Editing Roller coaster (section)

==Types==
{{See also|Roller coaster elements}}
[[File:Nokkakivi - Cyclon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cyclon roller coaster in the [[Nokkakivi]] amusement park in [[Laukaa]], [[Finland]]]]
Roller coasters are divided into two main categories: [[steel roller coaster]]s and [[wooden roller coaster]]s. Steel coasters have tubular steel tracks, and compared to wooden coasters, they are typically known for offering a smoother ride and their ability to turn riders upside-down. Wooden coasters have flat steel tracks, and are typically renowned for producing "air time" through the use of negative g-forces when reaching the crest of some hill elements. Newer types of track, such as I-Box and Topper introduced by [[Rocky Mountain Construction]] (RMC), improve the ride experience on wooden coasters, lower maintenance costs, and add the ability to invert riders.

[[File:Thunder Dolphin - roller coaster - Oct 15 2021.ogg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Thunder Dolphin]], a [[steel roller coaster]] in [[Tokyo]], at dusk]]
A third classification type is often referred to as a [[hybrid roller coaster]], which use a mixture of wood and steel elements for the track and structure. Many, for example, have a track made out of steel and a support structure made from wood.<ref name="Weisenberger">{{cite book |page=18 |title=Coasters 101: An Engineer's Guide to Roller Coaster Design |first1=Nick |last1=Weisenberger |edition=1st |location=United States |isbn=9781468013559 | year=2012 |type=Paperback |publisher=[[CreateSpace|Createspace Independent Publishing]]|language=English}}</ref><ref name="Throgmorton">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WKIfDAAAQBAJ&dq=hybrid+roller+coaster&pg=PA49 |pages=21, 49, 116, 223, 231 |edition=4th |title=Coasters: United States and Canada |first1=Todd H. |last1=Throgmorton |first2=Samantha K. |last2=Throgmorton |isbn=9781476622118 |date=April 30, 2016 |format=E-book |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers]] |language=English}}</ref><ref name="Hybrid-TripSavvy">{{Cite web|title=What Is a Hybrid Wooden and Steel Roller Coaster?|url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/what-is-a-hybrid-roller-coaster-3226485|access-date=2021-04-26|website=TripSavvy|language=en}}</ref> RMC has notably redesigned wood coasters that have either deteriorated from age or been deemed by parks as too costly to maintain.<ref name="Hybrid-TripSavvy" /><ref name="Hybrid-CoasterCritic">{{Cite web|title=What Is A Hybrid Roller Coaster?|url=http://coastercritic.com/2018/03/hybrid-roller-coaster/|access-date=2021-04-26|website=coastercritic.com|date=29 October 2019 }}</ref> RMC often replaces the wood track with their patented steel I-Box track design, while reusing much of the ride's wooden structure, resulting in a smoother ride with the incorporation of new design elements, such as inversions, sharper turns, and steeper drops.<ref name="Hybrid-CoasterCritic" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-05-04|title=State of the Arts: A New Kind of Wooden Coaster Twists and Turns at Cedar Point|url=https://www.wksu.org/arts-culture/2018-05-04/state-of-the-arts-a-new-kind-of-wooden-coaster-twists-and-turns-at-cedar-point|access-date=2021-04-26|publisher=[[WKSU]]|language=en}}</ref>

Although the term wasn't widely used or accepted until the 21st century, one of the oldest examples is [[Coney Island Cyclone|Cyclone]] at [[Luna Park (Coney Island, 2010)|Luna Park]], which opened in 1927.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cyclone - Luna Park (Brooklyn, New York, United States)|url=https://rcdb.com/222.htm|access-date=2021-04-26|website=rcdb.com}}</ref> It features a wood track and steel structure.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Cyclone|url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1636.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223171706/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1636.pdf|archive-date=2016-12-23|website=nyc.gov}}</ref> Other older examples include [[mine train roller coaster]]s, many of which were built by [[Arrow Dynamics]].<ref name="Arrow-CoasterForce">{{Cite web|title=Arrow Dynamics - Coasterforce|url=https://coasterforce.com/arrow/|website=Coasterforce|date=17 October 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Roller Coaster Search Results|url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=-8&ot=2&mo=8299|access-date=2021-04-27|website=rcdb.com}}</ref> The term ''hybrid'' became more prominent after the introduction of [[New Texas Giant]] at [[Six Flags Over Texas]] in 2011.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Roller Coaster Search Results|url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=1&ot=2&ca=219|access-date=2021-04-28|website=rcdb.com}}</ref> Many in the industry, however, continue to classify coasters strictly by their track type only, labeling them either steel or wood.<ref name="Weisenberger"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=New Texas Giant Roller Coaster|url=https://guidetosfot.com/rides/newtexasgiant/|access-date=2021-04-28|website=Guide to Six Flags over Texas|language=en-US}}</ref>

