Incredicoaster

There are a variety of ways to launch a roller coaster.  The first method utilized dropped a 40-ton weight to propel the train.   This method was on some Schwarzkopf first-generation shuttle loops such as Greased Lightnin' at California's Great America and Greezed Lightnin' at Kentucky Kingdom.   Later Schwarzkopf shuttle loops, such as Greezed Lightnin' at Six Flags AstroWorld and Shuttle Loop at Nagashima Spa Land, used a six-ton spinning flyweight rotating at about 1,000 revolutions per minute to provide the momentum for the launch.  Later coasters, such as Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm and Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, used hydraulics to launch trains.

©2018 Joel A. Rogers.