Wooden Reverser

I read somewhere that there is no wooden reverser roller coasters in existence...were there ever any? Or is this just a figment of the RCT peeps imaginations? And would it physically be possible to build an effective, consistently-working wooden reverser in real life?

In real life there is a wooden coaster that runs backwards. Racer at Paramount's Kings Island runs one side backwards. I also think Rebel Yell at Paramount's Kings Dominion runs would side backwards. Also I'm pretty sure on Roller Coaster Tycoon 2, you can have a backwards wooden coaster.

-Jake *** Edited 10/19/2004 8:58:56 PM UTC by Jacob Green***

Yes you can...but the coaster I'm talking about is the specific one in RCT, the Wooden Reverser Roller Coaster.

I think that is a historically accurate design (maybe I'm just fooling myself?) - however, I don't know a single thing about historic coasters, so I couldn't even begin to point to an example.

How's that for a useless reply?

I believe there was at least one in the early 1900's. I will have to look through some books.

If the reverser is a historically accurate design, then how exactly would it work? My only guess is that each side of the train rides on a separate part of the track, which would make it possible for one set of wheels to continue forward while the other set is sent out to the side, which would reverse the vehicle. Even if that happened though, I can't figure out how the car would return to the original position...

The wheels would have to be on bearings, or something that lets them spin... think of a shopping cart, except the wheels would actually be in a channel that could let them move.

There would be two sets of track. One for the front wheels, one for the back, offset just a bit. When the front track is run out to the side, the back track stays straight. This would cause the front of the car to whip around, and be pulled by the back. To bring the car back forward, it would do the same thing, but with the back (now running in front) wheels first.

It could be done, just not at high speeds like in RCT. Remember, this is essentially a variation on the side friction track, with no upstops. It'd be a pretty tame ride.

I, like Lord Gonchar, would assume that this is historically accurate. I just don't see the creators inventing types of rides on their own when they didn't even include existing styles. *** Edited 10/20/2004 3:49:59 PM UTC by kpjb***

how about using the same set up as a spinning mouse with locks to make it stop half way around and then again locking in a forward facing position also so it only would spin 180* when unlocked? wouldn't this be the way to make the wooden reverser?

It's the more obscure coasters that made RCT2 really different, because it showed all kinds of coasters from the early 20th Centruy to today's wild coaster types...

...I haven't seen a real Virginia Reel coaster in action at all, past or present. I have yet to see a wooden wild mouse coaster as well... and of course, this reverser wooden coaster.

All obscure, all taken from real-world coasters (even if there was only 1 in existance)... but no clue as to who had such a coaster.

*bump* Any research updates?

Good Day, Class!

Please take out your copy of "The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster" by Robert Cartmell, and turn to page 81.

In part, Cartmell states:

"One of the strangest was the "Hooper Reverser" in Salt Lake City. It was a straightforward legitimate roller coaster until the rear wheels swiveled out and around on tracks of their own. Passengers then rode sections backward until the next spin-about. Riders were never sure which way they would face during the run since there were several turning points"

Cartmell also provides two illustrations of this on page 82. One of these postcard photos shows the reversing track section, and it looks pretty close to that shown in RCT2.

Cool. Thanks for that, Dave!

Now we know :)

Dave...tis official...You Rock! Thanks for the info, would love to somehow see that ride in existence today, at a smaller park of some kind...would be neat to ride!