Talk:Roller coaster/Archive 1

message: I question listing Racer as the first coaster to "run a car backwards" -- perhaps it was the first to have it s riders seated backwards the whole way, but Kings Island itself had already had a coaster that sent riders backwards through a loop that they'd just went through forwards - the Screamin' Demon.  Lambertman 12:48, 13 August 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: The first rollercoasters had sideways cars. 130.215.232.70 11:20, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Backwards Cars 

message: Expect a new record breaking ride on Sep. 29 2004?... The main page will have to eventually be updated.
*I think that the record breakers should be taken off this page and moved to the non-existant Notable roller coasters page, or we modify the List of tallest roller coasters page that already exists to include other records.   This way we can list the record breaking history of all coasters involved over time instead of just updating a single "current" mention.SpikeJones 11:31, 28 July 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I think that's a good idea, and if it's going to a notable roller coasters page, the roller coaster firsts should go with it.
*Also, is the line item for "longest operating" supposed to mean the coaster with the longest track that is currently operating, or is it the oldest still-operating coaster? SpikeJones 11:31, 28 July 2005 (UTC)
replies: text: I made it "longest operating" to mean the longest length coaster which is still operating, as apposed to Steel dragon, which is longer, and is still standing, but not operating. Maybe there should still be some reference to that.As for oldest roller coaster that's still operating, it's a hard one to define, because full information is not always available, especially with the complex evolution of roller coasters, the lines get blurred. To pinpoint one, though, most people go with Scenic Railway at Luna Park, which opened in 1912, and is still operating.
*Well, a list of 'longest/tallest/fastest coasters' would include names, dates, and lengths and other details so we could follow that Steel Dragon would be on that list through such-and-such time .    I could see combining those lists with the list of coaster firsts, as they would all pretty much be 'notable coasters' for one reason or other.   Of course, that raises a question of coasters that are notable but not record-breaking or first -- would that be yet another category on the page?  I think we all could see a place for something like Coney Island's Cyclone as being notable, but how would we decide whether "Six Flags Runaway Mine Train" is also notable or not?    SpikeJones 16:08, 28 July 2005 (UTC)

text: I see where you're coming from here, and it is a problem. There are many coasters which most enthusiasts agree are notable, without being world first or record breakers. These are generally the genre defining, highly copied or revolutionary coasters. I think these do warrant a section of their own, maybe Other notable coasters, or something like that. I think these would generally be coasters which most enthusiasts would agree with as being notable, and as changing the coaster world in some way. I don't think we need any strict classification of what's notable and what isn't, but there's always someone who'll just add any old coaster and call it notable. I guess for every entry, you'd have to explain why you feel that particular coaster is notable, otherwise there's no point in having the list. So if anyone doesn't feel the reasons are good enough, it can be removed. The problem is, it's all very opinionative, which is not what wikipedia's about, but if the opinion is common enough, it's worth having metioning in the article.
*While we're talking about making changes and possibly breaking some content off onto their own pages, do we need the section "Types of Roller Coasters" when there is already an entry for :Category:Types of roller coasters?  Besides, isn't listing "sitdown coaster" redundant, as the default coaster type is that one?  If not, then make sure it's added to the Category listing as well. SpikeJones 03:23, 29 July 2005 (UTC)

text: Yeah, you're probably right about not needing to list the roller coaster types twice. Just refer to the external article.About the sitting coaster, I feel it was needed in that article because of the way the article was indexed. Although it is the default coaster type, to an observer it would look as if steel coasters could be inverted, floorless, e.t.c, but not sitting. Although we don't have an article for steel sitting, it was probably needed there to avoid confusion. I'm not sure if it's needed in the main listing, because it's classified differently. Maybe we could just put it as "steel sitting coaster" and make it link to steel roller coaster (but that's only a small stub anyway, so is there any point?Personally, I think that that whole indexing is wrong anyway, because things like hypercoaster and Giga Coaster should also go under steel coaster. But there's no point getting into that argument if the section's going anyway.Also, and this applies to the category as well as the article, things like "duelling", "shuttle" and "out and back" are not types, they are designs of rollercoaster. Maybe there should be two articles, one for types, and one for designs. But maybe that would be more confusing, especially for people who didn't know the difference.
* Rewrote section on "Coaster Types" to address one part of the above discussion.  Created Notable roller coasters page, to include "World Records", "Coaster Firsts", and "Notable Coasters".  See that page for continued discussion, please.  SpikeJones 19:17, 26 August 2005 (UTC)
thread_title:  New record breaker on the way 

message: I started a discussion at Talk:Kennywood about "reverse coasters", that is, that start on a hill with no lift and then roll down to the mechanical lift elsewhere on the ride.  Never been on one, know nothing about them, but I figured I should mention the discussion here.  Ortolan88 00:12, 12 Nov 2004 (UTC)
thread_title:  Reverse coasters? 

