Roller Coaster: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 23:17, 20 July 2018


Location: Main Midway
Built In: 1921
Designed By: John Miller
Built By: Miller and Baker, Inc.
Highest Height: 62 Feet
Track Length: 2,598 Feet
Duration: 1 Minute 56 Seconds
Speed: 45 MPH
# of Trains: 2
Train Capacity: 24 (4 cars of 6 people)
Train Manufacturer: Philidelphia Tobaggan Coasters, Inc.
Train Style: "3 Seat" or 3 Bench Type
Ride Capacity: 1,920 riders per hour
Height Requirements: Riders under 46" in height may not ride. Riders between 46" and 50" must be accompanied by a responsible person.
Aggressive Thrill

Roller Coaster is a 1921 classic wooden roller coaster. The ride currently ranks as the 6th oldest roller coaster still in operation.^[1]

Ride Details

The ride is a classic wooden roller coaster. The ride's structure and track are made of wood, with a metal plate placed over the wooden track for the train's wheels to ride on. It is not as smooth as modern steel roller coasters, and that is part of its appeal. It is a "double out and back" design that travels away from, and back towards the station two times. The majority of the ride is located in the middle of Lagoon's parking lot. There is a pedestrian walkway underneath the center of the ride to allow for easier access to the Lagoon Campground.

Seating

Roller Coaster is the only coaster at Lagoon that allows riders to choose their own seats. There is a small waiting iare for each row of the train. Single riders are not allowed to ride in the very front or back row.

Name

The original name of the ride is not exactly clear and it has been called by several names over its lifetime. The ride was called "Pippin Dips" in a 1923 John Miller catalog. Old postcards from the 1930's call the ride "Giant Roller Coaster". The ride is also believed to have been known as Lagoon Dips and Lagoon Dipper. For several decades the ride has colloquially been known as "The White Roller Coaster", although the name is being used less frequently now that the ride is becoming brown. The official name of the ride is Roller Coaster.

History

Lagoon's Roller Coaster was designed by the legendary coaster designer John A. Miller, and constructed by Miller and Baker, Inc., a joint venture between John A. Miller and Harry C. Baker, another legendary coaster designer who designed and built the famous Coney Island Cyclone. Roller Coaster opened on May 28, 1921, with at least one open front train, and quickly became one of the most popular rides at Lagoon. A false-color postcard from the 1930's depicts the ride as having a a brown color. Other 1930's photography shows the ride being white. The ride may have always been painted white.

After the Fire of 1953, when the lift, station, and most of Lagoon was destroyed, Lagoon rebuilt the burned portions of the Roller Coaster. This is also most likely when Lagoon purchased at least one Century Flyer Roller Coaster Train from National Amusement Device Co., (NAD) of Dayton, Ohio. The Century Flyer trains were often considered the best roller coaster trains of the day and featured a stainless steel skin with headlights on the front with a simple locking lap bar and padded seats.

Changes from 1990 to 2015

It is not known when Lagoon replaced the NAD Century Flyer trains with the current Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) 3 seat trains with one handrail (called buzz bars because of the buzzing sound they make when unlocked) per row. It is also unknown when Lagoon added a second train and switched from manual skid brakes to the modern fin brakes in use today. Lagoon did replace the buzz bars with individual ratcheting lap bars in 1990.

Sheep grazed under the coaster's structure until around the year 2000.

In 2001, Lagoon replaced the old Computer Controlled Safety System with a new PLC Safety System and also built and installed an all steel automatic transfer track. The old transfer track had to be manually moved into place, which made taking on or taking off a train time consuming. Now a train can be taken off or put on the transfer track in under 5 minutes.

In 2004, Lagoon posted signs in the queue line and around the fence in the parking lot stating that they were no longer going to paint the structure white, and the ride would become a natural brown color as parts of it are slowly replaced. It is currently a patchwork of brown and white.

In 2008, Lagoon upgraded roller coaster's old PTC ratcheting lap bars, with a newer individual ratcheting lap bar from PTC, and installed what appeared to be an on board lap bar position safety system, much like the ones used on Wicked trains, on one train

In 2009, both trains had a grey box on the back of each car with 6 Green LED lights in 2 rows that light up when a lap bar is down. Lagoon also installed a new lighted sign for the ride, added rock work over the walls, and installed a small planter around the new sign.

Between the 2014 and 2015 seasons the ride's lift hill was torn down and completely rebuilt.

