NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Roller Coaster

The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first roller coaster on January 20, 1885. In essence a specialized railroad system, a roller coaster consists of a track that rises in designed patterns, sometimes with one or more inversions (such as vertical loops) that turn the rider briefly upside down. The track does not necessarily have to be a complete circuit, as shuttle roller coasters exhibit. Most roller coasters have multiple cars in which passengers sit and are restrained. An entire set of cars hooked together is called a train. Some roller coasters, notably Wild Mouse roller coasters, run with single cars. Roller coaster and Rollercoaster may refer to: Roller coaster, an amusement ride Rollercoaster (film), a 1977 film directed by James Goldstone Roller Coaster (video game), a 1985 video game Rollercoaster (song), a song by B*Witched from their 1998 album B*Witched Roller Coaster (album), the second album by singer... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x630, 111 KB) Es un dibujo de una montaÃ±a rusa, en licencia GNU FDL (la original era asÃ), cogido inicialmente de la Wikipedia inglesa, y cambiado de JPG a PNG, cuadruplicando la resoluciÃ³n, e intentando corregir los artefactos de... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (800x630, 111 KB) Es un dibujo de una montaÃ±a rusa, en licencia GNU FDL (la original era asÃ), cogido inicialmente de la Wikipedia inglesa, y cambiado de JPG a PNG, cuadruplicando la resoluciÃ³n, e intentando corregir los artefactos de... The Crystal Beach Cyclone is one of a Terrifying Triplet of highly extreme and vicious Roller Coasters designed and built by Harry G. Traver in the late 1920s. ... 4 second exposure night photography . ... Theme park redirects here. ... Theme Park is a simulation computer game designed by Bullfrog Productions, released in 1994, in which the player designs and operates an amusement park. ... Ohio born American LaMarcus Adna Thompson (March 8, 1848 - May 8, 1919) is best known for his early work developing rollercoasters, and is sometimes called the Although over his lifetime, LaMarcus accumulated nearly thirty patents related to roller-coaster technologies and built dozens of coasters in the US, he did... is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Rail tracks. ... An inversion on Black Mamba (2006) in Phantasialand of BrÃ¼hl, Germany A roller coaster inversion is an element of a roller coaster track that turns riders upside-down and then rights them. ... Vertical loop on the Shockwave coaster at Six Flags over Texas The generic roller coaster vertical loop is the most basic of roller coaster inversions. ... A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster which ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and transverses the track it initially went through backwards. ... Roller coaster train comprised of 5 cars. ... The Wild Mouse, a Wild Mouse roller coaster in operation at Luna Park Sydney A Wild Mouse roller coaster (or Wildemous, Mad Mouse or Rat Run) is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars, which seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking...

In what may be a practical application of the roller coaster, NASA has announced that it will build one to help astronauts escape the Ares I launch pad in an emergency. ^[1] For other uses, see NASA (disambiguation). ... Ares I is the crew launch vehicle being developed by NASA as a component of Project Constellation. ...

Etymology

There are several explanations of the name roller coaster. It is said to have originated from an early French design where slides or ramps were fitted with rollers over which a sled would coast.^[2] This design was abandoned in favor of fitting the wheels to the sled or other vehicles, but the name endured.

Another explanation is that it originated from a ride located in a roller skating rink in Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1887. A toboggan-like sled was raised to the top of a track which consisted of hundreds of rollers. This Roller Toboggan then took off down gently rolling hills to the floor. The inventors of this ride, Stephen E. Jackman and Byron B. Floyd, claim that they were the first to use the term "roller coaster."^[3] Rockefeller Centre ice rink An ice rink is a frozen body of water where people can ice skate or play winter sports. ... A modern bobsleigh toboggan A toboggan is a simple sled used on snow, to carry one or more people (often children) down a hill or other slope, for recreation. ...