message: Need to do some more research on this, but the origins of the roller coaster can be traced back to the Russians who built "mountains of ice" to slide down, and then the French who actually developed the idea into an amusement device. See 
I'd like to suggest someone research and add something about the 'railroad' at Mauch Chunk (now Jim Thorpe), Penn. See . I've heard that speeds exceeded 100 MPH in some places.
Check out this link:  [ http://www.farmington.k12.mo.us/school/hs/departments/curr/rollercoaster/history.htm ].  I don't believe that Mauch Chauk exceeded 100mph; that would qualify as an urban legend.  But I believe it did get to over 60mph, which for those days was quite fast.
Also, the picture of the "typical roller coaster" at the beginning of the Wikipedia article is actually not typical at all.  It's a rough illustration taken from Harry Traver's patent application for his infamous Cyclone coasters, one of the most injurious and short-lived coaster designs ever created.
----
From the "History" section - "The Great Depression marked the end of the first Golden Age of roller coasters. Theme parks in general went into a decline that lasted until 1972, when the Racer was built at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio (near Cincinnati)." I don't know enough to edit this, but did the decline *really* last until 1972? (The following section describes Disney's tubular steel coaster of 1959 ...). Any thoughts, anyone? (132.244.246.25)
:1972 and The Racer seem to be the starting point for a flurry of coaster- and park-building activity.  Before that time, it had been many decades when there wasn't the sheer mass of new construction.  The 70's are when many of the parks we love today started.  WDW (1971), Great America (1976), King's Island (1972), Carowinds (1973), Magic Mountain (1971), Alton Towers (1980), Great Adventure (1974), etc.    SpikeJones 12:40, 10 July 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  History 

message: I think it would be a good idea to clean up the External Links section. Maybe we could create a seperate article with listings
As stated at External links
Fan sites: On articles about topics with many fansites, including a link to one major fansite is appropriate, marking the link as such. In extreme cases, a link to a web directory of fansites can replace this link.
I also think we should consider using some of these sites:
Joyrides (www.joyrides.com) - For the pictures
Screamscape (www.screamscape.com) - The news site
Theme Park Review (www.themeparkreview.com) - Primarily for the photo gallery and maybe the videos, although a forum registration is required for some of the POV videos
Thrillride (www.thrillride.com) - Could be added once Robert Coker resumes updating regularly
Links that should be seriously be reconsidered:
Coasterbuzz - "Sites with objectionable amounts of advertising" should not be linked
A Ride Design Website - This site looks very unprofessional
WillMcC 17:21, 21 January 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: The link I added, www.xtremecoastin.com, is a site which is very professional and contains no advertisements. It does, however, have descent videos, photo galleries, and a very active forum. They even have a wiki now that they are using to make an encyclopedia of roller coasters. This site is one of the best I've seen pertaining to the category, and deserves to be in the external link section. I don't appreciate people removing it and accusing me of "exchanging links." --Dunlevyd 08:48, 14 March 2006 (UTC)

text: I would also like to add that I am not a member of this site, and am not trying to promote it in any way. I am merely trying to contribute to the link section for those who seek the appropriate follow up sites. --Dunlevyd 08:51, 14 March 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  External Links cleanup 

message: This article seems to contain too many internal links to unrelated topics, such as the patent article. Should some of these be unlinked? R'nway 15:05, 13 May 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Internal links cleanup 

message: I wonder about the blanket description of the use of PLCs in the safety section. Some roller coasters give the impression of being quite old and not having changed much over the years.
Can one assume that historic wooden roller coasters like, say, Canobie Lake Park's Yankee Cannonball, built in the 1930s, or Rye, NY Playland's Dragon Coaster, "captivating people for over 75 years," have, contrary to appearances, been computerized?
Where are the PLCs installed? Where would one look for them on an older coaster? Dpbsmith (talk) 15:19, 26 May 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: The Yankee Cannonball doesn't have a PLC; it runs one train, and uses a Big Ol' Brake Lever to stop. Timetrial3141592 20:30, 17 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  PLC's on older coasters? 

