Side Friction

What exactly is a side friction rollercoaster. I have heard the term used before and was introduced to it by RCT. But what the heck is it? I found this picture on rcdb and there doesn't appear to be any space between the train and the track for wheels for it to coast on which I found odd. It just looks like a carboard box sitting on a wood structure that billy bob from across the street built. http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1579.htm?Picture=5 So................?

That's because you're not seeing the track, you're seeing the side of a trough.

Essentially, a Side friction coaster has wheel on the bottom and on the sides of the cars. The wheels on the bottom roll along a wooden track, and the ones on the sides keep the car spaced between side rails. There are no upstops, so the cars can actually rise off the track if it has enough momentum (Thus, Leap the Dips truly does leap, coming up off the track if ever so briefly.)

...and you can feel it (LtD) returning to the track, esp. from the back seat....Lakemont maintains a staff chiropractor for just such instances....;)

This picture shows how the car sits in the side rails pretty clearly.

older coasters, mostly made before john miller's upstops. early 1900's.