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Company Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
Philadelphia
Toboggan Coasters
Train builder keeps rollin’
When it comes to wooden coasters, the use of trains from Philadelphia Toboggan
Coasters (PTC) is pervasive. Although eight companies supply trains for wood
coasters, nearly two-thirds are from PTC. Why? Since 1904 PTC has made the
quality of its products top priority. In the run-up to IAAPA Attractions Expo in
Las Vegas, Park World toasts the association’s longest continuous member
Christmas.
But PTC's strongest point, Rebbie contends, "is
building a good product and standing behind what
we build. PTC did not last a hundred years by using
smoke and mirrors with our customers."
Although PTC coaster cars appear virtually
unchanged from year to year, change is evident if
one looks closely. The engineering is evolutionary
rather than revolutionary.
"We change to make things safer for the riders and
stronger," Rebbie discloses. "The biggest change in
PTC and the entire amusement industry in the last
100 years is safety. If you’re not going to do
everything possible to keep the people who come to
the parks safe, you will not last very long."
California Coastin’
There has also been an extension of PTC's product
line. For years it offered just three types of cars: four-
seat cars, six-seat cars and four-seat junior cars in an
articulating and non-articulating style. In 1994 it
P
hiladelphia Toboggan Coaster products, parts, acquired the wooden coaster car division of the
and services cover the needs of rollercoaster Morgan Manufacturing in California, which was
owners and operators worldwide. The building trailer cars, and the cars were marketed
company’s commitment to excellence may explain its under the name "The California."
longevity, and has earned it the respect and admiration "We still offer the trains," confirms Rebbie. "Just no
of the entire amusement industry. one has asked for them, but we still support the trains
The comprehensive PTC product line includes out there running."
five different styles of coaster cars/trains, plus Most recently PTC has reacted to new demand
brakes, queue gates, safety gates and spare for wooden coaster cars. "We again offer the
parts. The firm also specialises in the restoration two-seat articulating coaster car," says Rebbie. "It
and refurbishment of used and currently- can do an out-and-back coaster, a family-
operating equipment, and can custom style coaster or a cyclone-style coaster. It
manufacture any part to customer's exact works on all levels. It depends on what the
specifications. customer needs for their ride. We have
Tom Rebbie, an avid baseball fan had a two-seat car. PTC has made
and life-long amateur baseball player, them, and updated the drawings in
is the president and CEO of PTC. He response to customer requests. We do
has been with the company for 30 years, the past our best to give them what they want."
15 at its helm. If PTC's commitment to excellence Another change at PTC is its location. Founded in
explains its longevity, Rebbie believes that "having a Germantown outside Philadelphia in 1904, the
ABOVE: Tom Rebbie with one of
multitude of products to offer the amusement industry" company moved in 1971 to Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
the cars produced this summer
is also a factor. In 1999 it relocated its headquarters and
for Happy Valley Shanghai – Over the years PTC has built rollercoasters, manufacturing facility to Hatfield, Pennsylvania,
PTC’s first order from China carousels, flat rides, water rides, swimming pools, where it employs nine full-time staff including Rebbie,
MAIN PIC: Ravine Flyer II at
ticket booths, fun house items, games and even two part-time, plus two outside sales people.
Waldameer in Pennsylvania
mechanical window displays for department stores at "It's been 10 years since we moved the company,
NOVEMBER 2009 55
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