Roller Coaster's 2018 Update

Lagoon completed some major changes on Roller Coaster for the 2018 season including the introduction of new trains made by Great Coasters International. Lagoon also reworked the station to basically flip the entrance and exit. The old entrance is now an exit ramp. The operator booth was put on the south side of the platform. The old exit was completely torn out and a new entrance ramp and bridge over the track was made. A new entrance sign, line speech, and lighting effects were also added.

Awards

American Coaster Enthusiasts gave Roller Coaster its Coaster Landmark Award. Lagoon placed the ACE Coaster Landmark Plaque on Roller Coaster's Exit Platform in 2007. The plaque reads:

The American Coaster Enthusiasts recognizes Lagoon Park's Roller Coaster as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historical significance.

Originally named the Lagoon Dips or Pippin Dips, and later the Giant Coaster, the 62-foot tall double out-and-back ride was engineered by master designer John A. Miller (1874-1941) of the New York firm Miller & Baker, and built by the Colorado Construction Company. One of only 13 remaining examples of Miller's work worldwide, it was constructed at a cost of $75,000, and opened on May 28, 1921 with an initial drop of 57 feet and track length of 2,598 feet. An August 1923 flood damaged the structure requiring new concrete footings, and an eclectic new station was added following a November 1953 fire that damaged parts of the midway.

Representing Utah's only traditional wood coaster since 1958, its distinctive structure, stretching from the midway into the adjacent parking area, seems ideally set against the striking backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains. As the sixth oldest coaster in the world, Roller Coaster continues to thrill riders of all ages and remains an integral part of Lagoon's appealing collection of roller coasters.

Presented by American Coaster Enthusiasts - July 30, 2005

Gallery

Roller Coaster with its original 1921 train and natural color.
Damage caused by fire in 1953.
Roller Coaster completely white, taken in the late 1990's.

Videos

Click "Expand" to see an Off-ride video. Possible spoilers.

Roller Coaster Off-ride (HD) by deathbyillusion

Click "Expand" to see an On-ride video. Possible spoilers.