The term jet coaster is used for roller coasters in Japan, where such amusement park rides are very popular.^[4]

History

"Russian Mountains"

The oldest roller coasters descended from the so-called "Russian Mountains," which were specially constructed hills of ice, located especially around Saint Petersburg.^[5] Built in the 17th century, the slides were built to a height of between 70 and 80 feet (24 m), consisted of a 50 degree drop, and were reinforced by wooden supports. "Russian mountains" remains the term for roller coasters in many languages. For other uses, see Russian Mountains (disambiguation). ... Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербу́рг, English transliteration: Sankt-Peterburg), colloquially known as Питер (transliterated Piter), formerly known as Leningrad (Ленингра́д, 1924–1991) and Petrograd (Петрогра́д, 1914–1924), is a city located in Northwestern Russia on the delta of the river Neva at the east end of the Gulf of Finland...

Some historians say the first real roller coaster was built under the orders of Russia's Catherine the Great in the Gardens of Oreinbaum in Saint Petersburg in the year 1784. Other historians believe that the first roller coaster was built by the French. The Les Montagnes Russes à Belleville (The Russian Mountains of Belleville) constructed in Paris in 1812 and the Promenades Aeriennes both featured wheeled cars securely locked to the track, guide rails to keep them on course, and higher speeds.^[2]

Scenic gravity railroads

In 1827, a mining company in Summit Hill, Pennsylvania constructed the Mauch Chunk gravity railroad, an 8.7mi (14km) downhill track used to deliver coal to Mauch Chunk (now known as Jim Thorpe), Pennsylvania.^[6] By the 1850s, the "Gravity Road" (as it became known) was providing rides to thrill-seekers for 50 cents a ride. Railway companies used similar tracks to provide amusement on days when ridership was low. Summit Hill is a borough located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania. ... A gravity railroad is a railroad on a steep slope, usually serving a mine at the top. ... Jim Thorpe is a borough in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

Using this idea as a basis, LaMarcus Adna Thompson began work on a gravity Switchback Railway that opened at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York in 1884.^[7] Passengers climbed to the top of a platform and rode a bench-like car down the 600 ft (180 m) track up to the top of another tower where the vehicle was switched to a return track and the passengers took the return trip.^[3] This track design was soon replaced with an oval complete circuit.^[2] In 1885, Phillip Hinkle introduced the first full-circuit coaster with a lift hill, the Gravity Pleasure Road, which was soon the most popular attraction at Coney Island.^[2] Not to be outdone, in 1886 LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented his design of roller coaster that included dark tunnels with painted scenery. "Scenic Railways" were to be found in amusement parks across the county.^[2] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Designed by La Marcus Thompson in 1881, the original Switchback Railway at Coney Island was constructed in 1884 and was the first roller coaster in America. ... Designed by La Marcus Thompson in 1881, the original Switchback Railway at Coney Island was constructed in 1884 and was the first roller coaster in America. ... For other uses, see Coney Island (disambiguation). ... A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point. ...

Popularity, decline and revival

By 1912, the first underfriction roller coaster had been developed by John Miller. Soon, roller coasters spread to amusement parks all around the world. Perhaps the best known historical roller coaster, The Cyclone, was opened at Coney Island in 1927. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1147x1600, 1179 KB) The Scenic Railway at en:Luna Park, Melbourne, viewed from Shakespeare Grove. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1147x1600, 1179 KB) The Scenic Railway at en:Luna Park, Melbourne, viewed from Shakespeare Grove. ... A roller coaster wheel assembly. ... John A. Miller (born August John Mueller in 1872, Homewood, Illinois - died June 24, 1941, Houston, Texas) was a roller coaster designer and builder. ... The Coney Island Cyclone is a well known roller coaster in Coney Island. ...

The Great Depression marked the end of the first golden age of roller coasters, and theme parks in general went into decline. This lasted until 1972, when The Racer was built at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio (near Cincinnati). Designed by John Allen, the instant success of The Racer began a second golden age, which has continued to this day. The Racer is a racing roller coaster at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. ... Kings Island is a 364 acre (1. ...

