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Great American Scream Machine
The lift hill as shown from the right side of the park.
Six Flags Over Georgia
LocationSix Flags Over Georgia
Coordinates33°45′57″N 84°33′05″W / 33.76583°N 84.55139°W / 33.76583; -84.55139
StatusOperating
Opening dateMarch 31, 1973 (1973-03-31)
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerPhiladelphia Toboggan Coasters
DesignerDon Rosser, John C. Allen, William Cobb
Track layoutOut-and-back
Lift/launch systemChain Lift
Height105 ft (32 m)
Drop89 ft (27 m)
Length3,800 ft (1,200 m)
Speed57 mph (92 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration2:00
Max vertical angle45°
Capacity1200 riders per hour
G-force3.7
Height restriction42 in (107 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
Great American Scream Machine at RCDB

Great American Scream Machine (GASM) is a wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia, United States. Manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, the ride opened in 1973 as the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in the world. Often shortened to GASM, the 105-foot-tall (32 m) ride reaches a maximum speed of 57 mph (92 km/h). At the time of opening, early riders were given a "Red Badge of Courage" button for riding the coaster.[1] On May 21, 2017, Great American Scream Machine received an ACE landmark designation from American Coaster Enthusiasts, recognized for becoming the first wooden coaster built by Six Flags and for being well maintained.

History

ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaque for the Scream Machine.

Construction of Great American Scream Machine was subcontracted to Marvin M. Black & Sons.[citation needed] It officially opened to the public on March 31, 1973.[1]

In the spring of 1993, Great American Scream Machine ran backwards for its 20th anniversary.[2] The same thing would occur for its 45th anniversary in 2018.[3]

Operational Information

A computerized block system is used to prevent trains from contacting each other. Great American Scream Machine has 5 blocks: Station, Transfer Table, Lift, Main Brake and Ready Brake. Normal operation uses two trains; however, it can be operated with only one. During two-train operation, if the train in the station has not fully exited the loading platform, the inbound train will stop abruptly in the Main Brakes. A combination of proximity switches, mechanical switches, photoelectric sensors and timers are all used by the controller to track train movements.

Each train consists of four cars with three rows per car, two riders per row, holding 24 total riders. Each row has a lap bar and a seat belt. Until the 2018 season, the lap bar itself was locked and unlocked by an electrical current that activates solenoids on the train, resulting in a "buzzing" electrical sound. They could be troublesome, sometimes requiring the operating crew to manually unlock the lap bar for a rider. For the 2018 season, the former Georgia Cyclone trains were added, which allowed for more reliable and safe lap bars to be installed on this ride. Each train consists of six cars with two rows per car, two riders per row, holding 24 riders total. The trains ride on steel wheels with guide wheels and upstops attached. The track is plank wood stacked 7 planks high, with steel running surfaces on the top, bottom and sides (locations where the running, guide and upstop wheels contact the track).

Before computerized control existed, operators used a lever to operate the brake system and dispatch trains. The operator near the end of the station controlled the main brakes at the end of the circuit; the operator at the front of the station operated the brakes at the station platform only and worked to dispatch trains to the lift.

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Ranking —[4] —[5] —[6] 42 (tie)[7] —[8] —[9] 41[10] —[11] 40[12] 44[13] 49 (tie)[14] —[15] —[16] —[17] 48[18] 43[19] —[20]

Note: Great American Scream Machine has not charted in the Golden Ticket Awards since 2013.

References

  1. ^ a b Kelley, Tom (June 26, 2003). "Detours: Hands Up! Scream Machine Cradle Of Historic Uprising". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Home ed.). p. P30.
  2. ^ "Great American Scream Machine celebrates 20 years". The Times and Democrat. March 7, 1993. Retrieved February 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Last chance to ride Scream Machine backwards this weekend". MDJ.
  4. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1998. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  5. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1999. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  6. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  7. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  8. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  9. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  10. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  11. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  12. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  13. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  14. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  15. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  16. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  17. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  18. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  19. ^ "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  20. ^ "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2013.

External links

Six Flags Over Georgia
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