Switchback Railway, Wooden roller coaster in Coney Island, Brooklyn, United States
The Switchback Railway featured two parallel wooden tracks with a height of 50 feet and stretched across 600 feet at Coney Island.
LaMarcus Adna Thompson designed and constructed this pioneering roller coaster in 1884, marking the beginning of modern amusement park attractions in America.
The Switchback Railway introduced Americans to mechanical entertainment during the late nineteenth century, transforming social recreation patterns in urban areas.
Passengers paid five cents to climb a tower and board the car, which moved at 6 miles per hour before switching to a return track.
The railway design originated from a coal-mining train at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, which had carried thrill-seeking passengers since 1827.
GPS coordinates: 40.57400,-73.97800
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:15
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