Steel roller coasters

In 1959, the Disneyland theme park introduced a new design breakthrough in roller coasters with the Matterhorn Bobsleds. This was the first roller coaster to use a tubular steel track. Unlike conventional wooden rails, tubular steel can be bent in any direction, which allows designers to incorporate loops, corkscrews, and many other maneuvers into their designs. Most modern roller coasters are made of steel, although wooden roller coasters are still being built. The Matterhorn Bobsleds or the Matterhorn is an attraction made up of two intertwining steel roller coasters at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. ...

New designs and technologies are pushing the limits of what can be experienced on the newest coasters. Electromagnetically-launched coasters are examples of such technologies. The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has risen to prominence within the last decade. ...

Mechanics

The cars on a typical roller coaster are not self-powered. Instead, a standard full circuit roller coaster is pulled up with a chain or cable along the lift hill to the first peak of the coaster track. The potential energy accumulated by the rise in height is transferred to kinetic energy as the cars race down the first downward slope. Kinetic energy is then converted back into potential energy as the train moves up again to the second peak. This hill is necessarily lower, as some mechanical energy is lost to friction. Potential energy can be thought of as energy stored within a physical system. ... The cars of a roller coaster reach their maximum kinetic energy when at the bottom of their path. ... For other uses, see Friction (disambiguation). ...

Not all roller coasters feature a lift hill, however. The train may be set into motion by a launch mechanism such as a flywheel launch, linear induction motors, linear synchronous motors, hydraulic launch, compressed air launch or drive tire. Such launched roller coasters are capable of reaching higher speeds in a shorter length of track than those featuring a conventional lift hill. Some roller coasters move back and forth along the same section of track; these are known as shuttles and usually run the circuit once with riders moving forwards and then backwards through the same course. The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has risen to prominence within the last decade. ... The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has risen to prominence within the last decade. ...

A properly designed roller coaster under good conditions will have enough kinetic, or moving, energy to complete the entire course, at the end of which brakes bring the train to a complete stop and it is pushed into the station. A brake run at the end of the circuit is the most common method of bringing the roller coaster ride to a stop. One notable exception is a powered roller coaster. These rides, instead of being powered by gravity, use one or more motors in the cars to propel the trains along the course. David OHara tells you about brakes and how effective they are: A brake run on Scorpion A brake run on a roller coaster is any section of track meant to slow or stop a roller coaster train. ... A Powered Coaster is a roller coaster which relies on a motor in the train to complete the course, often replacing a traditional chain lift hill. ...

If a continuous-circuit roller coaster does not have enough kinetic energy to completely travel the course after descending from its highest point (as can happen with high winds or increased friction), the train can valley: that is, roll backwards and forwards along the track, until all kinetic energy has been released. The train will then come to a complete stop in the middle of the track. This, however, works somewhat differently on a launched roller coaster. When a train launcher does not have enough potential energy to launch the train to the top of an incline, the train is said to "roll back." On some modern roller coasters, such as Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, this is an occurrence highly sought after by many coaster enthusiasts. A rollback occurs on a launched roller coaster when the train is not launched fast enough to reach the top of the tower. ... Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, hydraulically-launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. ... This article is about the amusement park in Ohio. ... Location within the state of Ohio Coordinates: , Country State County Erie Founded 1816 Government - Mayor Area - Total 22. ...

