Rollercoaster History Lesson

[Jon Sabo]

Most of us here know the history of rollercoasters and how (and where) it actually started. Those who don't, should invest time to research our favorite pastime.

From the time before most of us were even born, technology, advanced materials, and design pioneers led the way to what has become our technoligical Renaissance.

The following links below will shed some interesting ideas in how history is shaping today's amusement park landscape (and perhaps a glimpse into the future).

If you look carefully, you will also see B&M on the following link (middle of page) and know when they actually applied for patents on the inverted-coaster & floorless coaster patents!

 

With this in mind, the topic of discussion would be as follows:

1. Where would we (coaster enthusiasts) be WITHOUT some of these early pioneers (ie-Church, Morgan, Traver, etc). Do you think another inventor would come up with some of these early inventions?

 

2. In your opinion, what was the MOST PROFOUND INVENTION on the rollercoaster? (It can be from safety, innovation, and to design).

 

3. Back in 1978 (when LNM @ BGE) displayed a new breed of rollercoaster with the tallest-looping coaster of its time. Reflect back to the past and look at the present (records in height/speed/cost) coasters. What do YOU envision the next generation coaster will be?

Have Fun!

 

**Links:

1. http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/v/a/vac3/table.html

2. http://capital2.capital.edu/admin-staff/dalthoff/tech.html

3. http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/v/a/vac3/rcpathome.html

[CoasterFanatic]

1. Necessity is the mother of all invention. So the answer is yes.

 

2. Upstop Wheels - Miller

 

3. The next generation of coaster will not be as much about breaking records as finding new ways to perform old tricks. With all the X-Coasters, Motorbikes, 4th Dimension, etc coasters being built today, you can already see this trend unfolding.

[steel]

1.) I don't know where we'd be. Some of what they did would have been created later, no doubt, but a bit of it was very unique.

 

2.) Brakes.

 

3.) I think that the next generation of coasters will involve a lot of new kinds of woodies. We will be digging into records like drop, length, and airtime, instead of the standard height and speed. And, of course, we will be introducing a coaster made out of a completely new material - plasma!

[hyyyper]

1. If one person doesn't, the other one will. You don't have to be an einstein to develop the early coaster. Perhaps it would have taken several years longer, but eventually the same level of coastering was going to be achieved

 

2. Top, bottom and side wheel assembly's, thus making inversions possible

 

3. More unique elements, layout, better use of space, i hope a floorless hyper

[RCoasterny]

2. Top, bottom and side wheel assembly's, thus making inversions possible

 

Actually, there have been some looping coasters without up-stop wheels! One was the Flip Flap at Atlantic City, and the G forces were so high that it broke people's necks. I read in history books that a looping coaster was invented in France in the 1800's, and it wasn't until the 1970's when Arrow came out with the sucessful corkscrew coaster, as well as when Anton Schwartzkopf came out with the Revolution that still stands at Magic Mountain.

 

Here's some links about the history of looping coasters:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_%28roller_coaster%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corkscrew_%28roller_coaster%29

[redunzelizer]

1. Necessity is the mother of all invention. So the answer is yes.

 

3. The next generation of coaster will not be as much about breaking records as finding new ways to perform old tricks. With all the X-Coasters, Motorbikes, 4th Dimension, etc coasters being built today, you can already see this trend unfolding.

 

Just my exact thoughts, except:

 

2. Clothoid Loop - Werner Stengel

 

(And yes, btw, Miller's upstop wheels seem almost as important to me.)

[hyyyper]

2. Top, bottom and side wheel assembly's, thus making inversions possible

 

Actually, there have been some looping coasters without up-stop wheels! One was the Flip Flap at Atlantic City, and the G forces were so high that it broke people's necks. I read in history books that a looping coaster was invented in France in the 1800's, and it wasn't until the 1970's when Arrow came out with the sucessful corkscrew coaster, as well as when Anton Schwartzkopf came out with the Revolution that still stands at Magic Mountain.

 

Here's some links about the history of looping coasters:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_%28roller_coaster%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corkscrew_%28roller_coaster%29

 

you're completly right, i should have said sideways inversions and more powerfull elements

[Jon Sabo]

Good Job (sound like a teacher now..lol).

An earlier post from this topic was pretty much what I was looking for (perhaps I wasn't clear in my discussion question). This was in reference to the 1800's and so on. Also, the Russian ice sleds were early indicactions of what led towards the rollercoaster era.

 

I would sort-of disagree in that if none of the early pioneers (Traver, Church, Morgan, etc) did NOT invent early coaster items and so on, what makes "us" believe that they would even be in existence today?....provide some proof to your response(s).....research will surely give you some surprises you did NOT know (I sure found some).

 

Perhaps to expound on the #3-related topic is that what I am looking for (more specifically) is what do YOU-PERSONALLY think is the next generation thrill ride (coaster). With new technology coming online, advancements in materials and so forth, delve deeper into your imagination (say that a coaster mfg. hired YOU).

 

For example: to me, the newest generation will be using LSM, Magnetic-systems (launch and braking) and new advancements in this fields that will (eventually) REPLACE current gearboxes and chainlift systems. They will become more reliable (and as history has taught us so far), engage in faster speeds (over 150+ within the next 3-4yrs). I am currently working on several design ideas (currently applying for patents) on a new rail-system similar in fashion to the old "Avalanche-type" rides (PKD). Now this may sound boring, BUT incorporating the LSM, magnetics and using compressed air. Think of this for research....remember that boring-ass movie..."RUNNING MAN" ? (with Ca-gov Mr. Arnold "Califor-niya") watch the scene when those prisoners get launched into that tunnel with the sled.....hmmm use your imagination from there!

A psychotic exploration using a combination of (Mummy, Avalanche, Bullet-trains, and extreme-.....................!!!