The American Roller Coaster [Hardcover]

Scott Rutherford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2000

Step right up and thrill to the magic of the great coasters as you travel through roller coaster history from their beginnings up through today! Experience the early roots of coastering in the mid-1800s and the emergence of the grand amusement parks in the 1880s. Flash back to the golden age of coasters between 1900 and 1930, and witness the thrill rides' historic decline in the 1960s. Ride these radical rails in chapters chronicling coaster designers, manufacturing companies, technology, and special coasters. Strap yourself in for a rollicking ride and be a part of the roller coaster renaissance that began in the early 1970's and continues today!

Product Details

• Hardcover: 156 pages
• Publisher: MBI (July 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760306893
• ISBN-13: 978-0760306895
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,122,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Roller Coaster Reference, March 29, 2001

By 

Nathan A. Unterman (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The American Roller Coaster (Hardcover)

Other reviewers have given a good overview of this book. I will go into some detail on Chapter 3:Nuts and Bolts -- How Coasters Work. Rutherford begins by talking about materials used in the basic structure. His section on the evolution of tracking is excellent. Most readers will be surprised to learn about the side-friction coaster. This is a rare beast, and to my knowledge, this is the only easily available documentation available about it.

The wood track structure is well explained along with cross sectional diagrams of how the carriages (trains) are attached to the track/structure. Rutherford finishes this part with a discussion on standard bent construction for the structure.

In the next part of this chapter, the discussion continues with steelie coasters, track fabrication and wheel assemblies. Propulsion, lift chain, anti-rollback devices, other safety devices, brakes, zone blocking, restraints, etc. are wonderful background information for the teacher who wants to take their class to the amusement park for a science field trip.

The chapter ends with the nature of teh ride and what is involved in creating one of these machines. The difference between an track plan and profile are clearly illustrated.

Good addition to the library.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must" for all roller coaster buffs & enthusiasts!, August 4, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The American Roller Coaster (Hardcover)

An excellent and unusual title providing insights into American pastimes and interests, Scott Rutherford's American Roller Coaster covers the ups and downs of roller coaster history, pairing a clear text history with color photos and illustrations of coasters from 1900 to modern times. The history and evolution covers construction as well as roller coaster styles and development.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW! What a Ride!, June 28, 2000

By 

Robert M. Ulrich "PlayRide" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The American Roller Coaster (Hardcover)

This is a GREAT BOOK! Much better than I ever imagined!

Scott takes the reader on a ride from the early beginnings all the way through to modern LIM marvels, including concept drawings for SOB, Lightning Racer and Thrust Air.

The words tell the history in precise detail. This is the first coaster book I've read that wasn't riddled with small annoying errors. The writing is complete yet concise. I especially enjoy the special feature writings that supplement the major text. Discussions about such things racing coasters, coaster "mutants" (Virginia Reels), mad mice, and more are the enjoyable reading as sidelines that are included to really try to explain the roller coaster in wonderful detail.

But the thing that blew me away were the pictures. Tons and tons of pictures of lots of obscure coasters from the past. Every shape, model and style of coaster is illustrated, with lots of side-bar features supplimenting the main text.

The chapters have great titles that really preview what's inside: 1. Humble Beginnings, America Goes Coasting: 1880s -1920 2. The Golden Years, The Roller Coaster Comes of Age: 1920-1940 3. Nuts and Bolts, How Coasters Work 4. Postwar Coastering, A Lull Before the Storm: 1945-1972 5. The Coaster Renaissance, Steel Coasters Blossom; Wood Coasters Rebound 6. New Age Coastering, Now and Beyond.

Excellent pictures, packed with history and information. This is a definite keeper up there with Carmell's book.

From the cover picture of Adventureland's "Tornado" to the frontpiece's detail from the Lakeside "Cyclone" through Chapter 1's opening picture of West Views "Dips" to S&S's "Thrust Air 2000" every page of this book is wonderful. Thank you Scott.

I know this book will be on the bedstand for a long while this summer.