I know John Miller invented the upstop wheel system for locking the train to the tracks, but, I have never read or heard which coaster was the first to have upstop wheels. Anybody know?
I should be sure when I say this, but I'm not. I think it's Kennywood's Jack Rabbit.
That sounds right to me. I read about that in some book, and I know it said that Kennywood's Jack Rabbit was one of the first coasters to have upstop wheels.
---Brett (who is on his break at the Carnegie Science Center and is really pooped out)
I looked through both of the coaster books that I have, and I do believe that Kennywood's Jack Rabbit, built in 1920 for $50,000. Correct me if I'm wrong...Ride Man? ------------- "Shut up brain, or I'll stab you with a Q-tip!"
~From the brilliant mind of Homer J. Simpson.
The Jack Rabbit seems to be the consensus and is was built around the right time to get the upstops. It occured to me that there might have been a side friction modified for upstops before the Jack Rabbit, but, I was going for the first coaster designed from the beginning to have upstops. Pretty nice that that ride is still around, I figured it would be some obscure coaster that was lost a long time ago. I knew the Jack Rabbit was special because of it's age and double-down but have never really heard the fact that it is the first coaster to have upstops touted. Thanks everybody
*** This post was edited by Jimbo on 3/2/2001. ***