Modern roller coasters are constantly evolving to provide a variety of different experiences. More focus is being placed on the position of riders in relation to the overall experience. Traditionally, riders sit facing forward, but newer variations such as [[stand-up roller coaster|stand-up]] and [[Flying roller coaster|flying]] models position the rider in different ways to change the experiences. A flying model, for example, places riders lying down and facing forward with their chests and feet strapped in. Other ways of enhancing the experience involve removing the floor beneath passengers riding above the track, as featured in [[floorless roller coaster]]s. Unique track elements, such as new inversions, are often introduced to provide entirely new experiences.

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===By train type===
* [[Bobsled roller coaster|Bobsled]]
** [[Flying Turns]]
* [[Floorless roller coaster|Floorless]]
* [[Flying roller coaster|Flying]]
* [[Fourth-dimension roller coaster|Fourth-dimension]]
* [[Inverted roller coaster|Inverted]]
* [[Mine train roller coaster|Mine train]]
* [[Motorbike roller coaster|Motorbike]]
* [[Summer toboggan|Mountain/Alpine coaster]]
* [[Pipeline roller coaster|Pipeline]]
* [[Side friction roller coaster|Side friction]]
* [[Single-rail roller coaster|Single-rail]]
* [[Spinning roller coaster|Spinning]]
** [[Virginia Reel roller coaster|Virginia Reel]]
* [[Stand-up roller coaster|Stand-up]]
* [[Steeplechase roller coaster|Steeplechase]]
* [[Suspended roller coaster|Suspended]]
* [[Water coaster (roller coaster)|Water coaster]]
* [[Wing Coaster|Wing]]
* [[Wild mouse]]
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===By model===
* [[Accelerator Coaster]]
* [[Boomerang (roller coaster)|Boomerang]]
* [[Dive Coaster]]
* [[El Loco (roller coaster)|El Loco]]
* [[Galaxi]]
* [[Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter|Euro-Fighter]]
* [[Giant Inverted Boomerang]]
* [[Impulse roller coaster|Impulse]]
* [[Infinity Coaster]]
* [[Invertigo (roller coaster)|Invertigo]]
* [[Launched Loop (Arrow Dynamics)|Launched Loop]]
* [[Polercoaster]]
* [[SFX Coaster]]
* [[Shuttle Loop]]
* [[Sky Rocket II]]
* [[SkyLoop]]
* [[Suspended Family Coaster]]
* [[Suspended Looping Coaster]]
* [[Thrust Air 2000]]
* [[Toboggan (roller coaster)|Toboggan]]
* [[Vekoma Junior Coaster]]
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===By track layout===
* [[Dual-tracked roller coaster|Dual-tracked]]
* [[Figure 8 roller coaster|Figure 8]]
* [[Out and back roller coaster|Out and back]]
* [[Shuttle roller coaster|Shuttle]]
* [[Terrain roller coaster|Terrain]]
* [[Twister roller coaster|Twister]]
* [[Wild mouse]]