Timing

Most large roller coasters have the ability to run two or more trains at once. These rides use a block system, which prevents the trains from colliding. In a block system, the track is divided into several sections, or blocks. Only one train at a time is permitted in each block. At the end of each block, there is a section of track where a train can be stopped if necessary (either by preventing dispatch from the station, closing brakes, or stopping a lift). Sensors at the end of each block detect when a train passes so that the computer running the ride is aware of which blocks are occupied. When the computer detects a train about to travel into an already occupied block, it uses whatever method is available to keep it from entering. The trains are fully automated. The above can cause a cascade effect when multiple trains become stopped at the end of each block. In order to prevent this problem, ride operators follow set procedures regarding when to release a newly-loaded train from the station. One common pattern, used on rides with two trains, is to do the following: hold train #1 (which has just finished the ride) right outside the station, release train #2 (which has loaded while #1 was running), and then allow #1 into the station to unload safely. For other uses, see Train (disambiguation). ...

Safety

Because roller coasters are intended to feel risky, accidents such as the September 5, 2003 fatality at the Disneyland Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, attract public attention. // This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various Disney-owned theme parks, amusement parks, or water parks. ... Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a roller-coaster attraction at the Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris theme parks. ...

Statistically, roller coasters are very safe. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 134 park guests required hospitalization in 2001 and that fatalities related to amusement rides average two per year. According to a study commissioned by Six Flags, 319 million people visited parks in 2001. The study concluded that a visitor has a one in one-and-a-half billion chance of being fatally injured, and that the injury rates for children's wagons, golf, and folding lawn chairs are higher than for amusement rides.^[8] In fact, driving to the amusement park has a higher risk of injury than riding the rides at the amusement park.^{[original research?]} The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (U. S. CPSC) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government created in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect â€œagainst unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer productsâ€. As of 2006 its acting chairman is Nancy Nord, a...

Many safety systems are implemented within roller coaster systems. The key to the mechanical fail safes is the control of the roller coaster's operating computers: programmable logic controllers (often called PLCs). Most roller coasters run with three separate PLCs; however, only one PLC is required to detect a fault for the ride's fail-safes to be activated. This is often the reason that the ride trains may stop on the lift or the brake runs, yet after a short time the ride starts again without any obvious maintenance by staff. It is likely in such a case that one of the PLCs detected a fault by mistake, and the ride operator only needed to restart the ride. PLC & input/output arrangements A programmable logic controller (PLC), or programmable controller is a digital computer used for automation of industrial processes, such as control of machinery on factory assembly lines. ...

Nevertheless, accidents do occur.^[9] Regulations vary from one authority to another. Thus in the USA, California requires amusement parks to report any ride-related accident that requires an emergency room visit, while Florida exempts parks whose parent companies employ more than 1000 people from having to report any accidents at all. Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts has introduced legislation that would give oversight of rides to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). // Amusement park accidents often result in serious injury or death to somebody visiting or working at an amusement park. ...

Ride accidents can be caused by riders or ride operators not following safety directions properly, but in extremely rare cases riders can be injured by mechanical failures. One such example was the 2006 de-railing of one car on the Wild Thing roller coaster at Valleyfair. This accident was not a serious accident, as is with almost all roller coaster accidents. Witnesses say the back car of the train derailed just as the train was entering the final brake run, and nobody was seriously hurt. Wild Thing Roller Coaster Valleyfair! Wild Thing, located at the Valleyfair! amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota, is a steel out-and-back roller coaster with more than one mile (1. ... Valleyfair is a 125 acre (0. ...

In recent years, controversy has arisen about the safety of the increasingly extreme rides. There have been suggestions that these may be subjecting passengers to translational and rotational accelerations that may be capable of causing brain injuries. In 2003 the Brain Injury Association of America concluded in a report that "There is evidence that roller coaster rides pose a health risk to some people some of the time. Equally evident is that the overwhelming majority of riders will suffer no ill effects." ^[10]

A similar report in 2005 linked roller coasters and other thrill rides with potentially triggering abnormal heart conditions that could lead to death.^[11] Autopsies have shown that recent deaths at various Disney parks, Anheuser-Busch parks, and Six Flags parks were due to previously undetected heart ailments. // This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various Disney-owned theme parks, amusement parks, or water parks. ... // This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at various Anheuser-Busch-owned theme parks. ... // This is a summary of notable incidents that have taken place at amusement parks, water parks, or theme parks currently owned or managed by Six Flags. ...

