Top Thrill Dragster

**Top Thrill Dragster** was a steel accelerator roller coaster built by Intamin at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It was the sixteenth roller coaster that was built at the park. It was the first roller coaster to be over  tall and was the tallest roller coaster in the world before its record was broken by Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure when it opened in May 2005. After Kingda Ka was demolished in 2025, Top Thrill Dragster (now under the name Top Thrill 2) is the only operating strata coaster in the world.

## The ride

The original ride starts different from the redone version. After it leaves the station, the train enters the launch area. To the left of the launch area is a "Christmas tree" light, which is similar to a Christmas tree light at a drag strip. A message is then played to riders: "Keep arms down, head back, and hold on." Once the train is ready to launch, a motor revving sound effect is played and its magnetic braking fins are lowered from the launch track. The train is then launched from the track at a speed of  in 3.5 seconds. After it reaches its top speed, it goes up at a 90 degree angle and climbs a  hill, or top hat element. Once it goes down, the track twists 270 degrees before it levels out, and then it is stopped by magnetic brakes. In the revised version, it first launches forward at , then launches backwards at  up a  spike, which is followed by a final  launch, afterwards the rest of the layout is the same.

## Problems

Sometimes, a train does not have enough speed to go over the  hill. This is known as a rollback, and it usually happens during cool, wet, or breezy weather. It can also happen when the wind is blowing against the train. In these conditions, the launch doesn't give the train enough speed to go over the hill, which causes it to stop before reaching the top of the hill and then roll back down the hill, which is why it is called a rollback.

On extremely rare occasions, the train may stall at the top of the hill. When this happens, a mechanic takes an elevator to the top of the hill and pushes the train forward down the hill. This has only happened three times with passengers on board the train, June 24, 2005, October 25, 2008, and May 25, 2009.

## Other websites

- Cedarpoint.com - _Top Thrill Dragster_ Official page
- Roller Coaster Philosophy review of Top Thrill Dragster
- Video of how Top Thrill Dragster works
- Construction photos video
- Top Thrill Dragster Photo Gallery  at The Point Online

## Infobox (roller coaster)

- **name**: Top Thrill Dragster
- **image**: Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point.jpg
- **imagedimensions**: 250px
- **caption**: Top Thrill Dragster launching
- **location**: Cedar Point
- **status**: Operating
- **year**: 2003
- **cost**: US$25,000,000
- **previousattraction**: Chaos, Troika
- **type**: Steel
- **type2**: Launched
- **manufacturer**: Intamin
- **designer**: Werner Stengel
- **model**: Accelerator Coaster
- **lift**: Hydraulic Launch
- **height ft**: 420
- **drop ft**: 400
- **length ft**: 2800
- **speed mph**: 120
- **inversions**: 0
- **duration**: 0:30
- **angle**: 90
- **capacity**: 1,000
- **acceleration from**: 0
- **acceleration mph**: 120
- **acceleration in**: 4
- **restriction in**: 52-78
- **virtual queue name**: Fast Lane (Cedar Fair), Fast Lane Plus only
- **virtual queue image**: Cedar Fair Fast Lane Plus availability icon.svg
- **virtual queue status**: available
- **custom label 1**: Trains
- **custom value 1**: 6 trains, with five cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows (except for the first car), for a total of 18 riders per train.
- **custom label 2**: Restraint
- **custom value 2**: Lap bar
- **rcdb number**: 1896