TRAINS

How a Roller Coaster train stays on the track

wheel assemblyThe modern roller coaster train is designed around wheel assemblies that do not differ much from ride to ride, or from manufacturer to manufacturer.

In the olden days, roller coasters used to slide on sheets of ice. Things have progressed a bit since then.

The early roller coaster trains featured running wheels and side-friction wheels. These side-friction roller coasters allowed corners to be taken. Whilst these coasters featured dips and climbs, they were never very steep, as the train was not fixed down to the track.

It was John Allen who invented the up-stop wheel, which was (and still is) the key to making roller coasters safe. The up-stop wheel meant that the train could not leave the track, and paved the way for steeper hills and, of course, inversions.

 

Restraints

There are two common types of roller coaster restraint with variations depending on the ride type.

The first stops riders from standing up or getting out of their seat on a coaster that otherwise would not necessarily need restraints, and the second is there to hold a rider in if the ride is intense (and the rider would fly out if there were no restraints) or as a safety measure in case the ride stalls upside down. There are also a couple of other restraint systems with specific purposes.

Many lap bars are supplemented by a basic seat-belt system to provide further safety.

Lap bar or “Buzz” bar

lapbar
The lab bar prevents riders from standing up.

Over the shoulder restraints (OTSR)

otsr
The OTSR secures a rider into their seat, preventing them from falling out on slow inversions or high-negative-G moments.

Locking lap bar

steel lapbar
The locking lap bar secures riders into their seat via a locking mechanism and prevents them from falling out.

T-bar

tbars
All B&M hyper and giga coasters use a type of restraint called a “T-bar” restraint, which consists of bar with a cushioned lap bar with two handles for riders to hold on to.