message: I removed the following passage from the article because it wasn't really part of roller coaster history. However, this passage could be a good addition to either Cedar Point or Six Flags Magic Mountain.
:Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio has called itself the Roller Coaster Capital of the World (alternatively calling itself America's Roller Coast in some promotional material), as the park has a number of world-record (or former world-record) roller coasters amongst the sixteen at the park. 
:Six Flags Magic Mountain also claims to be the best location in America/the world for roller coaster fans. Although Cedar Point and Six Flags Magic Mountain have apparently never actually claimed that they were in competition, their history of building new roller coasters seems to indicate that they may be motivated by each others' advancements.
-- R'nway [ T C ] 22:25, 8 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Removed passage about Cedar Point and Six Flags 

message: Should we really have a trivia section or should that be removed?
-- R'nway [ T C ] 18:25, 11 June 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Trivia 

message: I have two great videos taken on roller coasters (The Great White and The Rattler) using a snuck aboard camera.  The Great White video worked out extremely well.  I'd love to link them, but they're too big to upload, and I don't have the bandwidth to host them.  What would you all recommend?  Email me with meqme@dauqghtersoqftiresias.org (remove qs to despammify).  Also, I have some extremely high quality still shots taken on roller coasters on the Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld pages.  Is there interest in having any of them here, either mixed in with the flow of the article or as part of a gallery? -- Rei 04:13, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: For large videos, you may want to consider uploading them to YouTube or Google Video for sharing, although that may not help getting them here.  Perhaps the WikiCommons media area, as they have some videos there?  I don't recommend scattering more images into this article, even as a gallery, when those images would better be served on the pages for the individual coasters or parks. SpikeJones 11:49, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Videos 

message: could someone add a cost estimate of a medium-sized rollercoaster, or give examples of some rollercoaster prices ???-- ExpImptalkcon 20:27, 24 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  cost 

message: The Safety section begins by saying that there was a tradgedy on September 5th... but on other pages, the death of Torres is listed as 2nd september. Which is correct? Which should be used?
:Outside references I've seen all say Sept 5.SpikeJones 16:31, 4 November 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  September 5th? 

message: As far as i know in reality Hypercoaster was a term coined by Arrow Dynamics when they built the magnum XL for cedar point, they used it in promotional materials and the term stuck for fans and was emulated by B&M for their "tall, fast & hill-filled" coasters and thus it became the standard for such... as far as the rest of the terms applied to roller coasters.... Mega- Giga- Strata- .. these are just production "models" used by Intamin AG ... for when parks go "roller coaster shopping", in fact if you look on the train there actually is a steel stamp with the rollercoaster's production designation and this goes for all Intamin trains (that i have seen at least, 15+)
68.112.170.130 04:46, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  Height Section: Roller coaster term designations and their origins 

message: There appears to be a post in this section that isn't supposed to be there:
"Some coasters 150.176.174.100 14:08, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: I had removed that text at 9:25 UTC. --Coaster1983 22:19, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Mechanics 

message: Here's a pic of an early rollar coaster in 1817 Paris; sorry it's not more complete... Churchh 20:38, 20 January 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Old pic 

message: can someone admin-like move/rename the Powered Coaster page to Powered coaster (as opposed to the redirect of Powered coaster that currently exists?  I'd switcharoo them myself, but I'm liable to mess up the move by missing something.SpikeJones 04:30, 2 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Done --WillMcC 19:44, 2 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  powered coaster 

message: Is this a real picture of an actually existing roller coaster? If so, does anyone know where it is, or anything about it? It seems architecturally impossible and I was wondering if it was a computer-generated picture or not.  http://img5.fashionguide.com.tw/Forum/ImgMsg/2007/0211/02052337.jpg —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.215.235.101 (talk) 19:01, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point, as another user was nice enough to inform us on the Talk page of Notable Roller Coasters. Hi There 05:30, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Is this Real? 

message: What are the insurance premiums which operators must pay? Also, the article mentions people dying from undiagnosed pre-existing heart conditions: have ride operators ever been held liable for such cases? Hi There 05:35, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Details on specific roller coaster accidents can be found on Incidents at Disney parks, Incidents at Cedar Fair parks, Incidents at Universal parks, etc.  Using the recent Disney case on Mission:Space as an example where a child died due to a heart condition and the family still sued Disney, the result was the case was dismissed with both sides paying their own court costs.SpikeJones 11:45, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Safety - and Insurance, and Liability for Death from Pre-existing Conditions 

message: There's blatant vandalism at the start of the Safety section, but when I go to edit it out, the section is totally normal and the vandalism doesn't show up. What's happening?
:Most likely someone else beat you to it. Also, please sign your comments by using four tildes (~~~~). Thanks --WillMcC 14:57, 20 April 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Safety 

