Flip Flap Railway
Sea Lion Park
LocationSea Lion Park
Coordinates40°34′41″N 73°58′44″W / 40.578°N 73.979°W / 40.578; -73.979
StatusRemoved
Opening date1895 (1895)
Closing date1902 (1902)
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerLina Beecher
DesignerLina Beecher
Inversions1
G-force12
Trainsa single car. Riders are arranged 1 across in 2 rows for a total of 2 riders per train.
Flip Flap Railway at RCDB

Flip Flap Railway was the name of a looping wooden roller coaster which operated for a number of years at Paul Boyton's Sea Lion Park on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. The coaster, which opened in 1895, was one of the first looping roller coasters to operate in North America. It was also notable for its engineering as well as the extreme G-forces that this engineering inflicted on riders.

History and design

The first looping roller coasters were built in Europe in the mid-1800s. These rides, known as "centrifugal railways", were initially designed to be temporary installations and they achieved little success.[1]

Early film clip of Flip Flap Railway's operation

The Flip Flap Railway was tested in Toledo, Ohio in 1888 by designer Lina Beecher before the coaster was moved to Coney Island.[2] The coaster was tested with sand bags and monkeys before human riders were allowed on the coaster.[3] The coaster had a single rail and riders rode two-to-a-car and sat in tandem.[4] Sea Lion Park developer Boyton liked Beecher's coaster and decided to move it to Sea Lion Park.[2]

Flip Flap Railway was shut down along with Sea Lion Park in 1902. While Sea Lion Park was replaced with Luna Park in 1903, Flip Flap Railway was not retained as it was not as popular.[2]The 2-person cars also meant that it was difficult to turn a profit on the coaster.[5]

Ride experience

Like the earlier centrifugal railways in Europe, Flip Flap Railway was notorious for the extreme g-forces that it produced in its riders. The circular nature of the coaster's loop, as well as its relatively small diameter of 7.6 metres (25 ft),[3] meant that it could produce forces of approximately 12 g0 (120 m/s2).[6][7] This caused riders to often experience discomfort and neck injuries from whiplash.[3][7] Modern looping roller coasters use teardrop-shaped loops to greatly reduce these g-forces.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cartmell, Robert (1987). The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster. Popular Press. ISBN 0-87972-342-4.
  2. ^ a b c Francis, David W.; Francis, Diane DeMali (2003). The Golden Age of Roller Coasters. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738523380. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Bennett, David (1998). Roller Coaster: Wooden and Steel Coasters, Twisters, and Corkscrews. Edison, NJ: Chartwell Books. ISBN 078580885X.
  4. ^ Mangels, William F. (1952). The Outdoor Amusement Industry. New York, NY: Vantage Press. ISBN 0848820029.
  5. ^ Urbanowicz, Steven J. (2002). The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the World's Best Coasters. Citadel Press. ISBN 978-0-8065-2309-5.
  6. ^ a b Tipler, Paul A.; Mosca, Gene (2008). Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Vol. Standard (6th ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company. ISBN 978-1429201247. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Pearson, Will; Hattikudur, Mangesh; Koerth-Baker, Maggie (2005). Mental_Floss Presents Instant Knowledge. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0061747661. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
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