The original Switchback
Railway at Coney Island, constructed in 1884
was granted the first roller coaster patent for his design the following year. Since this time, the roller coaster sector has grown and
diversified at a phenomenal pace, from gravity railroad systems, to single-car Wild Mouse-style rides; from the rise of the steel monoliths pioneered in the 1950s by Disney to enclosed coasters that travel underground and underwater; and from the opportunities presented by inverted tracks to the cutting-edge technologies involved in constructing the latest “four-dimensional” experiences. An attempt to provide a comprehensive list of the full range of different roller coasters would be futile, as the ride formats vary almost as much as the venues that house them. However, this defining issue of diversity is something that continues to thread through the sector and is one that has helped keep the immense structures firmly secure in the grounds of theme parks. Indeed, while the cost of contemporary coaster projects continues to rise, both operators and manufacturers are certain the attractions will continue to have pride of place in all amusement venues, both large and small. “Roller coasters are still a highlight and core element
of the amusement and theme park industry,” said Anna Novikova, deputy director of international development for Pax Design in Russia. “Being not only a manufacturer but also an operator, Pax believes that roller coasters of various designs can be attractive for different target groups in a park.” Giulio Demaria, president of Italy-based InterPark
Amusements, added: “The roller coaster is the main attraction of every theme park and this is shown by the fact that every park in the world installs at least one roller coaster. The more original and innovative the project, the more successful it will be.”
Size is important
Roller coasters play an important role in the modern theme park experience, not least in the fact that their sheer size helps to provide that all-important ‘Wow!’ factor - the imposing, noisy, gravity-defying attractions are totally in keeping with amusement venues’ desire to stimulate the senses in a hard and fast manner. According to Demaria, operators’ requests for roller coasters can generally be split in two - the core family rides and those that are continually striving to become bigger and better. “Since 1975 the branch of roller coasters has modified
its features, conforming to the tastes of the users,” he said. “We have seen the requests for thrilling coasters rather
37
than for family coasters rise in the most advanced countries because the target has focused on the range of young people. But the majority of the production is still steadily based on the family coasters, which represent the tradition.” Interestingly, Annik Seeg, arts director for
Maurer Sohne Rides in Germany, said her company has started to notice a subtle difference in terms of contemporary coaster manufacturing. “Whereas in the past, newly erected roller coasters
needed to be ‘faster, higher and bigger’ to attract the eyes of the public, nowadays the attitude to roller coasters has changed,” she said. “The record-breaking aspects have been displaced by the riding experience, which is closely connected to the layout of the track.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52