ! ...Looky Ma, no hands... Oh, there they are - on the keyboard ! (Sorry, I couldn't resist)
As with most Darkrides, the wire mesh is virtually invisible when the ride is operating. |
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Rounding the corner, we find this little black cat watching us curiously as we pass. |
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Darkness again ! We turn abruptly to the left, then to the right. A figure of a dancing skeleton lights up in front of us. |
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"That's OK", we think as we turn to the left, "I can cope with that" - but as we think this, another Ghost Train carriage with people in it comes rushing at us in the gloom........ Phew.. it's only a mirror !! |
...Then, continuing this non-stop volley of shocks, as soon as we turn away from the mirror, a bedroom lights up.... a hideous grinning corpse-like figure sits up abruptly in bed, startling us into screams..... but who is she ? |
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....Closer investigation of her bedside reveals that this is "Mrs Bates", and she is reading of her sons adventures.... |
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So intent are we on looking at the dolls to the left of the track that we don't see the shadowy figure standing right in front of us until it's too late..... LOOK OUT !! **CRASH** - we run headfirst into the Ticket Collector, standing there with his clipboard demanding proof that we have paid the price to invade his domain. Luckily he swings out of the way as we hit him, but as he steps aside he reveals....
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The kingdom of the spiders !! Projections of cobwebs are on the walls as the ride passes. The projections and the spiders on the walls are a little intimidating... however just around to the left... |
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Right after seeing the huge spider, you pass through some hanging cobwebs that caress your face... just the thing to reassure you... not. |
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Looming in the darkness ahead, a horrific scene unfolds - the carriage in front of us has derailed, and out of the wreckage a lone hand waves in a plea for help. I hope help comes soon, because that giant spider is looking for dinner ! |
Turning around to the right, we travel through blackness for a second before a ghastly beheading mural lights up. |
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We turn to the left, and at the far end of the corridor, another beheading mural lights up... |
Unexpectedly, before we reach the mural at the end, another beheading lights up, to our right,
There are rats running along the pipe, and as they do, a large rat pops up from the upturned pipe at the end.
Suddenly we're turning right again, past a librarian sitting hunched over a big dusty book. We see the bookshelves behind him and then realise that the librarian looks a lot like a Vampire.... Yikes !! As we get close to him, he startles us by abruptly snapping his book shut with a little puff of dust.
Turning to the left, we see another red-eyed Dog sitting in an alcove. Without warning, this dog leaps forward towards us - watch out if you're sitting on the right !! If you're thinking this dog looks a little naked, that's because it's face-mask was being serviced at the time we visited.
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Another corridor awaits, and at the end..... it's Hell, ladies and gentlemen - our journey to hell is at an end - here it is in all it's glory.... lovingly painted in the recent refurbishment. This mural is so detailed that you need to ride the ride several times to get all the fine detail in it. |
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A few facts for you: The ride is 130 Meters long. Ride takes 1 min 40sec ( 100 sec total) Train travels at 1.3 meters/sec (or 4.6 Km/Hr) The ride was installed in 1934 It was originally called the Pretzel. It was renamed as the Ghost Ride. It then became the Tunnel Of Terror It's
final name change came in 2001
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For information about Luna Park Melbourne, visit their web site at ... Make sure you let them know Tunnel Of Laffs sent you! |
This Article ©2004 Robert Lashmore And Used
With Permission.
Many thanks to Dean Leggert (Above Right) and Emma Nuttall from Luna Park Melbourne. Thanks also to Rohan Storey of Friends Of Luna Park, Melbourne. Graphics and web page layout by Robert Lashmore. © 2004 Robert Lashmore & Tunnel Of Laffs No
portions of this article, its text, photos, or graphics may be used without
the consent of their creators. |