Roller Coaster On-ride Train Mount (HD POV) by deathbyillusion

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 | '''Highest Height:''' 62 Feet
 |-
-| '''Track Length:''' 3,598 Feet
+| '''Track Length:''' 2,598 Feet
 |-
 | '''Duration:''' 1 Minute 56 Seconds
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 | '''Height Requirements:''' Riders under 46" in height may not ride. Riders between 46" and 50" must be accompanied by a responsible person.
 |-
-! [[File:Ride5.png|frameless|center]] Aggressive Thrill
+! [[File:Ride5.png|frameless|center|link=Ride Ratings]] [[Ride Ratings|Aggressive Thrill]]
 |}
+'''Roller Coaster''' is a 1921 classic wooden roller coaster. The ride currently ranks as the 6th oldest roller coaster still in operation.<ref>[http://rollercoaster.wikia.com/wiki/Oldest_Roller_Coasters_in_Operation Oldest operating roller coasters] - Wikia
+</ref>
-Are you looking for some classic coaster thrills? If so then Lagoon's 'Roller Coaster is the perfect choice for you. Roller Coaster is Lagoon's classic double out and back wooden roller coaster that has been delighting park guests for more than 90 years and currently ranks as the 6th oldest roller coaster still in operation.<ref>http://rollercoaster.wikia.com/wiki/Oldest_Roller_Coasters_in_Operation</ref>
+==Ride Details==
+The ride is a classic wooden roller coaster. The ride's structure and track are made of wood, with a metal plate placed over the wooden track for the train's wheels to ride on. It is not as smooth as modern steel roller coasters, and that is part of its appeal. It is a "double out and back" design that travels away from, and back towards the station two times. The majority of the ride is located in the middle of Lagoon's [[parking]] lot. There is a pedestrian walkway underneath the center of the ride to allow for easier access to the [[Lagoon Campground]].
+== Seating ==
+Roller Coaster is the only coaster at Lagoon that allows riders to choose their own seats. There is a small waiting iare for each row of the train. Single riders are not allowed to ride in the very front or back row.
+== Name ==
+The original name of the ride is not exactly clear and it has been called by several names over its lifetime. The ride was called "Pippin Dips" in a 1923 John Miller catalog. Old postcards from the 1930's call the ride "Giant Roller Coaster". The ride is also believed to have been known as Lagoon Dips and Lagoon Dipper. For several decades the ride has colloquially been known as "The White Roller Coaster", although the name is being used less frequently now that the ride is becoming brown. The official name of the ride is Roller Coaster.
 == History ==
-Lagoon's Roller Coaster was designed by the legendary coaster designer John A. Miller, and constructed by Miller and Baker, Inc., a joint venture between John A. Miller and Harry C. Baker, another legendary coaster designer who designed and built the famous Coney Island Cyclone.
+Lagoon's Roller Coaster was designed by the legendary coaster designer John A. Miller, and constructed by Miller and Baker, Inc., a joint venture between John A. Miller and Harry C. Baker, another legendary coaster designer who designed and built the famous Coney Island Cyclone. Roller Coaster opened on May 28, 1921, with at least one open front train, and quickly became one of the most popular rides at Lagoon. A false-color postcard from the 1930's depicts the ride as having a a brown color. Other 1930's photography shows the ride being white. The ride may have always been painted white.
-Roller Coaster opened on May 28, 1921, with at least one open front train, and quickly became one of the most popular rides at Lagoon. Roller Coaster has also had several names over it's more than 80 years at Lagoon. Some of those names were: Lagoon Dips or Pippen Dips, Lagoon Dipper, and Giant Coaster. Roller Coaster is also the Seventh Oldest Operating Roller Coaster in the World and Fifth Oldest Operating Roller Coaster in North America.
+After the Fire of 1953, when the lift, station, and most of Lagoon was destroyed, Lagoon rebuilt the burned portions of the Roller Coaster. This is also most likely when Lagoon purchased at least one Century Flyer Roller Coaster Train from National Amusement Device Co., (NAD) of Dayton, Ohio. The Century Flyer trains were often considered the best roller coaster trains of the day and featured a stainless steel skin with headlights on the front with a simple locking lap bar and padded seats.
-It is unknown when Lagoon's Roller Coaster was painted white, as it was the wood was left natural for several years. After the Fire of 1953, when the lift, station, and most of Lagoon was destroyed, Lagoon rebuilt the burned portions of the Roller Coaster and this is most likely when Lagoon purchased at least one Century Flyer Roller Coaster Train from National Amusement Device Co., (NAD) of Dayton, Ohio. The Century Flyer trains were often considered the best roller coaster trains of the day and featured a stainless steel skin with headlights on the front with a simple locking lap bar and padded seats.
+== Changes from 1990 to 2015 ==
-It is not known when Lagoon replaced the NAD Century Flyer trains with the current Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) 3 seat trains with one handrail (called buzz bars because of the buzzing sound they make when unlocked) per row. It is also unknown when Lagoon added a second train and switched from manual skid brakes to the modern fin brakes in use today. Lagoon did replace the buzz bars with individual ratcheting lap bars for 1990.
+It is not known when Lagoon replaced the NAD Century Flyer trains with the current Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) 3 seat trains with one handrail (called buzz bars because of the buzzing sound they make when unlocked) per row. It is also unknown when Lagoon added a second train and switched from manual skid brakes to the modern fin brakes in use today. Lagoon did replace the buzz bars with individual ratcheting lap bars in 1990.
+Sheep grazed under the coaster's structure until around the year 2000.