===By mechanics===
* [[Lift hill]]
* [[Launched roller coaster|Launched]]
* [[Powered roller coaster|Powered]]
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===By height===
<!-- This heading name is linked by other articles -->{{See also|List of roller coaster rankings}}[[File:Kingdom Coaster 002.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|'''Family coaster:''' [[Kingdom Coaster]] at [[Dutch Wonderland]] in [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], is a {{convert|55|ft|m|abbr=out|adj=mid|tall}} coaster that reaches a top speed of {{convert|40|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}]]
[[File:Nitro coaster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|'''Mega/Hyper coaster:''' [[Nitro (Six Flags Great Adventure)|Nitro]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]], a [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] out and back coaster]]
[[File:Kingda Ka tower.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|'''Strata coaster:''' Once the tallest coaster in the world, the {{convert|456|ft|m|abbr=out|adj=mid|tall}} [[Kingda Ka]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] closed in 2024.]]
Several height classifications have been used by parks and manufacturers in marketing their roller coasters, as well as enthusiasts within the industry. One classification, the '''kiddie coaster''', is a roller coaster specifically designed for younger riders. Following World War II, parks began pushing for more of them to be built in contrast to the height and age restrictions of standard designs at the time. Companies like Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) developed scaled-down versions of their larger models to accommodate the demand. These typically featured lift hills smaller than {{convert|25|ft}}, and still do today. The rise of kiddie coasters soon led to the development of "junior" models that had lift hills up to {{convert|45|ft}}. A notable example of a junior coaster is the [[Sea Dragon (roller coaster)|Sea Dragon]] – the oldest operating roller coaster from PTC's legendary designer John Allen – which opened at [[Rides At Adventure Cove|Wyandot Lake]] in 1956 near Powell, Ohio.<ref name="Rutherford">{{cite book|last=Rutherford|first=Scott|title=The American Roller Coaster|year=2004|publisher=MBI |isbn=0760319294}}</ref>

====Hypercoaster====
{{for|a list of hypercoasters|Hypercoaster#List of hypercoasters}}
A [[hypercoaster]], occasionally stylized as hyper coaster, is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|200|ft}}. [[Moonsault Scramble]], which debuted at [[Fuji-Q Highland]] in 1984, was the first to break this barrier, though the term ''hypercoaster'' was first coined by Cedar Point and [[Arrow Dynamics]] with the opening of [[Magnum XL-200]] in 1989.<ref name="Moonsault-NYDailyNews">{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-08-06/features/8902240513_1_roller-coaster-renaissance-american-coaster-enthusiasts-looping-coaster|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816102835/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-08-06/features/8902240513_1_roller-coaster-renaissance-american-coaster-enthusiasts-looping-coaster|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 16, 2017|title=A Rolling Revival|last=Meskil|first=Paul|date=August 6, 1989|work=New York Daily News|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Magnum-ACE">{{cite web|url=http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/details.aspx?id=44|title=Coaster Landmark Award: Magnum XL-200|publisher=American Coaster Enthusiasts|access-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> Hypercoasters have become one of the most predominant types of roller coasters in the world, now led by manufacturers [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] and [[Intamin]].

====Giga coaster====
A giga coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|300|ft}}.<ref name="Giga - NY Times">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/17/travel/17Coasters.html|title=Just How Tall Can Roller Coasters Get?|last=Murphy|first=Mekado|date=August 17, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=May 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150817161511/http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/08/17/travel/17Coasters.html?_r=0 |archive-date=August 17, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The term was coined during the construction of the  [[Millennium Force]], a roller coaster built by [[Intamin]] on [[Cedar Point]] amusement park.<ref name="Giga coinage">{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/march00/stories/030900_02.shtml|title=310-Foot-Tall "Giga-Coaster" Nears End of Construction|date=March 9, 2000|work=UltimateRollercoaster.com|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cedarpoint.com/play/rides/millennium-force|title=Millennium Force|publisher=Cedar Point|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> Although [[D. H. Morgan Manufacturing|Morgan]] and [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] have not used the term ''giga'',<ref>{{cite web |title = Bolliger & Mabillard – Products |access-date = 13 February 2012 |url = http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/products/products_en.aspx |archive-date = 21 June 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120621013654/http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/products/products_en.aspx |url-status = dead }}</ref> both have also produced roller coasters in this class.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Park !! Manufacturer !! Status !! Opened !! Height !! Drop !! Ref
|-
| [[Millennium Force]] || [[Cedar Point]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || May 13, 2000 || {{convert|310|ft|m}} || {{convert|300|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/594.htm|title=Millennium Force-Cedar Point|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Steel Dragon 2000]] || [[Nagashima Spa Land]] || [[D. H. Morgan Manufacturing|Morgan]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || August 1, 2000 || {{convert|318.2|ft|m}} || {{convert|306.8|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/1173.htm|title=Steel Dragon 2000-Nagashima Spa Land|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Pantherian]] || [[Kings Dominion]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || April 2, 2010 || {{convert|305|ft|m}} || {{convert|300|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/4520.htm|title=Pantherian-Kings Dominion|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| | [[Leviathan (Canada's Wonderland)|Leviathan]] || [[Canada's Wonderland]] || [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || May 6, 2012 || {{convert|306|ft|m}} ||{{convert|306|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/10108.htm|title=Leviathan-Canada's Wonderland|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Fury 325]] || [[Carowinds]] || [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || March 25, 2015 || {{convert|325|ft|m}} || {{convert|320|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/12273.htm|title=Fury 325-Carowinds|website=rcdb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=August 10, 2023 |title=Carowinds reopens Fury 325 rollercoaster, closed for over a month |url=https://www.wral.com/story/carowinds-reopens-fury-325-rollercoaster-closed-for-over-a-month/20994593/ |access-date=August 10, 2023 |publisher=WRAL |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Red Force (roller coaster)|Red Force]] || [[PortAventura World#Ferrari Land|Ferrari Land]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || April 7, 2017 || {{convert|367|ft|m}} || N/A || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/10698.htm|title=Red Force-Ferrari Land|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Orion (roller coaster)|Orion]] || [[Kings Island]] || [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] || {{Yes|Operating}} || July 2, 2020 || {{convert|287|ft|m}} || {{convert|300|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/11437.htm|title=Orion-Kings Island|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|}

