644:
649:
59:
334:. The Gravity Pleasure also featured cars in which the passengers could face forward instead of in the awkward bench-like seats of the first two roller coasters. The next year, Thompson patented his design of coasters that included dark tunnels with painted scenery. Thompson built many more roller coasters under the name "The L.A. Thompson Scenic Railway" across the United States. Some of these operated until 1954.
322:
For five cents, riders would climb a tower to board the large bench-like car and were pushed off to coast 600 ft (183 m) down the track to another tower. The car went just over 6 mph (9.7 km/h). At the top of the other tower the vehicle was switched to a return track or "switched
311:, and one of the earliest designed for amusement in the United States. The 1885 patent states the invention relates to the gravity double track switchback railway, which had predicated the inclined plane railway, patented in 1878 by Richard Knudsen. Coney Island's version was designed by
1151:
415:
1166:
1161:
1072:
967:
389:
1141:
1052:
1057:
937:
922:
541:
43:
577:
1008:
1098:
105:
17:
817:
744:
685:
1136:
942:
1146:
1088:
952:
875:
839:
343:
326:
This track design was soon replaced with an oval complete-circuit ride designed by
Charles Alcoke and called the
616:
610:
604:
582:
482:
450:
316:
880:
807:
363:
39:
998:
802:
1117:
1093:
534:
1029:
844:
643:
90:
98:
927:
315:
in 1881 and constructed in 1884. It appears
Thompson based his design, at least in part, on the
1062:
962:
887:
823:
312:
178:
1156:
1067:
527:
500:
319:
which was a coal-mining train that had started carrying passengers as a thrill ride in 1827.
168:
1044:
892:
764:
666:
8:
1034:
932:
870:
1103:
797:
754:
628:
478:
446:
31:
416:"History of Roller Coasters: The Switchback Railway, America's First Roller Coaster"
58:
1003:
708:
671:
330:. In 1885 Phillip Hinkle developed a lift system which appeared in his ride called
947:
897:
749:
723:
1024:
854:
849:
787:
296:
35:
1130:
982:
972:
902:
622:
563:
308:
120:
107:
495:
977:
792:
728:
718:
550:
300:
79:
69:
957:
648:
713:
759:
598:
30:
This article is about the roller coaster. For the generic term, see
559:
304:
273:
519:
283:
27:
Former roller coaster at Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York
42:. For the former roller coaster in Sandusky, Ohio, see
1152:
Roller coasters manufactured by LaMarcus Adna
Thompson
38:. For the roller coaster at ZDT's Amusement Park, see
1128:
1167:Demolished buildings and structures in Brooklyn
63:The original Switchback Railway at Coney Island
968:Rachel Carson High School for Coastal Studies
535:
469:
467:
465:
463:
461:
459:
342:There was also a switchback railway at the
1162:Former roller coasters in New York (state)
542:
528:
512:– via National Library of Australia.
418:. Entertainment Designer. October 16, 2011
938:Coney Island Fire Station Pumping Station
456:
390:"Improvements in inclined-plane railways"
34:. For the line in Glasgow, Scotland, see
437:
435:
433:
14:
1129:
445:, Citadel Press Kensington, New York.
44:List of former Cedar Point attractions
40:ZDT's Amusement Park § Switchback
591:
523:
504:. Melbourne. 21 July 1888. p. 11
477:, MBI Publishing Company, Wisconsin.
1073:West Eighth Street–New York Aquarium
443:The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion
430:
1009:Coney Island Beautification Project
24:
1142:Roller coasters introduced in 1884
578:Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
25:
1178:
647:
642:
549:
364:"US Patent No. 332,762 Patented"
57:
1099:Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
1089:Coney Island in popular culture
953:Jewish Center of Brighton Beach
344:Melbourne Centennial Exhibition
488:
408:
382:
356:
337:
317:Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway
13:
1:
1058:Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue
943:Gargiulo's Italian Restaurant
441:Urbanowicz, Steven J. (2002)
349:
999:Coney Island History Project
496:"The Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY"
7:
1118:Brooklyn Community Board 13
1094:Coney Island Mermaid Parade
923:Abraham Lincoln High School
475:The American Roller Coaster
10:
1183:
676:Sea Serpent Family Coaster
640:
284:Switchback Railway at RCDB
244:6 mph (9.7 km/h)
29:
1112:
1081:
1043:
1017:
991:
915:
863:
832:
780:
773:
737:
701:
656:
570:
557:
473:Rutherford, Scott (2000)
282:
272:
264:
256:
248:
240:
232:
224:
216:
208:
200:
192:
184:
174:
164:
159:
144:
136:
97:
91:Coney Island Cyclone Site
85:
75:
68:
56:
51:
323:back" (hence the name).