 In 2001, Lagoon replaced the old Computer Controlled Safety System with a new PLC Safety System and also built and installed an all steel automatic transfer track. The old transfer track had to be manually moved into place, which made taking on or taking off a train time consuming. Now a train can be taken off or put on the transfer track in under 5 minutes.
-In 2004, Lagoon posted signs in the queue line and around the fence in the parking lot stating that they were no longer going to paint the structure white, but let the ride return to it's natural brown color.
+In 2004, Lagoon posted signs in the queue line and around the fence in the parking lot stating that they were no longer going to paint the structure white, and the ride would become a natural brown color as parts of it are slowly replaced. It is currently a patchwork of brown and white.
 In 2008, Lagoon upgraded roller coaster's old PTC ratcheting lap bars, with a newer individual ratcheting lap bar from PTC, and installed what appeared to be an on board lap bar position safety system, much like the ones used on Wicked trains, on one train
 In 2009, both trains had a grey box on the back of each car with 6 Green LED lights in 2 rows that light up when a lap bar is down. Lagoon also installed a new lighted sign for the ride, added rock work over the walls, and installed a small planter around the new sign.
+Between the 2014 and 2015 seasons the ride's lift hill was torn down and completely rebuilt.
+== Roller Coaster's 2018 Update ==
+Lagoon completed some major changes on Roller Coaster for the 2018 season including the introduction of new trains made by Great Coasters International. Lagoon also reworked the station to basically flip the entrance and exit. The old entrance is now an exit ramp. The operator booth was put on the south side of the platform. The old exit was completely torn out and a new entrance ramp and bridge over the track was made. A new entrance sign, line speech, and lighting effects were also added.
 == Awards ==
-American Coaster Enthusiasts Coaster Landmark Award -
+American Coaster Enthusiasts gave Roller Coaster its Coaster Landmark Award.
+Lagoon placed the ACE Coaster Landmark Plaque on Roller Coaster's Exit Platform in 2007. The plaque reads:
+<div style="color:#333333;margin:auto;font-size:.9em;border:solid;border-width:1px;padding:10px;">
 The American Coaster Enthusiasts recognizes Lagoon Park's Roller Coaster as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark, a designation reserved for rides of historical significance.
-Originally named the Lagoon Dips or Pippen Dips, and later the Giant Coaster, the 62-foot tall double out-and-back ride was engineered by master designer John A. Miller (1874-1941) of the New York firm Miller & Baker, and built by the Colorado Construction Company. One of only 13 remaining examples of Miller's work worldwide, it was constructed at a cost of $75,000, and opened on May 28, 1921 with an initial drop of 57 feet and track length of 3,598 feet. An August 1923 flood damaged the structure requiring new concrete footings, and an eclectic new station was added following a November 1953 fire that damaged parts of the midway.
+Originally named the Lagoon Dips or Pippin Dips, and later the Giant Coaster, the 62-foot tall double out-and-back ride was engineered by master designer John A. Miller (1874-1941) of the New York firm Miller & Baker, and built by the Colorado Construction Company. One of only 13 remaining examples of Miller's work worldwide, it was constructed at a cost of $75,000, and opened on May 28, 1921 with an initial drop of 57 feet and track length of 2,598 feet. An August 1923 flood damaged the structure requiring new concrete footings, and an eclectic new station was added following a November 1953 fire that damaged parts of the midway.
 Representing Utah's only traditional wood coaster since 1958, its distinctive structure, stretching from the midway into the adjacent parking area, seems ideally set against the striking backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains. As the sixth oldest coaster in the world, Roller Coaster continues to thrill riders of all ages and remains an integral part of Lagoon's appealing collection of roller coasters.
 Presented by American Coaster Enthusiasts - July 30, 2005
+</div>
-Lagoon placed the ACE Coaster Landmark Plaque on Roller Coaster's Exit Platform next to the Platform Exit in 2007.
+== Gallery ==
-== Major Incidents ==
+<gallery>
+file:Old_roller_coaster_train_postcard.JPG|Roller Coaster with its original 1921 train and natural color.
-- Ernest Henry Howe, age 20, of Ogden, Utah, died August 20, 1934, after attempting to stand up on top of the first hill.
+file:roller_coaster_fire.jpg|Damage caused by fire in 1953.
+file:White_roller_coaster.JPG|Roller Coaster completely white, taken in the late 1990's.
-- James Young Hess, age 23, of Farmington, Utah, died September 01, 1946, from skull, leg, and internal injuries after being struck by a [roller coaster] car while working on the structure.<ref>http://www.deseretnews.com/article/50767/BOUNTIFUL-GIRLS-DEATH-NOT-THE-1ST-ON-LAGOONS-WOODEN-ROLLER-COASTER.html</ref>
+</gallery>
-- Kilee King, age 13, of Bountiful, Utah, died June 09, 1989, after falling 35 ft from the front seat of a roller coaster train, restraint bar still locked in place. Investigation finds no criminal negligence on the part of Lagoon.<ref>http://www.deseretnews.com/article/50604/OFFICIALS-PROBING-DEATH-OF-GIRL-13-WHO-FELL-FROM-ROLLER-COASTER.html</ref>
 == Videos ==
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:680px">
+Click "Expand" to see an Off-ride video. Possible spoilers.
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
 {{#ev:youtube
 |http://youtu.be/vzHmjETj5cs
@@ Line 82: / Line 106: @@
 |frame
 }}
+</div>
+</div>
+<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:680px">
+Click "Expand" to see an On-ride video. Possible spoilers.
+<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
 {{#ev:youtube
 |http://youtu.be/65lFiqETGGk
@@ Line 88: / Line 117: @@
 |frame
 }}
+</div>
+</div>
+== See Also ==
+[[Accidents and incidents at Lagoon]]
+{{Roller Coasters}}
-== References ==
+{{Help Out Notice}}
-<references />
+<hr>
+'''References'''
+[[Category:Attractions]]
+[[Category:Rides]]
 [[Category:Roller Coasters]]
-[[Category:Rides]]