The Oldest Coaster in World

[coaster57]

I am trying to find information on very early coasters that lasted much longer than almost all roller coasters their age. I would like to see if anyone had more or different information than I have. The Leaps the Dips (1902) in Lakemont Park is currently the oldest operating in the world. From what I have found, it has had this record since 1975 when the Little Scenic (1896) at Willow Grove Park was demolished. Does anyone know if any coasters older than 1896 lasted longer than 1975? Also, does anyone know who held the record before the Little Scenic? The Mountain Scenic (1905) at Willow Grove Park was the possibly the third oldest at the time of its destruction in 1975. Did any coasters from 1902-1905 last beyond 1975. The final very early rollercoaster I have information on is the Jack Rabbit (1910) at Idora Park. At the time its closer in 1984 were there any rollercoaster older than it (excuding Leaps the Dips.) Today the second oldest operating roller coaster in The Scenic Railway (1912) at Luna Park. My final question is, did any coaster built between 1905-1912 last beyond 1984. Thanks for any help and information, I really appreciate it.

[ejot]

I used successive searches on RCDB to analyze each of your questions. I suspect you've already done the same. I highly doubt that anyone on this forum will have relevant, reliable info that is not contained in RCDB, because they would have likely already submitted the info there.

 

Does anyone know if any coasters older than 1896 lasted longer than 1975?

RCDB suggests: No

 

Also, does anyone know who held the record before the Little Scenic?

If by this you mean, "What coaster built before 1896 lasted the longest?", then RCDB would suggest this information is probably lost to history. The previous verifiable contender would be an 1895 L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway that lasted only until 1917 at Ludlow Lagoon, Kentucky, USA.

 

Did any coasters from 1902-1905 last beyond 1975.

RCDB suggests: No. Here's the nearest, also at Willow Grove, and it was completely rebuilt.

 

At the time its (Idora Jackrabbit) closer in 1984 were there any rollercoaster older than it (excuding Leaps the Dips.)

RCDB suggest: No

 

did any coaster built between 1905-1912 last beyond 1984.

RCDB suggests: No

 

It may be helpful to understand the nature of the earliest true roller coasters: They were simply replaced more frequently than ones built in the mid-1910's and beyond. This is because, as with any emergent technology that gains widespread popularity, the earliest period of development features some of the most rapid evolution. For coasters, this is side-friction era. Switchback railways with gentle, slow undulations quickly became surpassed by "dips" style drops, which became increasingly steep and fast. Each time the boundary got pushed, earlier designs became passé to the public and non-profitable to the operators. This is one reason good 'ol LeMarcus was so successful through this period: He was happy to see his creations demolished so he could provide something newer and better. Only when the up-stop wheel was finally invented did coasters of sufficient intensity to have any staying power become possible.

 

This line of reasoning does leave two open questions: Why were any side-friction coasters build after the up-stop revolution? And why weren't more side-friction coasters converted to up-stop coasters? My thoughts on these points enter the area of pure speculation, so I leave them as exercises for the historically-enthused reader.

 

You may also get more interesting (perhaps first-hand ) feedback if you pursue the knowledge of your local ACE chapter.

[Myself]

I know it doesn't fall within either of your specified date ranges, but I'd say the Crystal Beach Giant Coaster is still worth note. It operated from 1916-1989.

 

Same story with the legendary West View Park Dips. Though it didn't technically become its well-known under-friction design until 1929, it was a reconfiguration of a 1909 coaster. It closed in 1977.

[ejot]

^ It seems there was another 1909 dips-style coaster that lasted, in original form, into the 70's called Figure Eight Raceway, in England.

 

And the demo of Clementon's 1919 Jack Rabbit - instead of restoration or auction - in 2007 was a nearly criminal act IMO. Thanks to an ex-Six Flags exec, if I'm recalling correctly. It'd been SBNO for five years but still looked very respectable.

 

Scroll to the bottom. This was 2006. Makes my *&%$ blood boil.

http://www.casabrian.com/parks/clementon2006.html

[larrygator]

^ It seems there was another 1909 dips-style coaster that lasted, in original form, into the 70's called Figure Eight Raceway, in England.

 

And the demo of Clementon's 1919 Jack Rabbit - instead of restoration or auction - in 2007 was a nearly criminal act IMO. Thanks to an ex-Six Flags exec, if I'm recalling correctly. It'd been SBNO for five years but still looked very respectable.

 

Scroll to the bottom. This was 2006. Makes my *&%$ blood boil.

http://www.casabrian.com/parks/clementon2006.html

 

Yes, it was in relatively stable shape, but AUCTION! Who is going to buy a boring 90 year coaster? If someone wanted it all they had to do was call the park, I'm sure the park would have given it away, since that is cheaper than paying demolition costs.

[MagnumFreak25]

I'd buy it

[Myself]

Jack Rabbit was a peculiar case...from my understanding, the ride's footings were either non-existent or at the very least incapable of supporting it much longer. Look at the photos and you can see it's basically just plopped on the ground. The ride also didn't have upstop wheels...not sure how they got away with that, since the track was otherwise identical to traditional (i.e. non-side friction) wooden coaster track.

 

Even so, I wholeheartedly agree with you that it should not have been torn down. Rebuilt to the standards that other wooden coasters are held to? Certainly! Even a relocation would have been better. Following the loss of the Jack Rabbit and the later demolition of the carousel building, Clementon really has nothing of historical value left.

[larrygator]

The ride also didn't have upstop wheels...not sure how they got away with that, since the track was otherwise identical to traditional (i.e. non-side friction) wooden coaster track.

 

This, I did not know

[Mr.Peabody]

The Giant Coaster at Crystal Beach, also known as the "Yellow coaster," opened in 1916 and operated until the park closed in 1989. It was torn down and burned after the auction. At the time Idora's Jack Rabbit closed, therefore, the Giant Coaster was older and still operating.

[Myself]

The ride also didn't have upstop wheels...not sure how they got away with that, since the track was otherwise identical to traditional (i.e. non-side friction) wooden coaster track.

 

This, I did not know

 

Honestly, I hadn't known myself until recently. Here's a better look at the track courtesy of the link ejot posted:

 

Note the raised sections of wood inside the steel rails. These were added after an accident the ride had in 1998:

http://articles.philly.com/1998-08-21/news/25724834_1_brakes-operators-housekeeping

 

I guarantee you that with proper maintenance, any wooden coaster with an upstop wheel system in place would NOT have derailed as the Jack Rabbit did in this incident.