Physics

Roller coaster design is a science, as well as an art: the designer must use knowledge of kinematics to avoid overstressing the human body and building an uncomfortable or dangerous ride. The acceleration is a significant design parameter, as is the rate of change of acceleration, jerk. Jerk is often used in engineering as some precision or fragile objects—such as passengers—need time to sense stress changes and adjust their muscle tension to avoid injuries such as whiplash. Designers also have to incorporate gravitational forces into their design. On a roller coaster, humans have certain limits of G-forces that they can endure. Positive vertical forces (ones that push riders down into the seat) can be withstood the easiest, with forces almost going into the 6 G (six times the force of gravity) range. Negative vertical forces (a type of force that, if balanced with gravity correctly, will give the sensation of weightlessness), a force on a roller coaster in which the car crests a hill or similar element, and the riders are pushed out of their seat from centrifugal force. Designers normally don't exceed -1.5 to -2 G-forces in this type of force because it is the hardest for riders to endure. Lateral G-forces are also experienced on almost every ride ever built. This is the force that throws the rider toward one side of the seat when going around a curve. Normal lateral forces on a roller coaster usually don't exceed 1.5 Gs, though some have been recorded as 1.8. Lateral forces can cause an uncomfortable, rough feeling on a roller coaster if there is too much force. Kinematics (Greek ÎºÎ¹Î½ÎµÎ¹Î½,kinein, to move) is a branch of mechanics which describes the motion of objects without the consideration of the masses or forces that bring about the motion. ... This article is about the physics concept of jerk. ... Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying scientific knowledge and utilizing natural laws and physical resources in order to design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that realize a desired objective and meet specified criteria. ... Whiplash is the common name for a hyper extension/flexion injury to the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spines. ... The term g force or gee force refers to the symbol g, the force of acceleration due to gravity at the earths surface. ... Gravity redirects here. ... Zero gravity redirects here. ... For the real outward-acting force that can be found in circular motion, see Reactive centrifugal force. ...

Types of roller coasters

Steel coasters are known fo

I n s e r t f o r m u l a h e r e

e and often convoluted shapes that frequently turn riders upside-down via inversions. Wooden coasters are typically renowned by enthusiasts for their rougher ride and "air time" produced by negative G-forces when the train reaches the top of hills along the ride. There are also hybrid roller coasters that combine a steel structure with wood tracks, or a wood structure with steel tracks. The Dueling Dragons, the worlds only Dueling Steel-Inverted roller coaster located at Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida. ... The Texas Giant, a large wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, TX Colossos, one of the worlds largest wooden roller coasters at Heide Park, Germany. ... A hybrid roller coaster is a roller coaster design in which the track is made from a different material from the structure. ...

Modern roller coasters take on many different forms. Some designs take their cue from how the rider is positioned to experience the ride. Traditionally, riders sit facing forward in the coaster car, while newer coaster designs have ignored this tradition in the quest for building more exciting, unique ride experiences. Variations such as the stand-up roller coaster and the flying roller coaster position the rider in different ways to provide different experiences. Stand-up coasters involve cars that have the riders in a standing position (though still heavily strapped in). Flying coasters have the riders hanging below the track face-down with their chests and feet strapped in. Vekoma "Flying Dutchman" coasters have the riders starting out sitting above the track, then they fully recline so that the riders are looking at the sky. Eventually, they twist into the "flying" position. B&M flying coasters have the riders hanging below the track like in an inverted (hanging) coaster. To go into the flight position, the section of the car where the riders' feet are is raised to the track. That way, they start in the flight position. In addition to changing rider viewpoint, some roller coaster designs also focus on track styles to make the ride fresh and different from other coasters. A stand-up roller coaster is a roller coaster designed so that the rider stands throughout the course of the ride. ... A flying roller coaster is a roller coaster where the riders are secured in flying position with the track overhead. ... Vekoma-built Limit (Heide Park) Vekoma is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. ... For other uses, see Flying Dutchman (disambiguation). ... 1898 map The Boston and Maine Railroad (AAR reporting mark BM), also known by the abbreviation B&M, was the dominant railroad of the northern New England region of the United States for a century. ...