message: As a total non-technical person, I read this article, then I read a couple of roller coaster books, and from reading the books I got the point that the rc is based on gravity. I do not see that explained properly in this article (and never realized it on my own) unless it is buried down there somewhere. I could try to add it in myself, but I am not sure where/how.--Tinned Elk 01:06, 7 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text:  No offense but I wasn't sure something so basic and so considered common sense was needed to be included in the article. Is it not obvious that most roller coasters just work off gravity? Why else would they initially be pulled to a tall hill and then released? -- BrandonR 15:39, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

text: Both of your points are valid, but I do think it needs to be stated explicitly. I rejected the gravity idea, something I assumed myself, when I heard about trains getting stuck upside down and in the middle of loops. Obviously, now I know better, but since we are aware that these confusions happen it wouldn't hurt to explain the mechanics in less technical language. ALTON .ıl 05:13, 9 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks Alton, I think something less technical would be great. It was not obvious to me, and probably would not be obvious to someone who has never seen a roller coaster. I guess I never thought about it, I assumed there were motors of some sort in the trains.  Plus if it was so basic why would other sources explain gravity and stress that that is the basis of the ride? An encyclopedia needs to be helpful for all levels of readers. --Tinned Elk 20:27, 10 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  What happened to Gravity? 

message: I just reverted an edit from 24.123.107.87, a user with a long history of vandalism. How do we get this user banned?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Skylights76 (talk • contribs) 17:38, 21 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  How to get user banned? 

message: I would like to move the 
*History section as the first section, then 
*Mechanics, put Safety and the Science sections under this heading, then
*Types of RC, etc.
Does that work? Do we think Mechanics should still come first? Is it ok to move Safety and Science there? Thanks for input. --Tinned Elk 18:23, 27 September 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks User:Seaserpent85. I like that organization. Looks cleaner. --Tinned Elk 18:16, 5 October 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Oops, that was what I meant to do! I agree with your suggestion and just decided to be bold and do it. Makes a lot more sense! Seaserpent85Talk 23:34, 5 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Proposed reorganization 

message: I think this part is not right: "To this day, a number of languages (Danish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish) use the equivalent of Russian mountains to refer to roller coasters." (in the History section) In Dutch, nobody uses "Russische bergen" to refer to coasters. Maybe the others are also wrong (not sure about that). 145.53.61.225 20:48, 24 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  "Russian mountains" 

message: I removed the following rewrite because in addition to rewriting you did not provide any references for the new information. At least some of the original information was based on several published works. If you have citations to a reference (and I might have gotten it wrong), go ahead and restore the following. 
::The first two roller coasters that operated on a continuous circuit were built in France in 1817.  One was named the Les Montagues Russes à Belleville (The Russian Mountains of Belleville) and Pomenades Aeriennes (The Aerial Walk).  These coasters both had wooden cars with wheels connected to a metal track.  They were designed so that the axle of each car fit into an area carved in the side of the track.
It is generally not a good idea to replace referenced info with unreferenced info. --Tinned Elk 23:13, 4 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Deleted material 

message: Does anyone know for sure how to spell rollercoaster? Is it roller coaster or rollercoaster? The spell check on Microsoft Word spells it roller coaster, but Wikipedia spells it with no spaces. Also, the spellcheck writes no space when roller coaster is in the plural (rollercoasters). Is this right? 70.81.253.56 (talk) 15:16, 29 November 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: It is spelled roller coaster. Valerius Myotis (talk) 19:13, 29 November 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Spelling 

message: Today's birthdays include LaMarcus Adna Thompson, who is credited on this page as being the first to patent a roller coaster.  However, the wikipedia page for Thompson claims that John G. Taylor was the first, and this claim is backed up by the material at http://www.toledosattic.org/details_item.asp?key=369&did=34.  I think this needs to be sorted out; it appears that, while Thompson may have built the first roller coaster, his patent may not have been the first. Doug (talk) 14:24, 20 January 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Inventor 

message: Interesting article from the New York Times (free registration required):
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B02E6DB1F3FF936A15755C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
Although it was originally published on June 25, 2002, this NYT article might be useful for this WP article but unfortunately I do not time at the moment to integrate it. Hi There (talk) 03:43, 29 January 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Thank you for your helpful suggestion, but we already have an appropriate article from 2003 linked up - one from the Brain Injury Association of America - which probably carries a little bit more weight. However, if there is a specific piece of information in the NYTimes piece that you would like to present as missing in the WP article (or the one at Amusement park accidents, then feel free to point out the section to us. SpikeJones (talk) 13:06, 29 January 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  New York Times article: "When Brain Trauma Is at the Other End Of the Thrill Ride" 

