Runaway Mine Train was the first roller coaster ever added to Six Flags Great Adventure.
Located in the Frontier Adventures section of the park, this Arrow mine train offers a mostly
scenic ride experience. But it also features one of the most shocking airtime hills on any ride.
So is this ride worth checking out? Find out in this review!
Runaway Mine Train opened in 1974 as the second mine train coaster in the northeast
after Hersheypark’s Trailblazer. This was one of the tallest mine trains Arrow built,
standing 60 feet or 18 meters tall. While none of the drops were nearly this tall, this height
allowed the coaster to complete the nearly 2500 feet or 762 meters of track with just a single
lift hill. Most other Arrow mine trains needed multiple lift hills to complete the circuit.
The original plans for this mine train were more ambitious than what we received. Originally, the
coaster was to be placed in the Enchanted Forest section of the park and it would have featured a
tunnel diving into a dragon’s mouth. Eventually, the coaster was redesigned for the western section
of the park. The original finale would have dived beneath the water, but it was instead redesigned
to feature the bunny hill and turn we see today. While it would have been cool to go beneath the
lake, it would have been a shame to lose that bunny hill that is easily the ride’s best moment.
The station is themed to look like a fort, which fits the western area well.
I also like the design of the trains with the smokestack on front and the mining themed cars.
I’m not as big of a fan of the colors though. The colorful and vibrant paint schemes seem a
bit much for a western area. And one of the trains has a speckled candy wrap on it.
I do like the thought that went into the supports though. The highly visible finale was given wooden
supports to match the western area. The other sections have steel columns. Less of Runaway
Mine Train used to be visible, but more of the ride became visible as the park expanded.
That being said, the layout is still difficult to follow both on and off-ride since there are still
plenty of trees hiding the upcoming elements. Waits for Runaway Mine Train are usually minimal.
Most days this ride is a near walk-on. Each train has 5 cars.
Most cars have 3 rows, but the front car only has 2 rows, so each train seats up to 28 riders. The
ride currently has 3 trains and can run up to two at once, but it used to run up to 3 trains
simultaneously when the ride was more popular. Due to how narrow the station is, the park only
lets enough people into the station to fill the upcoming train. Typically the park loads this
ride front to back, but they will sometimes honor row requests. If you have a Flash Pass,
you are almost always placed in the back car. And that happens to be my favorite row on this ride.
Runaway Mine Train used to have shared lap bars for each car. These were replaced in the mid-2000s
with individual lap bars, making the experience more comfortable for larger guests and more secure
for smaller guests. The lap bars have super thick padding, but I don’t find them uncomfortable.
Once dispatched, you roll out of the station, pass the transfer track, and ascend the lift hill.
Once at the top, you immediately head into a 540 degree helix.
This helix is rather slow and a little jerky, but it’s more about the visuals. I like how it’s
surrounded by trees on all sides and there’s a scary headchopper as you exit the element.
You then coast over this elongated bunny hill- getting no airtime- and then you rise up another
hill that turns into the mid-course brake run. You have very little speed over this section and it
can be a valley risk, which is why an evacuation platform was installed after the bunny hill.
But don’t worry, the best is yet to come. The drop off the mid-course is pretty gradual,
but it can occasionally give some faint floater airtime in the back car.
You then navigate a 360 degree upwards helix.
This element isn’t fluid and there are two kinks in the track you need to brace yourself for.
But like the first helix, I do like how this one is tucked among the trees
and it sets you up for the ride’s finale. The drop off the helix is enigmatic.
Sometimes it does nothing. Other times it can give a pop of airtime for those in the back car.
But the following hill always delivers. You have this bunny hill that has
no business being on a family ride, but as a thrill seeker, I’m not complaining. This
hill delivers a very strong and abrupt ejector airtime pop no matter where you’re sitting. It’s
one of the best airtime moments in the park, which is no small feat. I also love the sound of this
ride makes as it navigates this hill. You then navigate a picturesque turn over
the brown lagoon and then rise into the brake run. This element has a close call
with one of Skyway’s supports and I believe it was modified at one point for that reason.
So what would I rate Runaway Mine Train? I would give this coaster a 6 out of 10.
This ride has the perfect setting for a mine train in the woods. The visuals really help
make this coaster enjoyable even when some of the elements themselves are lackluster.
Because the coaster is unbalanced. The half of the ride is really slow, but the second
half picks up the pace and culminates in that incredible bunny hill. Most of the points this
ride earned are because of that hill. And this is one of the more comfortable Arrow
mine trains out there besides some jerks in the helixes. I think this is arguably the best family
coaster at Great Adventure and it’s well worth a spin since the ride has something for everyone.
So those are my thoughts on the Runaway Mine Train at Six Flags Great Adventure. What are
your thoughts on this mine train? Do you agree that bunny hill is as awesome as I think it is?
Let me know your thoughts down in the comments. If you enjoyed this review, I’d appreciate it
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coaster and amusement park videos here at Canobie Coaster. Thanks for watching!