See Roller coaster elements for the various parts of a roller coaster and the types of thrill elements that go into making each roller coaster unique. // Roller coasters are composed of various elements, the individual parts of the design and operation, such as a track, hill, loop, turn, etc. ...

A 4th Dimension Roller Coaster is a Roller coaster with specially designed trains with seats that spin through 360 degrees. ... A Bobsled roller coaster is the generic name given to any roller coaster that uses a track design that is essentially the steel pipe with the top half removed and has individual cars that are sent down this pipe in a freewheeling mode. ... SheiKra, a 200-foot dive coaster, which opened at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa, FL) in 2005. ... Superman la AtracciÃ³n de Acero Movie World Madrid The floorless roller coaster design is a modification of the standard multiple-inversion steel coaster that features cars with no floors for foot placement. ... A flying roller coaster is a roller coaster where the riders are secured in flying position with the track overhead. ... Inverted roller coaster Batman the Ride An inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. ... Colorado Adventure at Phantasialand, a typical Mine Train roller coaster A Mine Train roller coaster is a steel roller coaster whose trains depict a set of mine carts, apparently pulled by the reproduction of a steam locomotive, often designed in a cartoon style. ... Velocity at Flamingo Land, a Vekoma Motorbike roller coaster A motorbike roller coaster is a type of roller coaster designed with motorcycle type cars. ... The Pipeline Coaster was a roller coaster developed by Japanese ride company TOGO. TOGO was the first and only company to produce this type of roller coaster successfully. ... A rollercoaster that does not have an extra set of wheels under the track to prevent cars from flying off. ... A Spinning roller coaster is a roller coaster with cars that are able to rotate on a vertical axis or sometimes (as in the case of 4th dimension roller coasters, as they are known to Arrow Dynamics) on a horizontal axis. ... A stand-up roller coaster is a roller coaster designed so that the rider stands throughout the course of the ride. ... A suspended or suspended swing roller coaster is one in which the car hangs from the bottom of the wheel assembly by a pivoting fulcrum or hinge assembly. ... // Roller coasters are composed of various elements, the individual parts of the design and operation, such as a track, hill, loop, turn, etc. ... A duelling roller coaster features two roller coasters, usually with a similar layout, built close to each other. ... A Figure 8 roller coaster is the generic name given to any roller coaster where the train runs through a figure 8 shaped course before returning to the boarding station. ... A MÃ¶bius loop roller coaster can be either a racing roller coaster or a dueling roller coaster. ... Out and back simply refers to the layout of a roller coaster. ... A racing roller coaster consists of two coasters that travel along parallel tracks to simulate a race between the trains. ... A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster which ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and transverses the track it initially went through backwards. ... A twister roller coaster is the generic name given to any roller coaster layout which tends to twist or interweave its track within itself several times. ... The Wild Mouse, a Wild Mouse roller coaster in operation at Luna Park Sydney A Wild Mouse roller coaster (or Wildemous, Mad Mouse or Rat Run) is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars, which seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking... A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point. ... The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has risen to prominence within the last decade. ... A Powered Coaster is a roller coaster which relies on a motor in the train to complete the course, often replacing a traditional chain lift hill. ...

