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Why did LaMarcus Thompson build the USA's first roller coaster at New York's Coney Island?

Question #150536. Asked by psnz.
Last updated Jan 26 2024.
Originally posted Jan 26 2024 9:22 PM.

BigTriviaDawg

Answer has 2 votes

BigTriviaDawg

6 year member
776 replies avatar

Answer has 2 votes.

In 1884 good old LaMarcus Thompson built the first roller coaster to distract people from much worse options around including saloons and brothels! He called his coaster the Switchback Gravity Railway.

For five cents, riders would climb a tower to board the large bench-like car and were pushed off to coast 600 ft (183 m) down the track to another tower. The car went just over 6 mph (9.7 km/h). At the top of the other tower the vehicle was switched to a return track or "switched back" (hence the name).

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/14-fun-facts-about-roller-coasters-180972920/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switchback_Railway

Jan 26 2024, 9:29 PM

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Why did LaMarcus Thompson build the USA's first roller coaster at New York's Coney Island?

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