the Realist

UNCOMMON KNOWLEDGE FOR MODERN TIMES

THE ORIGIN OF ROLLER COASTERS

Written by Andra Chantim Photograph by Aaron Dyer

TALK ABOUT A WILD RIDE. In the early 19th century, Pennsylvania’s Mauch Switchback Chunk Railway carried coal and workers down a nine-mile stretch from the mines at Summit Hill to the coal chutes at the Lehigh River. When advances in engineering gave the railway an extra kick of power, it became a huge thrill seekers’ attraction, offering rides to the public for about 25 cents after workers had hauled coal in the morning, says Jack Sterling, a historian for the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center. “Horses were the popular mode of transportation then, so traveling at 30 to 50 miles per hour was mind-blowing,” he says. Inspired by this ride, America’s first official roller coaster, Coney Island’s Switchback Railway, came in 1884. Today you can get a rush at hundreds of amusement parks across the country, but those with the need for maximum speed can seek out Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. The 456-footer hits 125 miles an hour and holds the title of fastest in North America.

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