By height

Several height-related names have been used by parks and manufacturers for marketing their roller coasters. While often used among coaster fans, their definitions are not always agreed upon, nor are the terms necessarily accepted industry wide. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2136x2848, 1309 KB) *Subject: Millennium Force at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio *Author: Nick Nolte *Taken: August 8, 2004 File links The following pages link to this file: Millennium Force Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2136x2848, 1309 KB) *Subject: Millennium Force at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio *Author: Nick Nolte *Taken: August 8, 2004 File links The following pages link to this file: Millennium Force Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... Millennium Force is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, and was built by Intamin AG. The fourteenth roller coaster built at the park, its royal blue track stands 310 feet (95 m) tall at its highest point. ... This article is about the amusement park in Ohio. ...

A megacoaster^{[citation needed]} is usually defined as a complete-circuit roller coaster with a lift hill or drop between 200 feet (61 m) and 299 feet (91 m) high. The world's first megacoaster was Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point. A coaster with a total elevation change of at least 200 feet (61 m) but with no individual ascent or drop of at least 200 feet (61 m), such as Tatsu, is not considered a megacoaster. The term hypercoaster^{[citation needed]}, coined by amusement industry writer Allen Ambrosini, is also used for this height classification, but its usage is more ambiguous as it also refers to a "style" of coaster that is out and back, lacks inversions and is designed with speed and airtime (negative G-forces) in mind. A hypercoaster in this style may or may not fit the height classification; some manufacturers, such as Bollinger & Mabillard and Chance Morgan, use the term for production models both under and over the 200 feet (61 m) to 299 feet (91 m) range. Magnum XL-200 is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The worlds first hyper coaster, Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point A hypercoaster can mean one of two things; A style/model[1] [2] [3] of roller coaster that incorporates three features: An initial drop and/or lift hill of 200-299 feet Lacks any inverting elements Features a... Out and back simply refers to the layout of a roller coaster. ... Chance-Morgan, a roller coaster manufacturer, was formed in 2001 with the merger of Chance Industries and D. H. Morgan Manufacturing, both roller coaster manufacturers. ...

A gigacoaster^{[citation needed]} is a complete-circuit roller coaster with a height of between 300 feet (91 m)and 399 feet (122 m). The term was coined in 2000 by Cedar Point in conjunction with ridemaker Intamin AG of Switzerland, as a marketing description for their coaster Millennium Force, the first roller coaster to break the 300-foot (90 m) threshold. The term is used as a production designation on the Intamin website. The only other gigacoaster in existence, Steel Dragon 2000, also opened in 2000 and holds the record for world's longest roller coaster. Expedition GeForce, Germany Intamin AG is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. ... Millennium Force is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, and was built by Intamin AG. The fourteenth roller coaster built at the park, its royal blue track stands 310 feet (95 m) tall at its highest point. ... Steel Dragon 2000 is a roller coaster at Nagashima SpaLand Amusement Park in Nagashima, Japan. ...

A stratacoaster^{[citation needed]} is a complete-circuit roller coaster with a height between 400 feet (120 m) and 499 feet (152 m). The term was adopted and attributed by Intamin. Only two stratacoasters have been built worldwide, both using Intamin's hydraulically-launched Accelerator Coaster design. The first was Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, which opened in 2003 and stands at a height of 420 feet (130 m). The second was Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure, which opened in 2005 with a record-breaking height of 456 feet (139 m). Millennium Force is a steel roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, and was built by Intamin AG. The fourteenth roller coaster built at the park, its royal blue track stands 310 feet (95 m) tall at its highest point. ... This article is about the amusement park in Ohio. ... Expedition GeForce, Germany Intamin AG is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Steel Dragon 2000 is a roller coaster at Nagashima SpaLand Amusement Park in Nagashima, Japan. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Chance-Morgan, a roller coaster manufacturer, was formed in 2001 with the merger of Chance Industries and D. H. Morgan Manufacturing, both roller coaster manufacturers. ... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 916 KB) Top Thrill Dragster in Cedar Point, Ohio. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 916 KB) Top Thrill Dragster in Cedar Point, Ohio. ... Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, hydraulically-launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. ... The Accelerator Coaster is Intamin AGs term for their hydraulically-launched roller coaster model. ... Kingda Ka is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA. At its opening on May 21, 2005 it became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, claiming the title from Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. ... Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, located 67 miles from New York City, 60 miles from Newark and 50 miles from Philadelphia, consisting of a theme park area, a Wild Safari area, and a water park, Hurricane Harbor. ...

