Flip Flap Railway, Wooden roller coaster at Sea Lion Park, Brooklyn, United States
The Flip Flap Railway was a wooden roller coaster at Sea Lion Park in Brooklyn featuring an unusual design with a single-rail track and a circular vertical loop measuring about 25 feet across. Riders sat in two-person cars and experienced the thrilling motion over the loop.
The railway was designed in 1895 by Lina Beecher as a return to looping roller coasters in North America after decades without them. It operated at Sea Lion Park until 1902, when the site closed to make room for Luna Park's development.
Engineers tested the railway extensively with sandbags and monkeys in Toledo, Ohio before allowing human passengers to experience the vertical loop thrills.
The ride proved remarkably intense due to the small loop and the strong forces it generated during operation. Many passengers reported physical discomfort, especially in the neck area, which was a common complaint.
Before opening to riders, the railway underwent extensive testing with sandbags and monkeys in Toledo, Ohio to verify its safety. This testing phase reflected the experimental approach common in the early amusement park industry.
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