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((Short description|Mine train themed roller coaster))
((Use dmy dates|date=January 2015))
((Use British English|date=January 2015))
((Infobox roller coaster
| name                 = Scorpion Express
| logo                 = ScorpionExpressLogoCWOA.png<!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| logodimensions       = <!--Must be expressed in pixels (px); default is 250px-->
| image                = File:CWOAScorpionRide.jpg
| imagedimensions      = <!--Must be expressed in pixels (px); default is 250px-->
| caption              =
| previousnames        = Runaway Train
| location             = Chessington World of Adventures<!--Must not be linked.-->
| locationarticle      = <!--Must not be linked.-->
| section              = Mexicana<!--Must not be linked.-->
| subsection           = <!--Should be linked.-->
| coordinates          = ((Coord|51.349435|-0.318012|type:landmark|display=inline,title)) 
| status               = Closed

| opened               = 7 June 1987 as ''Runaway Train'' <br> 19 March 2014 as ''Scorpion Express''
| soft_opened          = 
| year                 = <!--To be used in addition to opened, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| cost                 = 
| replacement          = 
| extend               = <!--Only for use with the Infobox roller coaster extend template.-->
| type                 = Steel<!--Must be "Steel" or "Wood", nothing else. Must not be linked.-->
| type2                = Powered<!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| type3                = <!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| manufacturer         = Mack Rides<!--Must not be linked, will auto-categorize the coaster.-->
| model                = [[Blauer Enzian]]
| track                = 
| lift                 = 
| height_ft            = 15.5<!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| height_m             = 4.7 <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_ft              = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_m               = <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_ft            = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_m             = 259 <!--Must be expressed in metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_mph            = 22.4 <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_km/h           = <!--Must be expressed in kilometres per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| inversions           = 0
| duration             = 105 seconds
| angle                = <!--Do not include "degrees", it is added automatically.-->
| capacity             = 700
| acceleration         = <!--Expression in full form e.g. "X to Y mph (χ to ψ km/h) in Z seconds". -->
| acceleration_from    = <!--Initial speed in mph or km/h defaults to zero, only numeric characters-->
| acceleration_mph     = <!--Final speed in mph may contain only numeric characters-->
| acceleration_km/h    = <!--Final speed in km/h may contain only numeric characters-->
| acceleration_in      = <!--Number of seconds may contain words -->
| gforce               = 
| restriction_ft       = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_in       = <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_cm       = 90<!--Must be expressed in centimetres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| trains               = 1 <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| carspertrain         = 10 <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| rowspercar           = 2 <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| ridersperrow         = 2 <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
| single_rider         = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
|accessible= available
| transfer_accessible  = yes
| custom_label_1       = 
| custom_value_1       = 
| rcdb_number          = 786
| virtual_queue_name   = Reserve and Ride
| virtual_queue_image  = chessington reserve ride.jpg
| virtual_queue_status = available 
|closed=July 2022))

'''Scorpion Express''' (originally '''Runaway Train''') was a mine train themed [[powered roller coaster]] at [[Chessington World of Adventures]] in [[Greater London]], England. It opened with the theme park in 1987 as the Runaway Train. The original ride was closed in 2012 for refurbishment and reopened on 14 March 2014, with the same track layout but new name and theming. Scorpion Express is set in a small mining village, featuring an animated metalwork scorpion.

==History==
[[File:Chessington World of Adventures runawaytrain.jpg|thumbnail|left|The Runaway Train in 2010]]
This [[Mack Rides|Mack]] Blauer Enzian family coaster opened as the [[Runaway Train (roller coaster)|Runaway Train]] in 1987 and operated for over twenty-five years.<ref name="rcdbrunawaytrain"/> It had an [[Wild West|Old Western]] theme, and featured an extensively themed area and queue, primarily designed by [[John Wardley]], taking guests above buildings, around a lake and down into a small mine.

The coaster was originally designed to travel in and out of a cave feature, which enclosed half the track and hid much of the structure, creating an interacting rocky landscape. However, due to its semi-temporary construction and prolonged lack of maintenance over the years,((citation needed|date=March 2020)) the cave feature was removed in late 2012 and the ride closed.

[[File:ScorpionBoiler.JPG|thumbnail|left|Boiler feature in the queue]]
In 2013, the area surrounding the Runaway Train was boarded off with notices up saying that the ride would be "Re-launching in 2014". Over the closed season, the animatronic scorpion was installed after 208 hours of off-site construction.<ref>((cite web|url=http://jacintaz3.co.uk/the-sting-of-the-scorpion-at-chessington-world-of-adventures/|title=The sting of the Scorpion at Chessington World of Adventures - Jacintaz3|date=8 April 2014|publisher=))</ref> During this downtime, the ride had all its original cave design, landscaping and theming features removed, now placing the track completely in the open and the queue on flat ground.

The ride was complete on time to open for the park's Annual Passholder Preview Days when it soft-opened. The ride officially launched on Wednesday 19 March after having slight alterations and theming adjustments.

