The Smiler

> *"The Smiler is the world’s first 14 loop rollercoaster. It’s twisting track combines the world beating 14 loops with a speed of 85 km/hr and a track length 3x longer than Oblivion! This will challenge your body and mind."*
> *-* The Smiler’s description from the official Alton Towers website
>
>

## Ride Stats

### Ride Length

1,170m

**The Smiler**, also known as **Secret Weapon 7** (SW7), is a steel coaster built by Gerstlauer in 2013, located at Alton Towers. It is the first Infinity Coaster model made by the manufacturer and currently holds the world record for the most track inversions on a roller coaster at 14.

The Smiler is a creation of the Ministry of Joy, a sinister organisation who aims to convert the population into smiling advocates through the use of mental manipulation, physical treatment, and other horrific methods. Following their initial testing phases running The Sanctuary facility, The Smiler was then debuted as the Ministry's "ultimate correctional device" in 2013.

A key feature of The Smiler is The Marmaliser, a large, metallic spider-like structure that serves as a centrepoint for the coaster track. Each of it's five legs features a specific element of visual or audible manipulation that aims to coerce riders into smiling. It is also equipped with a wraparound screen that displays themed graphics and video.

## Ride Experience

The train dispatches from the station and immediately enters into a sweeping drop 180 degrees to the left. Partway through this drop, riders encounter a heartline roll, the ride's first inversion. The train then comes to a stop on block brakes, before ascending the first lift hill. Upon reaching the top, the train drops into another 180-degree right turn before banking into the second inversion, a downward corkscrew. The train drops down into the next two inversions, two consecutive dive loops before travelling over a trimmed airtime hill into the ride's largest element, a batwing. The train then travels through another corkscrew before reaching the second set of block brakes.

After a brief pause at the "Half Way" point, the train ascends a second lift hill, this time at a 90° vertical angle. The train then enters another drop, 180-degrees to the left, banking into a downward corkscrew. Riders then navigate through a sea serpent roll, followed by a short drop into another trimmed airtime hill and into a cobra roll. Upon exiting the cobra roll, the train twists through two consecutive corkscrews before a short left turn into the final brake run. The words "Process Complete" are visible to riders as the train returns to the station.

## Incidents

The Smiler experienced a number of technical difficulties and incidents shortly after it's opening, which was also delayed by said difficulties. The most notable event occurred on the 2nd June 2015, when a loaded train collided with an empty test train, causing serious injuries to a number of riders. The incident resulted in an investigation by the UK government's Health and Safety Executive, and the ride eventually reopened the following season with revamped safety standards as well as adjusted theming elements to remove references to "correction".

## Trivia

* The musical score for The Smiler was produced by Andreas Kübler of IMAscore, a production company that supplies music for amusement parks film, TV, and video game soundtracks. IMAscore produced a total of 75 minutes of music and sounds for the ride, which utilises as mixture of industrial machinery noises, electronic elements, and the distorted sounds of human laughter and screams. Four tracks from the score would later be released as part of the *Alton Towers Resort Soundtrack* in 2020.

## Gallery

The Smiler’s logoThe Smiler TV AdvertThe Smiler’s TV advertIMAscore - The Smiler Soundtrack -official-The Smiler’s official soundtrack by IMAscore