message: The biggest issue with this article is that there are only ten references supporting it and much of the article is unreferenced.  We need to find books and websites to support the unreferenced statements.
I have only had time look over the lead and history sections and have found issues with both of them.  The following are issues that should be corrected:
*Lead section is too short per WP:LEAD.  The lead section needs to be three to four paragraphs, but the current version barely has  two.
*Ares I "first practical application of the roller coaster" needs a reference
*Etymology sub-section should be upgraded to its own section.  It really is not appropriate in the History section.
:Done Coaster1983 (talk) 23:33, 5 February 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  WikiProject Roller Coasters February Collaboration 

message: I've used the history section here to start the History of the roller coaster article, and have added to that the "firsts" section that was formerly included with List of roller coaster records. In order to differentiate between the history section in this article and the new history article itself, we'll have to add to that article, and also whittle down the history section in this article if we can. --Skylights76 (talk) 13:38, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  History section used to start [[History of the roller coaster]] article 

message: The external link to Mitch Hawker's roller coaster polls was removed in the past, probably because it violated WP policy for excessive advertising. I think his poll is important, so I emailed him and told him I wanted to add a link to his polls, but he has too many ads on his page. He agreed to remove one of the blocks of Google ads. I think it looks better now, so I've added the link back. I also want to start an article on his polls (which in case you didn't know are well known in the roller coaster enthusiast community and regarded as more sophisticated and valid than the Golden Tickets), and I'd like to add his poll results to individual coaster articles, much as we currently do with the Golden Tickets data. --Skylights76 (talk) 10:17, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Before you go too crazy, you may need to provide non-blog, unbiased 3rd-party references to his polls to show that it meets WP's notability requirements.  So while it may be well known in the RC enthusiast community, it may not be well-known outside of that circle enough to qualify for inclusion here or as its own article. SpikeJones (talk) 11:44, 14 February 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Mitch Hawker's polls re-added as external link 

message: I would happily fix up the information because i do know a lot of things about them. I can fix up the types of roller coasters and what kind of things. More links to types. Like there are way more then the type of tracks they have there. for example Strata Coaster's are not even on the list yet. I will research all the types of coasters for this site and post them here. i will be glad to help. please if you suspect something is missing just tell me and i will research it so i may add (Only with permission if needed) please visit my talk page and tell me if i need permission to edit first Coaster3000 (talk) 18:22, 9 January 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Fix up sections 

message: Is it a useful history page - please reply at that talk page Power.corrupts (talk) 21:36, 4 February 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  [[Buzz Saw Falls]] is proposed for deletion - any comments 

message: I have a rollercoaster related website that I think viewers of Wikipedia may or would fine to be useful and fun. I tried to add it myself but it was then removed as it violated the terms of use. I would be most appreciative if you could visit my website and reconsider including it as an external link.
Site url:
http://coasternuts.wordpress.com
(or alternatively it can be accessed at: http://XtremeRiders.co.nr )
Note: I will do whatever is needed to have my site included as an external link. If I needed to buy my own domain name, I will do it. I hope to hear back from you soon. Thank you for your time.
Stacey C. 
07/08/09  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.167.145.2 (talk) 20:34, 8 July 2009 (UTC)
replies: text: Hi Stacey - the issue is many-fold.  (a) you can't add your own site to WP. (b) IF your site is a valuable resource that contains encyclopedic material, it will be covered by mainstream, non-biased, third-party press or otherwise be validated as being an authority. Once THAT happens, the site is more likely to be added as a matter of normal content editing. You will want to read the WP help files that deal with external sites, citations, reliable sources, etc. SpikeJones (talk) 20:52, 8 July 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Relevant Link Suggestion for Rollercoaster page 

message: I think the height classification section should be rewritten.  The current section gives credence to marketing terms even if it admits that they are mere marketing terms and are not universally accepted.  I propose that the hyped names be mentioned, but that the section not be written in a way that makes it appear as if these names are commonly used.  Already some web sites quoting the Wikipedia page have adopted these terms as if they are common.  I propose to change the section as follows:
===By height===
Several height-related names have been used by parks and manufacturers for marketing their roller coasters. While often used among coaster fans, their definitions are not agreed upon and the terms are not necessarily accepted industry wide.
thumb|right|Top Thrill Dragster, the world's first rollercoaster of over  tall.
Attempts at creating terms often take into account whether the height refers to the hight of the hill, the height of the actual drop, and the total height of the coaster, as well as whether the coaster is complete-circuit or not.  Some such terms include megacoaster (over  tall), hypercoaster (variously over  tall or in the range of  tall), gigacoaster (over  tall), and stratacoaster (over  tall).
A junior roller coaster is a roller coaster specifically designed for families and children not able to ride the larger rides.
====Notable firsts====
Name               	Park                     	Manufacturer 	Status   	Opened        	Height
Millennium Force   	Cedar Point              	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 13, 2000  	
Steel Dragon 2000  	Nagashima Spa Land       	Chance Morgan	Operating	August 1, 2000	
Top Thrill Dragster	Cedar Point              	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 4, 2003   	
Kingda Ka          	Six Flags Great Adventure	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 21, 2005  	
I'm not sure if mention of who came up with the terms are really relevant.  If the terms are not commonly used throughout the industry, then the fact that some company came up with a term should only be mentiond on their own Wikipedia page, not here.  --leuce (talk) 07:07, 22 July 2009 (UTC)
thread_title:  Hyped height classifications 

