Cyclone Rollercoaster

Donnerstag, Oktober 12, 2006

Cyclone Rollercoaster

Kapitel 7

Die Videorubrik widme ich heute einer der bekanntesten Achterbahnen der Welt, dem "Cyclone" im Astro-Park auf Coney Island. Seit 1927 ist dieses Fahrgeschäft in Betrieb, es handelt sich um eine klassische Holzachterbahn.

Hier ist erstmal ein Video von einer Fahrt mit dem Cyclone:

(Start mit Doppelklick auf den Pfeil)

Für näher Interessierte ein paar Fakten in englischer Sprache:

In the period since it first opened on June 26, 1927, the Cyclone has emerged as the outdoor amusement industry's most famous, most influential, and most copied individual ride.
Brothers Jack and Irving Rosenthal commissioned Vernan Keenan to design, and Harry C. Baker to construct, a monumental wooden-tracked twister, which was forced to be exceptionally tight and steep because of the small ground space that was available to them. Construction then began on a site historically significant in the world of roller coasters -- the Cyclone occupies the space, which contained the world's very first roller coaster, LaMarcus A. Thompson's Switchback Railway, as well as the world's first successful looping roller coaster, Loop The Loop. With power supplied by the Eisenberg Brothers of Brooklyn, signs from Menheimer and Weiss of New York City, steel from the National Bridge Company, also of New York City, and lumber from Cross, Austin & Ireland, located in Long Island City, the Cyclone quickly became Coney Island's number one attraction, a status it maintains to this day.

When the Rosenthal Brothers left Coney Island to operate their newest property, Palisade Amusement Park, they turned over the operation of the Cyclone to Chris Feuchts, who lovingly maintained and ran the ride for decades. Eventually, ownership of Cyclone was acquired by the City of New York, and it was operated by the City's Parks Department.
On June 18, 1975, Dewey and Jerome Albert, owners of Astroland Park, received authorization to operate the Cyclone under a leasing agreement with New York City. The Alberts had teams of carpenters and iron workers completely rehabilitate the ride, which reopened to great fanfare on July 1st of that year. Since that time, Astroland Park has invested millions of dollars in the upkeep of the Cyclone -- today, it probably runs better than it did on the day it opened, and has the highest safety standards in the outdoor amusement industry.
The Cyclone has consistently ranked at or near the top of every roller coaster top ten list published. It has been proclaimed the world's greatest by a broad spectrum of media institutions and roller coaster aficionados. Time Magazine quoted Charles Lindbergh as saying that a ride on the Cyclone was more thrilling than his historic first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Emilio Franco, a mute since birth, regained his voice on the Cyclone, uttering his first words ever -- "I feel sick"! In April 2001, singer Nikki Lauren became the first person ever to present a live musical performance in the Cyclone's historic loading station.
An official New York City Landmark since July 12, 1988, Cyclone was listed in the New York State Register of Historic Places on June 31, 1991. National Historic Landmark status followed, on June 26, 1991. On April 14, 1992, Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden issued a citation to Jerome Albert and the late Dewey Albert for their operation of both Astroland and the Cyclone, saluting them for being the primary energizing force in the regeneration of the Coney Island Amusement District.

The Cyclone, now faster than ever, is the heart and soul of Coney Island, birthplace of the American amusement industry, and going strong for over 150 years!
CYCLONE ROLLERCOASTER FACT SHEET
Operation Began: June 26, 1927
Operated by Astroland Park: since July 3, 1975
Designed By: Vernan KeenanBuilt by: Harry C. Baker
First Owners/Operators: Jack & Irving Rosenthal
Initial Investment: $175,000
Type of Ride: Compact wood twister
GROUND DIMENSIONS: 75 feet by 500 feet
HEIGHT: 85 feet
LENGTH OF FIRST DROP: 85 feet at a 60 degree angle
TRACK LENGTH: 2,640 feet
NUMBER OF 180
DEGREE TURNS: 6
NUMBER OF DROPS: 12
CHANGES OF DIRECTION: 16
NUMBER OF TRACK CROSSOVERS: 18
NUMBER OF ELEVATION CHANGES: 27
SPEED: 60 Miles Per Hour
RIDE TIME: One Minute, Fifty Seconds
TRAINS: 3 Trains, 3 Cars per train
CAPACITY: 24 Passengers per Cycle
UNUSUAL FEATURES: Steel track on almost entirely wood structure; Classic Trains, station, and operational procedures; distinction of being the most copied roller coaster ever built -- 7 "clones" currently operating throughout the United States, Europe and Japan.
The Cyclone was designated a New York City Landmark on July 12, 1988, and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since June 26, 1991.

Hier - wie immer - der Google-Maps-Link zur Standortbestimmung: KARTE

Ein aktueller Blick auf die Umgebung des Cyclone über die Straßenansicht von Google-Maps:

Größere Kartenansicht

Zum Abschluss noch ein weiteres Video. Als besondere Werbeaktion ließ man im Jahr 1983 den Cyclone für kurze Zeit auch rückwärts durch die Anlage rauschen, was dieser kurze Werbefilm dokumentiert. (Video wieder lauffähig gemacht 06/07/08)