What are the Different Types of Rollercoaster?
Roller coasters, for many people, are the pinnacle of the fairground, the attraction most anticipated that people often leave to the end to be the highlight of their night. Some love them so much that they’ll hop off it and re join the queue to go again! With all the high-tech roller coasters that are seen across the globe, one would be forgiven for thinking that they are a recent feature of the funfair. However, would you believe that the first recorded instance of a roller coaster is way back in the 17th century! Read more if you'd like to explore the history of the roller coaster.
Over these hundreds of years, many different variations of roller coaster have been born and We Are Tricycle have a great variety of them. Some of the oldest wooden roller coasters still exist today, with the Big Dipper in Blackpool and Scenic Railway in Margate both over a century old.
We thought we’d provide you with a concise little guide to some of the of roller coasters you might encounter at the funfair. Keep us in mind for funfair hire!
Wooden Roller Coasters
The traditional roller coaster is still found at Britain's historic beach resorts today. The clicking of the tracks is something you don’t forget once you’ve heard it and the craftsmanship that has gone into each corner and even the carriage are a sight to behold in their own right. You’ll be surprised at how much of a white knuckle ride these old things can be; its no wonder some of them have been thrilling crowds for over a hundred years!
Steel Roller Coasters
The most common material to build most rides out of is steel because it’s so strong. More strength means more ability to take stress, which means you can achieve greater speeds, sharper corners and even loops. From really high-octane rides to simple ones, you’ll find steel is the material of choice for many modern rollercoasters, as it’s easier to bolt together than wood and doesn’t weather. Almost all of the biggest and boldest roller coasters with numerous twists, turns and loops will be of this type.
Ghost Trains
Ghost trains are roller coasters with a twist! Taking place inside a panel casing, the emphasis of the ghost train isn’t always on speed but on the features around the carts. Sometimes the scariest bit is ironically when the cart is moving at it’s slowest, lingering near a spooky part of the ride before turning the corner onto a final dip! A huge hit and not just for Halloween, horror fanatics are everywhere, ghost trains are a beloved feature of the travelling funfair and carnival. Why not read about the history of the ghost train?
Children's Roller Coasters
We all need to start somewhere! Kids love to take a first spin on a simple roller coaster that may just have a few light dips around a loop. Often decorated like a caterpillar or a dragon, these children's funfair rides capture the imagination and even really young ones can find them thrilling. A brilliant way for kids to build up their confidence for bigger rides too.
We Are Tricycle have a wonderful range of roller coasters so check them out now and find the perfect one for your event.