Tower of Terror at Dreamworld Australia, and Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain, respectively, were the first roller coasters to break the 400-foot (120 m) barrier, but are not considered stratacoasters, since they are shuttle roller coasters and their cars go only 328 feet (100 m) high. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, more commonly known as Tower of Terror, is a theme park ride erected at the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, Florida in 1994 and at Disneys California Adventure in Anaheim, California in 2004. ... Dreamworld is a theme park situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. ... Six Flags Magic Mountain is an amusement park located just west of the Valencia neighborhood of Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles. ...

A junior roller coaster^{[citation needed]} is a roller coaster specifically designed for families and children not able to ride the larger rides. Top Thrill Dragster is a steel, hydraulically-launched roller coaster located at Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio. ... This article is about the amusement park in Ohio. ... Expedition GeForce, Germany Intamin AG is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. ... is the 124th day of the year (125th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kingda Ka is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA. At its opening on May 21, 2005 it became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, claiming the title from Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. ... Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, located 67 miles from New York City, 60 miles from Newark and 50 miles from Philadelphia, consisting of a theme park area, a Wild Safari area, and a water park, Hurricane Harbor. ... Expedition GeForce, Germany Intamin AG is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. ... is the 141st day of the year (142nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gallery

Major roller coaster manufacturers

Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster design company based in Clearfield, Utah. ... S&S Power is company known for its pneumatically powered rides. ... Bolliger and Mabillard Consulting Engineers, Inc. ... Bradley and Kaye are roller coaster manufacturers. ... Chance-Morgan, a roller coaster manufacturer, was formed in 2001 with the merger of Chance Industries and D. H. Morgan Manufacturing, both roller coaster manufacturers. ... The Fabbri Group (AKA Fabbri) is an Italian amusement rides manufacturer, based in Bergantino, a northern village of Italy. ... Lift and 97 degree first drop of Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter Typhoon at Bobbejaanland Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH is a German manufacturer of stationary and transportable amusement rides and roller coasters, located in MÃ¼nsterhausen, Germany. ... Giovanola is one of the prominent thrill ride manufacturers in the world. ... Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based Great Coasters International (GCI) has created several award-winning rides. ... Expedition GeForce, Germany Intamin AG is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. ... MACK Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. ... Maurer SÃ¶hne is a steel construction company and roller coaster manufacturer. ... Pinfari was a roller coaster manufacturer based in Mantua, Italy. ... Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. ... S&S Power is company known for its pneumatically powered rides. ... Anton Schwarzkopf (1924-2001) was a prolific German roller coaster engineer and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous amusement park rides and roller coasters. ... Founded in 2002, The Gravity Group are the remnants of the famed but now defunct Custom Coasters International. ... Vekoma-built Limit (Heide Park) Vekoma is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. ... Zamperla Rides is a designing and manufacturing company in Vicenza, Italy. ... Zierer is a German company located close to Deggendorf. ...

Contents

Etymology

History

"Russian Mountains"

Scenic gravity railroads

Popularity, decline and revival

Steel roller coasters

Mechanics

Timing

Safety

Physics

Types of roller coasters

By train type

By track layout

By mechanics

By height

Gallery

Major roller coaster manufacturers

See also

Notes

External links

Contents

Etymology GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

History

"Russian Mountains"

Scenic gravity railroads

Popularity, decline and revival

Steel roller coasters

Mechanics

Timing

Safety

Physics

Types of roller coasters

By train type

By track layout

By mechanics

By height

Gallery

Major roller coaster manufacturers

See also

Notes

External links

Etymology