236:600 ft (180 m)
1137:Removed roller coasters
928:Coney Island Creek Park
148:June 16, 1884
1147:Wooden roller coasters
888:Coney Island Velodrome
313:LaMarcus Adna Thompson
228:43 ft (13 m)
220:50 ft (15 m)
204:Gravity pulled coaster
188:LaMarcus Adna Thompson
179:LaMarcus Adna Thompson
893:Elephantine Colossus
765:Riegelmann Boardwalk
268:1600 riders per hour
973:Shore Theater Hotel
370:. December 22, 1885
117: /
933:Coney Island Light
871:Childs Restaurants
840:A Trip to the Moon
813:Switchback Railway
328:Serpentine Railway
293:Switchback Railway
257:Max vertical angle
209:Lift/launch system
160:General statistics
52:Switchback Railway
18:Switchback railway
1124:
1123:
1104:Steeplechase Face
911:
910:
864:Other attractions
798:Flip Flap Railway
755:New York Aquarium
745:Ford Amphitheater
738:Other attractions
709:B&B Carousell
638:
637:
629:Steeplechase Park
396:. January 1, 1878
289:
288:
121:40.574°N 73.978°W
32:Zig zag (railway)
16:(Redirected from
1174:
1004:Coney Island USA
778:
777:
651:
646:
589:
588:
544:
537:
530:
521:
520:
514:
513:
511:
509:
492:
486:
471:
454:
439:
428:
427:
425:
423:
412:
406:
405:
403:
401:
386:
380:
379:
377:
375:
360:
332:Gravity Pleasure
155:
153:
132:
131:
129:
128:
127:
122:
118:
115:
114:
113:
110:
93:
61:
49:
48:
21:
1182:
1181:
1177:
1176:
1175:
1173:
1172:
1171:
1127:
1126:
1125:
1120:
1108:
1082:Cultural impact
1077:
1045:Subway stations
1039:
1030:Manhattan Beach
1013:
987:
948:Half Moon Hotel
907:
898:Shoot the Freak
859:
845:Dante's Inferno
828:
781:Roller coasters
769:
750:Maimonides Park
733:
697:
657:Roller coasters
652:
634:
587:
566:
553:
548:
518:
517:
507:
505:
494:
493:
489:
472:
457:
440:
431:
421:
419:
414:
413:
409:
399:
397:
388:
387:
383:
373:
371:
362:
361:
357:
352:
340:
151:
149:
126:40.574; -73.978
125:
123:
119:
116:
111:
108:
106:
104:
103:
89:
64:
47:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1180:
1170:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1122:
1121:
1113:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1091:
1085:
1083:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1075:
1070:
1065:
1063:Neptune Avenue
1060:
1055:
1053:Brighton Beach
1049:
1047:
1041:
1040:
1038:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1025:Brighton Beach
1021:
1019:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1011:
1006:
1001:
995:
993:
989:
988:
986:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
919:
917:
913:
912:
909:
908:
906:
905:
900:
895:
890:
885:
884:
883:
878:
867:
865:
861:
860:
858:
857:
855:Witching Waves
852:
850:Parachute Jump
847:
842:
836:
834:
830:
829:
827:
826:
821:
815:
810:
805:
800:
795:
790:
788:Cannon Coaster
784:
782:
775:
771:
770:
768:
767:
762:
757:
752:
747:
741:
739:
735:
734:
732:
731:
726:
721:
716:
711:
705:
703:
699:
698:
696:
695:
692:
689:
683:
680:
677:
674:
669:
664:
663:Circus Coaster
660:
658:
654:
653:
641:
639:
636:
635:
633:
632:
626:
620:
614:
608:
602:
595:
593:
586:
585:
580:
574:
572:
568:
567:
558:
555:
554:
547:
546:
539:
532:
524:
516:
515:
487:
455:
429:
407:
394:Google Patents
381:
368:Google Patents
354:
353:
351:
348:
339:
336:
297:roller coaster
295:was the first
287:
286:
280:
279:
276:
270:
269:
266:
262:
261:
258:
254:
253:
250:
246:
245:
242:
238:
237:
234:
230:
229:
226:
222:
221:
218:
214:
213:
210:
206:
205:
202:
198:
197:
194:
190:
189:
186:
182:
181:
176:
172:
171:
166:
162:
161:
157:
156:
146:
142:
141:
138:
134:
133:
101:
95:
94:
87:
83:
82:
77:
73:
72:
66:
65:
62:
54:
53:
36:The Switchback
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1179:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1143:
1140:
1138:
1135:
1134:
1132:
1119:
1116:
1111:
1105:
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1086:
1084:
1080:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1068:Ocean Parkway
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1050:
1048:
1046:
1042:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1022:
1020:
1018:Neighborhoods
1016:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
996:
994:
992:Organizations
990:
984:
983:Trump Village
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
936:
934:
931:
929:
926:
924:
921:
920:
918:
914:
904:
903:Shore Theater
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
882:
879:
877:
874:
873:
872:
869:
868:
866:
862:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
837:
835:
831:
825:
822:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
803:Loop the Loop
801:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
785:
783:
779:
776:
772:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
751:
748:
746:
743:
742:
740:
736:
730:
727:
725:
722:
720:
717:
715:
712:
710:
707:
706:
704:
700:
693:
690:
687:
684:
681:
678:
675:
673:
672:Soarin' Eagle
670:
668:
665:
662:
661:
659:
655:
650:
645:
630:
627:
624:
623:Sea Lion Park
621:
618:
615:
612:
609:
606:
603:
600:
597:
596:
594:
590:
584:
581:
579:
576:
575:
573:
569:
565:
564:New York City
561:
556:
552:
545:
540:
538:
533:
531:
526:
525:
522:
503:
502:
497:
491:
484:
480:
476:
470:
468:
466:
464:
462:
460:
452:
448:
444:
438:
436:
434:
417:
411:
395:
391:
385:
369:
365:
359:
355:
347:
345:
335:
333:
329:
324:
320:
318:
314:
310:
309:New York City
306:
302:
298:
294:
291:The original
285:
281:
277:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
255:
251:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
180:
177:
173:
170:
167:
163:
158:
147:
143:
139:
135:
130:
102:
100:
96:
92:
88:
84:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
60:
55:
50:
45:
41:
37:
33:
19:
1157:Coney Island
1114:
812:
808:Rough Riders
793:Drop the Dip
729:Wonder Wheel
719:Spook-a-Rama
688:(built 2014)
679:Steeplechase
551:Coney Island
506:. Retrieved
499:
490:
474:
442:
420:. Retrieved
410:
398:. Retrieved
393:
384:
372:. Retrieved
367:
358:
341:
331:
327:
325:
321:
301:Coney Island
292:
290:
201:Track layout
175:Manufacturer
145:Opening date
86:Park section
80:Coney Island
70:Coney Island
958:Kaiser Park
876:Surf Avenue
833:Other rides
820:(1925–1982)
818:Thunderbolt
702:Other rides
686:Thunderbolt
682:The Tickler
631:(1897–1964)
625:(1895–1903)
601:(1962–2008)
508:14 February
338:Other rides
196:Lift Packed
124: /
99:Coordinates
1131:Categories
714:Ghost Hole
483:0760306893
451:0806523093
350:References
152:1884-06-16
112:73°58′41″W
109:40°34′26″N
1115:See also:
978:Totonno's
916:Community
881:Boardwalk
760:Quester I
694:Starflyer
619:(1903–44)
617:Luna Park
611:Dreamland
607:(1904–11)
605:Dreamland
599:Astroland
583:Luna Park
501:The Argus
346:in 1888.
1035:Sea Gate
963:Nathan's
724:The Whip
560:Brooklyn
422:June 16,
400:June 16,
374:June 16,
305:Brooklyn
265:Capacity
249:Duration
185:Designer
76:Location
824:Tornado
774:Defunct
691:Phoenix
667:Cyclone
453:. pg 4.
274:G-force
212:gravity
150: (
140:Removed
613:(2009)
592:Former
481:
449:
233:Length
217:Height
137:Status
571:Parks
241:Speed
193:Model
510:2013
479:ISBN
447:ISBN
424:2018
402:2018
376:2018
252:1:00
225:Drop
169:Wood
165:Type
303:in
299:at
278:2.9
260:30°
1133::
562:,
498:.
458:^
432:^
392:.
366:.
307:,
543:e
536:t
529:v
485:.
426:.
404:.
378:.
154:)
46:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