message: Several height-related names have been used by parks and manufacturers for marketing their roller coasters. While often used among coaster fans, their definitions are not agreed upon and the terms are not necessarily accepted industry wide.
thumb|right|Top Thrill Dragster, the world's first rollercoaster of over  tall.
Attempts at creating terms often take into account whether the height refers to the hight of the hill, the height of the actual drop, and the total height of the coaster, as well as whether the coaster is complete-circuit or not.  Some such terms include megacoaster (over  tall), hypercoaster (variously over  tall or in the range of  tall), gigacoaster (over  tall), and stratacoaster (over  tall).
A junior roller coaster is a roller coaster specifically designed for families and children not able to ride the larger rides.
====Notable firsts====
Name               	Park                     	Manufacturer 	Status   	Opened        	Height
Millennium Force   	Cedar Point              	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 13, 2000  	
Steel Dragon 2000  	Nagashima Spa Land       	Chance Morgan	Operating	August 1, 2000	
Top Thrill Dragster	Cedar Point              	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 4, 2003   	
Kingda Ka          	Six Flags Great Adventure	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 21, 2005  	
I'm not sure if mention of who came up with the terms are really relevant.  If the terms are not commonly used throughout the industry, then the fact that some company came up with a term should only be mentiond on their own Wikipedia page, not here.  --leuce (talk) 07:07, 22 July 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: By height

message: Name               	Park                     	Manufacturer 	Status   	Opened        	Height
Millennium Force   	Cedar Point              	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 13, 2000  	
Steel Dragon 2000  	Nagashima Spa Land       	Chance Morgan	Operating	August 1, 2000	
Top Thrill Dragster	Cedar Point              	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 4, 2003   	
Kingda Ka          	Six Flags Great Adventure	Intamin AG   	Operating	May 21, 2005  	
I'm not sure if mention of who came up with the terms are really relevant.  If the terms are not commonly used throughout the industry, then the fact that some company came up with a term should only be mentiond on their own Wikipedia page, not here.  --leuce (talk) 07:07, 22 July 2009 (UTC)
thread_title: Notable firsts

message: Screams of roller coaster riders echo in the line-up station. The screams come to an end and the car slowly pulls into the station. Beads of nervous sweat trickle down the foreheads of some riders while grins creep across the faces of others. One particularly brave rider struts up to the first seat and steps in and calmly pulls the safety bar over his head and places his hands on the bar, while nobody else dares to sit in the other front seat. With everyone in, the car slowly crawls out of the station and up a hill and comes to a complete halt. Without warning, it lurches forward and hurls the riders through loops, twists, dives, and corkscrews. More screams fill the air accompanying the car until the cars slowly roll back into the station. The daring rider from the front seat emerges, face glowing. Many other riders exit faces green. They have just ridden the thrill ride that many live for: the roller coaster.             
Roller Coasters: A Ride is Born
 