===Advertising===
During the resort's annual February Half-Term event – African Adventures – advertising for the ride was placed on large billboards at the zoo entrance and on the back of the gate maps. At the same time a mini site for the ride was launched on the park's website, which showed the concept art for the attraction among other details. During this time, it was also announced that the ride would feature fire, water and smoke effects, as well as an animated scorpion.

Days after the ride's soft opening, adverts for the attraction were broadcast across British television. Several other media stunts including newspaper articles about the ride appeared at this time. None of the footage used in the Scorpion Express TV adverts was from the actual ride, instead shots of a bigger (but similarly themed) family coaster at [[Heide Park]], and computer-generated clips, were used to advertise the ride.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKk5O9Jig7w|title=Chessington 2014 Scorpion Express TV Advert|last=Chessington World of Adventures Resort|date=24 March 2014|publisher=|via=YouTube))</ref>

Scorpion Express received mixed response since its launch in 2014, largely to do with its minimal theme featured compared to how the ride was originally designed. However, it remained a popular family attraction as it had since opening in 1987.

=== Fire and closure ===
In late July/early August 2022, a fire occurred during the day that damaged the ride car of the Scorpion Express. This led to the closure of the ride and surrounding area. The ride has been removed from park signage and maps. Its reopening date had been pushed back 2 times, and after a year the ride still remains SBNO. It is unknown if the ride will return, however it is unlikely it will, due to the amount of time it has remained closed for such a long time for such a small incident.

==Description==
((Unreferenced section|date=March 2024))
The ride's premise revolves around a town named Scorpion Valley, which has supposedly been overrun with scorpions after an explosion caused the gold mine to collapse and all the residents fled the town, according to text and posters stuck up in the switchback queue line. The Town Governor has supposedly left behind a giant, mechanical steam-powered scorpion fashioned from scrap metal from the debris of the explosion, in an attempt to guard the gold from chancing looters.

===Queue===
[[File:NoticeBoardAtScoprionExpress.JPG|thumbnail|right|Vinyl posters in the queue for Scorpion Express display the ride's backstory.]]
The new ride in Mexicana starts with a long winding queue. At the start of the queue, a radio station can be heard playing in the background, notices from the Governor of Scorpion Valley are pinned up in the queue, which reveal the ride's backstory. Riders then enter and queue in a dark, mine-themed building where live [[scorpion]]s feature. Upon exiting, riders go over a bridge, before arriving at the station.

===Ride===
The ride takes guests on a train journey through an abandoned mining town, across deserts and near to the mine itself. It features animatronic scenery, smoke, fire and water effects. The height minimum is 90&nbsp;cm, while guests with a torso +51 inches are not able to ride. Riders under 110&nbsp;cm must be accompanied by a person aged 16 or over.<ref name="mexicanacwoa"/> The layout is a basic figure of 8 loop with a straight piece of track at the back and consists of several helixes, some of which go over and under the queue line, which itself snakes around the ride. The ride makes at least two laps of the circuit, and more on off peak days. An [[on-ride photo]] is taken immediately before the train returns to enter the station for the first time.

==Gallery==

<gallery>
File:Runaway Train chessington.JPG|The Runaway Train tracks
File:Chessington World of Adventures RunawayTrain tracks.jpg|The Runaway Train tunnel
File:Scorpion Express Entrance.JPG|Ride entrance
File:Scorpion Valley Theming.JPG|Scorpion Valley theming
File:ScorpionExpress_CWOA.JPG|Ride in 2015
File:ScorpionExpress2.JPG|Scattered mine theming
File:ScoprionExpress6.JPG|Loading platform
</gallery>

==References==
((Reflist| refs =

<ref name="mexicanacwoa">
((cite news
| title       = Mexicana
| url         = http://www.chessington.com/explore/mexicana.aspx
| publisher   = [[Chessington World of Adventures]]
| date        = 
| accessdate  = 2013-10-15
))</ref>

<ref name="rcdbrunawaytrain">
((cite news
| title       = Runaway Train - Chessington World of Adventures (Chessington, Surrey, England, UK)
| url       = http://rcdb.com/786.htm
| publisher       = RCDB
| accessdate       = 2013-10-15
| url-status       = live
| archiveurl       = https://web.archive.org/web/20131105182829/http://rcdb.com/786.htm
| archivedate       = 5 November 2013
| df       = dmy-all
))</ref>

))

==External links==
*((Official website|http://www.chessington.com/explore/mexicana.aspx))

((Chessington World of Adventures Resort))

[[Category:1987 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2012 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:2014 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Roller coasters operated by Merlin Entertainments]]
[[Category:Roller coasters introduced in 1987]]
[[Category:Amusement rides that closed in 2012]]
[[Category:Roller coasters introduced in 2014]]
[[Category:Chessington World of Adventures rides]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in London]]
[[Category:Roller coasters in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Rides designed by John Wardley]]

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