| The first roller coaster built in America was the | | | | together. Wooden ties are then added as cross |
| Gravity Pleasure Switchback Railway that was put | | | | braces to connect the sections together sturdily. |
| up in Coney Island in 1884. It only went 6 mph, | | | | On the ground, the last sections needed are built |
| but it was such a hit that the builder recovered | | | | first, and then the next-to-last sections are built |
| his investment in less than a month. | | | | and stacked on top of them so that at the top |
| The Cyclone, also at Coney Island was built in | | | | of the stack are the sections needed first, and |
| 1927 with an 85 foot drop and 60 degree angles. | | | | the last sections to be needed will be on the |
| No wonder it is still considered the "gold standard" | | | | bottom of the stack. |
| in coaster design. The first tubular steel coaster | | | | One reason coasters are still made from wood is |
| was the Matterhorn Bobsled Ride built at | | | | that wood allows the structure to have some |
| Disneyland in 1959. They were quieter and allowed | | | | "give," to move and stretch as the train goes by. |
| corkscrews and other tricks you couldn't get with | | | | A structure with no give to it would cause the |
| a wooden coaster. | | | | rails to wear unevenly and have to be replaced |
| But wooden coasters have remained popular, | | | | more often. In sharp curves where G-forces |
| being built ever higher. The construction of | | | | maximize, this bit of flexibility is necessary to |
| wooden roller coasters is an interesting process. It | | | | keep the cars from shaking too much or riders to |
| involves cutting many, many pieces of wood to | | | | be injured by excessive forces. The track itself is |
| the correct length. Special fire inhibiting adhesive is | | | | then made from 2 x 12 and 2 x 10 boards |
| spread by a caulk tube in between the layers of | | | | laminated (layered) on top of each other. The first |
| lumber to inhibit the spread of a fire anywhere on | | | | layer is secured, and then additional layers are |
| the coaster. The coaster is actually put together | | | | nailed into each lower layer. The ends are |
| on the ground and then the pieces are put in | | | | staggered to overlap each other to ensure |
| place with cranes, where they are then bolted | | | | sufficient track strength. |