The first roller coasters were based on Russian ice slides of the 1600s, where you would ride in a wooden “car” down a 70 foot half-pipe shaped track made out of ice. Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway and later, Switchback Railway by LaMarcus Thompson were mainly based on the ice slides. These roller coasters would run over small hills at about 6 miles per hour. Naturally, these rides seem like nothing compared to the roller coasters of today. But, these did lead to ideas for some of the best roller coasters we have today. Take the Cyclone, for instance. After opening in 1927, this classic roller coaster was considered a landmark in New York. These rides were the rides that inspired many other rides and amusement parks.
A Timeline of Screams: Roller Coaster Firsts
As time drags on, more screams are heard from roller coaster fans every time a new model comes out. For example, the first steel roller coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds, opened in 1959 at Disneyland. The first corkscrew coaster, a looping coaster whose loops lead into other loops and forming a coil, opened in 1975. The only two roller coasters with rotating seats, X and X2, opened in 2008. Millennium Force was the first roller coaster over 300 feet. Anaconda was the first roller coaster featuring an underwater tunnel. Today, there are so many different roller coasters to choose from that there is one for everyone. 
The Twisted Process of Designing Roller Coasters
Designing roller coasters may be a very complicated process but roller coasters are made up of simple machines. Roller coasters use wheels and ramps in their design. Roller coasters now are designed on computers on programs such as NoLimits where virtual to form the shape of triangles inside a square to withstand pressure. The supports need to hold up the track and the cars as they go around the track. Otherwise, wooden roller coasters would collapse.
A crew shows up at Six Flags with many large pieces of equipment, ready to install their latest record-breaking roller coaster. They know that there are many difficulties in the long course of building the actual roller coaster. They drive up to the roller coaster land where the roller coaster will be built. Some exit their trucks to survey the land. They will be doing this for the rest of the week. Big machines roll in and start digging holes. Months later, the holes are deep enough and supports are carefully placed inside. A small number of months later, the tracks are in position, resting on the supports. Finally, the team is done with the building and safety issues can be taken care of. The cars are joined and the trains are attached to the track. Test rides are taken, first with dummies, next with people. Everything is complete and the squad can finally rest after eight months of work on Kingda Ka: the world’s new tallest and fastest roller coaster. One man sighs, they then try out this roller coaster, and exit with a sense of accomplishment.
 
There are many difficulties in the long course of building the actual roller coaster. First, the land for the roller coaster is surveyed to make sure there aren’t problems. After that, holes for foundations are dug and the supports are placed inside. Holes can refill with dirt and crew members may accidentally dig holes too big. Next, the track is put into place on the tracks. For instance, it can be very windy at the top of tall rides. This makes it very tricky getting the last pieces together. Also roller coasters need to be built around other rides in the surrounding area. The crew building a roller coaster must be very careful to avoid these perils. 
Thrills, Hills, and Chills: Roller Coaster Physics
Roller coasters aren’t always pulled up a hill on a chain, some are launched. In fact, there are four ways to launch a roller coaster. Some people prefer roller coasters when they are launched because the ride kicks in right away. Other people like being pulled up by a chain because of the anticipation, tension, and suspense that builds up as their car climbs the hill. Roller coasters can be launched by sending out a big burst of air or water, using a motor to send the car up the first hill, or by using opposite poles of magnets to attract or repel the car. Sometimes launched roller coasters can’t make it over the top of the hill and roll backwards to the station. When these roll backs occur, the cars are just launched again. Most launched roller coasters are launched vertically, or straight up, the first hill. After that, gravity takes over and drags you through the rest of the ride. 
Steel roller coasters and wooden roller coasters can be very different but, they still have safety in common. For example, they both have three wheels. Safety wheels keep the cars on the track. Friction wheels are used for movement on the side of the track. Guide wheels support the car as it glides down the track. Some people prefer to race around on steel track, doing seemingly impossible movements. Other people would rather thunder down wooden track that seems like it will collapse any moment. Steel is an ideal material for roller coasters because it can be molded into any shape. Wood is also used because it shakes and gives you the feeling that it will collapse at any moment. In reality, a wooden roller coaster would collapse if the supports were too stiff and rigid. 
Roller coasters are designed to give riders maximum thrill-many even have a higher G-force than astronauts feel on a space shuttle. Some popular elements designers use to give roller coasters this quality are head choppers (bars that just miss riders heads) and launches. Darkness, tunnels, and roller coasters that go backwards are a favorite of roller coaster fans because you can’t tell where you are going. Having structures next to the track is thrilling because you just miss them. Some lesser used elements such as underwater tunnels and rotating cars are just as gripping as any other elements, maybe even more exciting. To see if a roller coaster is exciting enough for you, you can try a roller coaster simulator. Believe it or not, your brain puts together the movement and the picture to make you feel as if you are actually riding a roller coaster. 
Though they are complete opposites, high G-force and weightlessness are both very appealing to thrill seekers. Also called airtime, weightlessness gives riders the feeling that they are floating. The Voyage has the most airtime for a wooden roller coaster- 24 seconds. G-force is how strong gravity pulls you down. High G-force makes you feel very heavy while riding a roller coaster. Some roller coasters may even have up to five Gs. When designing roller coasters, designers must be careful that riders don’t switch from one G-force to another too quickly because our bodies can only endure so much. As long as you are riding a roller coaster, the force(s) will be with you. 
Crowning New Kings: Record-Breaking Roller Coasters
Roller coaster companies have been fighting for many years, building new roller coasters, in hope that these roller coasters can be the tallest, or fastest, or longest, or steepest. As of now, Kingda Ka is the obvious owner of the record for the tallest and fastest roller coaster. Launched from 0 to 128 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds up a 456 foot hill, thrill seekers and roller coaster enthusiasts come from many different places to undergo this one of a kind experience Intamin AG has created for them. Intamin AG has also created Top Thrill Dragster, the former holder of this record, 8 miles per hour slower and 36 feet shorter than Kingda Ka. Meaning King of Coasters, the name truly fits this unique thrill ride. 
Roller coaster fans all have one thing in common; their passion for thrill. They will travel the world for a 3 minute ride of excitement. Cedar Point and Six Flags Magic Mountain would both appeal to them since both parks have 16 roller coasters. Dodonpa in Japan would also be their ideal ride, being at its top speed in 1.8 seconds. Since going forward the whole time may become slightly dull, Superman: The Escape and Wicked Twister could cure that. Superman travels vertically up 415 feet of track at 100 miles per hour and goes back down-backwards. Wicked Twister travels up just over 200 feet of track and spirals up. Twister then goes down and up the other side and lands safely back in the station. These roller coasters, called shuttle coasters, are not truly roller coasters. True roller coaster track connects and last over a minute, while shuttle coaster track has two ends that never meet and the whole ride lasts about 15 seconds. 
The dizzier riders shake their heads, not believing they actually braved this roller coaster. Inside, they know that they have overpowered their greatest fear. Along with the courageous rider from the front seat, they stroll up to another roller coaster. Many are thinking, "If I can do this once, I can do this again". The daring rider from the front seat just grins. A few other riders ask him, "How can you stay calm throughout the whole ride?" He shrugs. "No biggie", he says, and walks on. To him, riding roller coasters isn't a challenge, it is an opportunity to figure out what life really means. He may look ordinary, but he knows that some may be scared to ride a roller coaster. Little do they know that life is a roller coaster itself. He smiles knowingly, and walks away, ready for another wild ride.
—Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.48.142.69 (talk) 21:11, 20 April 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Other Information 

