Swiss Bob (or "Bobbaan" in

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

) was a

Bobsled roller coaster A bobsled roller coaster is a roller coaster that uses a track design that is essentially a "pipe" with the top half removed and has cars that are sent down this pipe in a freewheeling mode. The name derives from the great similarity to the track ...

amusement park An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...

Efteling Efteling () is a fantasy-themed amusement park in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands. The attractions reflect elements from ancient myths and legends, fairy tales, fables, and folklore. The park was opened on May 31, 1952. It evolved from a nature ...

the Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

History

Construction and opening

Construction of the Bob began in 1984. The track consisted of green gutters with a snow-colored interior and was built between the trees. A soft opening was held on March 27, 1985 during a press conference with a team of European bobsleigh riders. On April 4, 1985, the Bob would open to the general public.

Operation

For the 1996 season, the hard nylon wheels were replaced with rubber ones to reduce noise and run a little faster on the track. Two years later in 1998, the queue line's capacity was expanded and the entire meandering covered and equipped with televisions. Then in 2000, a brand new computer control system would be installed. The Bob received new trains during the 2005 season. Each row would have two riders rather than a single. Meanwhile, the original trains were shipped to

Six Flags Over Texas Six Flags Over Texas is a 212-acre (86 ha) amusement park, in Arlington, Texas, east of Fort Worth, Texas, Fort Worth and west of Dallas, Texas, Dallas. It is the first amusement park in the Six Flags chain, and features themed areas and attracti ...

Arlington, Texas Arlington is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Tarrant County. It forms part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region. ...

, where they were being used on

La Vibora La Vibora (The Viper) is a steel bobsled roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas, United States. History The ride's cars do not run on conventional tubular rails, but instead travel through a winding half-pipe trough that em ...

. In 2012, the queue house was refurbished with a new color scheme and signs. A

single rider Single rider refers to lines at theme parks attractions for people riding by themselves, reducing the amount of time spent waiting in line for an attraction. When a single-rider line is in use, empty seats on the ride vehicles are filled using i ...

entrance was added to the Bob in 2013. During the 2017 and 2018 season, the Bob had several issues and was closed for several months in order to fix these. These included issues with trains rolling back on the lift hill and issues with the brakes. Since 2017, the Bob closed down during rain, as the brakes were unable to stop the trains when the track was wet.

Closure and demolition

On October 9, 2018, Efteling announced that the Bob would be closing permanently during the 2019 season. Officials planned an expansion near

Vogel Rok Vogel Rok (" Bird Skirt" in English) is an enclosed roller coaster in the Efteling amusement park in the Netherlands. History and details The name of the ride, Vogel Rok, refers to the adventure of Sinbad and the Bird Roc from the 1001 Arab ...

, but this was postponed and the Bob's replacement would occur instead. A farewell song called Dag Mooie Bob was released. The Bob would give its final rides on September 1, 2019, along with a closing ceremony. The following day, demolition of the attraction had already started. A new Mack Rides

dueling A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two people, with matched weapons, in accordance with agreed-upon rules. During the 17th and 18th centuries (and earlier), duels were mostly single combats fought with swords (the rapier and la ...

powered coaster A powered roller coaster is a railed amusement ride similar to a standard roller coaster. Unlike a true roller coaster, the train is powered through the entire course, rather than being allowed to coast after an initial lift or launch. This allows ...

named Max & Moritz was built in its place the following year. The ride reuses the Bob's former station.

Characteristics

"Bobbaan" had 8 trains, each with a capacity of 6 passengers. The original

Bobsled Bobsleigh or bobsled is a team winter sport that involves making timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sleigh. International bobsleigh competitions are governed by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Feder ...

s, with inline seating, were replaced with new trains that sit 2 across in order to increase the ride capacity and fight back the extreme queue times (of up to 90 minutes). The original Bobsled cars were replaced by sleds with a wooden theming that matches the station's classical Austrian

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

style. The original trains were sold to

for their

bobsled roller coaster. It was a smooth ride, especially since the original steel wheels were replaced by softer ones in order to comply with the night- opening license. The ride meanders through the trees, and has some drops, curves and points where the ride really picks up some speed. The music in the station is traditional

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

n music.

References

{{Intamin Roller coasters in the Netherlands Efteling Roller coasters introduced in 1985 1985 establishments in the Netherlands