Dragon Coaster (Playland)
| The Dragon Coaster | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Playland Park | |
| Coordinates | 40°58′03″N 73°40′26″W / 40.967500°N 73.673900°WCoordinates: 40°58′03″N 73°40′26″W / 40.967500°N 73.673900°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1929 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Designer | Frederick Church |
| Track layout | Out & Back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain Lift |
| Height | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Drop | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Length | 1,036 m (3,399 ft) |
| Duration | 1:40 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
|
The Dragon Coaster at RCDB Pictures of The Dragon Coaster at RCDB |
|
The Dragon Coaster, Playland Park's iconic attraction, in Rye, New York, is a wooden roller coaster that was opened in 1929. It was designed and built by legendary amusement ride creator Frederick Church, who also was the co-inventor of the Racing Derby, another famous early 20th century amusement park ride. The Dragon Coaster has approximately 3,400 feet of track and is, at its highest, approximately 80 feet tall. It has a tunnel along its span, a common feature of wooden roller coasters from the 1920s, that resembles the body of a Dragon and the opening of the tunnel resembling the mouth of a Dragon. It has also been featured in the film Fatal Attraction, Mariah Carey's music video Fantasy, and Big, starring Tom Hanks. The Dragon Coaster is still in operation to this day.
The Dragon Coaster's boarding station is wrapped around the right leg of the layout. After climbing into the new Morgan trains, the operator pushes a lever to release the still used manual braking system. The trains roll down a short inclined curve toward the lift hill.
Once at the top, riders are given a quick view of the Long Island Sound before plunging down an abrupt dip which gives the train a rush of momentum. The train takes a quick left and proceeds down the main drop of about 80 ft. The train passes a few head-choppers as it passes under the lift hill, and then climbs up into a turn-around directly above the boarding station. The trains then proceed down a double-dip like drop. This momentum sends the train going into the mouth of a dragon.
As they enter the tunnel, a roaring sound-effect plays and the eyes of the dragon light up. The tunnel wraps around the turn off the lift hill's upper middle, and sends the riders out into the coaster's left leg.
The trains dip down out of the tunnel into a short straightaway, and then climb up into a turnaround at the far end of the left leg. The trains head back toward the center lift hill turn portion. After a few dips, the trains reach another turn around, directly under the dragon tunnel. They trains proceed back out into the left leg for one more out-and-back trip before heading toward the boarding station. Riders exit the trains; which are manually blocked by the operator, and exit the boarding station. The train then heads from the unload section to the load section.
...
Wikipedia