A figure-8 coaster at Kulturpark Rotehorn in Magdeburg, Germany, 1969.
Figure 8 roller coasters are a category of roller coasters where the train runs through a figure 8 shaped course before returning to the boarding station. This design was one of the first designs to be featured in roller coaster design, along with the out and back roller coaster. The figure 8 design allowed for more turns than the out and back design, offering riders an alternative experience.
In a figure 8 track layout, the track crosses over itself, forming an "8" shape.
The double figure eight is a variation where the track contains two separate figure-eight shapes.[1] Some examples include the Cobra at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and the Harley Quinn Crazy Train at Six Flags Great Adventure.
Early figure 8 coasters were typically wooden side friction coasters, where the train was brought to the top of the track via chain lift and then descended through gravitational pull.[2] Modern coasters can be made out of wood or steel, and may incorporate different launch mechanisms or train configurations to enhance the ride experience.
Postcard of the Figure Eight at Olentangy Park, located in Columbus, Ohio. The coaster opened in 1902.
Figure 8 coasters date back to the late 19th century. Many roller coasters of the time used out-and-back tracks, and the figure 8 layout became a standard design that provided the rider with more turns during the descent. Like many coasters of the time, figure 8 coasters were slow moving, often capping at speeds of 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h).[2]
While the track design was a popular alternative to typical out-and-back tracks at the start of the 20th century, interest plummeted in the following decades. They were often dismantled in favor of faster coasters, being viewed as less exciting than the new designs of the time.[2] The Leap the Dips coaster at Lakemont Park, located in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is believed to be the oldest surviving side friction figure 8 coaster.
^ abcMangels, William F. (1952). The Outdoor Amusement Industry: From Earliest Times to the Present. pp. 91–92. LCCN52013299. OL6115194M – via OpenLibrary.
