The Cyclone was a wooden roller coaster that operated at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts, from 1925 until 1969.[1] When Cyclone was constructed, it was the tallest roller coaster ever built,[2] as well as being the first roller coaster in the world to reach 100 feet (30 m) in height.[3] In addition to being the tallest roller coaster of its day, some also claim that it was the largest and fastest roller coaster in the world,[2][4] with a length of 3,600 feet (1,100 m) and top speeds between 45 and 50 mph[4] (some dispute the speed record claim and instead award that honor to the Giant Dipper[5]). Cyclone held the title of world's tallest roller coaster until 1964 when it was surpassed by Montaña Rusa at La Feria Chapultepec Mágico in Mexico City, Mexico.[6]
| Cyclone | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Cyclone sign, August 1961 | |
| Revere Beach | |
| Location | Revere Beach |
| Coordinates | 42°25′12″N 70°59′10″W / 42.420°N 70.986°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 1925 |
| Closing date | 1969 |
| Cost | $125,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Traver Engineering |
| Designer | Frederick Church |
| Height | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Length | 3,600 ft (1,100 m) |
| Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Capacity | 1400 riders per hour |
| Cyclone at RCDB | |
Given its location near the Atlantic Ocean, Cyclone would take much damage throughout the years from ocean storms, flooding, and blizzards.[7] Despite the abuse the coaster took from the ocean, however, it was a fire that eventually destroyed the Cyclone.[8] When first fire occurred in 1969, it was an event that signaled the demise of the Revere Beach amusement industry.[7] The coaster's charred ruins were finally torn down in 1974, after a second, more intense, damaging blaze.[1]
As with Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, Revere Beach's attractions were owned by a variety of amusement operators, with the Cyclone being owned by the Shayeb family.[2] In its heyday, Cyclone was a popular ride, regularly transporting as many as 1,400 riders per hour—a rate which was quickly able to recoup the 125,000 dollar cost of the coaster.[9]
Design and construction
edit_01_(cropped).jpg)
Cyclone was constructed by the notable roller coaster builder and pioneer Harry Traver of Traver Engineering and designed by Frederick Church.[1] It was similar in design to another Traver-built coaster at Savin Rock, the Thunderbolt.[10]
Cyclone was one of two roller coasters that Traver built at Revere Beach, the other one being the Lightning. Lightning was part of a model line known as "Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters". These coasters were steel-framed coasters, which, ironically enough, had a particularly poor safety record.[11] Because Cyclone predated Lightning at Revere Beach, Lightning was the only Cyclone Safety Coaster to not share the Cyclone name of its sister coasters.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Cyclone". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ a b c Craig, William J.; Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation (2004). Revere. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-3671-7.
- ^ "RCDB list of roller coasters by height". Archived from the original on 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ a b Revere Beach historical site Archived August 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Giant Dipper". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Montaña Rusa". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ a b Schmidt, Leah A. (2002). Revere Beach. Arcadia Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 0-7385-1030-0.
- ^ Robertson, Kitty Crockett (2008). Measuring Time - By an Hourglass. Dog Ear Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59858-682-4.
- ^ Francis, David W.; Francis, Diane DeMali (2003). The Golden Age of Roller Coasters. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-2338-0.
- ^ Munch, Richard (1982). Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror. Mentor, OH: Amusement Park Books, Inc. ISBN 0935408029.
- ^ Rutherford, Scott (2004). The American Roller Coaster. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-1929-4.