message: Would somebody please edit the picture of the coaster Thompson's Switchback Railway, 1884, as the thumb doesn't show. I'm not clear on the whole wikipedia picture part, so if anyone would like to explain it to me, please do.
--93.125.198.182 (talk) 22:23, 20 July 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: Fixed. It seems that image doesn't like being sized to 220px (which is automatic when "thumb" is used). I changed it to 250px and it seems to work fine now. I've also fixed it on the Switchback Railway page. Themeparkgc (talk) 10:07, 21 July 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Picture thumb 

message: Article needs to mention the immorality of putting oneself in danger intentionally for the sake of a thrill. And don't tell me how equally dangerous it is to drive on the freeway. Nobody is driving on the freeway for the thrill of danger.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.163.106.72 (talk) 17:40, 4 August 2010 (UTC)
replies: text: People who ride roller coasters are not intentionally putting themselves in danger. All amusement rides are inspected annually by a state agency, and more often by the park, so that any lawsuits can be prevented. The majority of roller coaster injuries are not caused by equipment malfunction, however, but by the riders themselves.  Most are caused by guests fooling around by loosening the restraints or trying to stand up. Many injuries are also caused by health problems that the rider has, and riders with these health problems shouldn't even be riding thrill rides. Remember that more people are killed in car accidents each year than are injured on a roller coaster. Hope this will help, Coasterlover1994Leave your mark! 22:34, 4 August 2010 (UTC)

text: Anonymous commenter above (138.163.106.72) needs to mention the immorality of trying to enforce one's personal (and quite bizarre) view of morality via what is intended to be a neutral information reference.  It would also be worthwhile for said commenter to learn the difference between simulation and reality, roller coasters being devices which produce the sensation of danger while actually being quite safe. --152.15.24.58 (talk) 19:37, 12 November 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  immoral 

message: "Family roller coaster" redirects here.  The word "family" appears nowhere in the article.  --152.15.24.58 (talk) 19:37, 12 November 2010 (UTC)
thread_title:  Family roller coaster 

message: Vandals have defaced the page. Russia is boring becuase of this, really boring, is vandalism.
75.88.127.200 (talk) 16:35, 20 March 2011 (UTC)
replies: text: Not done: couldn't parse an edit request from that. — Bility (talk) 21:24, 20 March 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Edit request from 75.88.127.200, 20 March 2011 

message: Shouldn't stealth be  mentioned with   the  other   strata  coasters. --109.76.99.32 (talk) 20:35, 5 May 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Strata coaster 

message: Ferris wheel roller coaster should be seperated with chain lifts or others. and shoul be given example.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 114.201.89.43 (talk) 23:10, 14 August 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  types of roller coaster