Road Trip anyone?

Also in picture number 3 at the RCDB link back on the first page of this topic, (I'd give a link, but I don't know how) the station looks reversed. So either the train ran in the opposite direction or the original station is where the sheds are now on The Vortex and they moved everything over, or I just have a terrible sense of direction.

I think you are just looking at it back wards. Here is a link of The Bat station showing The Bat's sign. Its in the same location where The Vortex sign is now.

The Bat was the best of the suspended coasters. The park knew when they did the first test runs in November of 1980 they were going to have problems. The Bat had several stretches where it was running in 1981 and it was running the first few weekends in 1982. It sat idle all of 1983, and made one final trip around the track midway through the 1984 season so stress engineers could take a look. That cycle took place about 15 minutes before the park opened one morning. You could hear The Bat going up the lift hill in the parking lot. It was loud!

Louder then SOB?

, but, Brwntggr, where you been?

Some cool pics of The Bat. From...Coasterglobe

Layout of The Bat.

winter pic of Bat

Construction

Winter Construction

That thing looked crazy I wish that was still there and the arrow multilooper where top gun is.

i was able to ride The Bat several times. it was a fun coaster, from what i recall. the times i was there, i don't remember it being down. it is a shame that bat died on the vine.

, but, Brwntggr, where you been?

I was promoted to head of the department on day shift. Great hours, but, there are more meetings, big-wigs, and less time to enjoy PKI Central.

awesome pic of The Bat!

Yeah good find F5. You can really see how The Vortex mirrors part of The Bat - the straight track before the turn to the station, the station and the lift. They are all in exactly the same spot. I know its different footers and everything - but you can really tell that Arrow designed Vortex to fill Bat's shoes...

Admiral, speaking of Filling Bat's shoes and footers, I got some great pictures of some crumbling Bat footers and other Bat remnants that can be seen from the midway, I'll post soon.

Yeah I have seen them.

Good for you tggr.

Back on topic, very nice find, F5. I have never seen those pics before.

I rode The Bat a couple times while it was KI. I remember once getting stuck on the lift hill but that was due to a power outage and had nothing to do with the ride preformance. I would love to see another Bat return to KI. With what they know now I am sure they could reproduce it and make it work this time without all the maint. issues.

Never seen The Bat. It was removed right as i was born or maybe a yr later.