====Strata coaster====
A strata coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|400|ft}}. As with the other two height classifications, the term ''strata'' was first introduced by Cedar Point with the release of Top Thrill Dragster, a {{convert|420|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} roller coaster that opened in 2003.<ref name="Strata coaster - Guinness">{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2016/8/national-roller-coaster-day-10-incredible-coaster-records-for-every-thrill-seeke-439990|title=National Roller Coaster Day: Ten incredible records for every thrill seeker|date=August 16, 2016|work=guinnessworldrecords.com|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref> [[Kingda Ka]] was the second strata coaster, and it opened at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] in 2005 as the tallest roller coaster in the world with a height of {{convert|456|ft}}. Top Thrill Dragster closed in 2021 following an incident in which a guest was severely injured while standing in line.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-15 |title=Settlement reached after Michigan woman hurt in 2021 Top Thrill Dragster accident at Cedar Point: Read a statement from the park |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/places/cedar-point/cedar-point-top-thrill-dragster-lawsuit-settlement-rachel-hawes-accident/95-95e47ae0-2ec1-4a42-9937-efabe259225e |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=wkyc.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The ride was subsequently refurbished and modified, and it reopened in 2024 as [[Top Thrill 2]].<ref name="TT2">{{cite news |last1=Glaser |first1=Susan |title=Cedar Point's Top Thrill 2 will replace Top Thrill Dragster coaster, with second 420-foot tower and 120 mph top speed |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/08/cedar-point-announces-top-thrill-2-will-replace-top-thrill-dragster-coaster-with-second-420-foot-tower-and-120-mph-top-speed.html |access-date=August 10, 2023 |publisher=Cleveland.com |date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801164749/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/08/cedar-point-announces-top-thrill-2-will-replace-top-thrill-dragster-coaster-with-second-420-foot-tower-and-120-mph-top-speed.html |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> Kingda Ka closed on November 10, 2024.

[[Superman: Escape From Krypton]], a {{convert|415|ft|m|adj=on}} coaster, operated at [[Six Flags Magic Mountain]] from 1997 to 2024. It was not typically classified as a strata coaster due to its [[shuttle roller coaster|shuttle coaster]] design, where trains do not travel a complete circuit.<ref name="Strata coaster - Guinness" /><ref name="Full-circuit limitation - USA Today">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/destinations/2015/03/06/new-roller-coaster/24506031/|title=Watch the plunge from this new 325-foot roller coaster|date=March 6, 2015|work=USA Today|access-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Park !! Manufacturer !! Status !! Opened !! Modified !! Height !! Ref
|-
| [[Top Thrill 2]] || [[Cedar Point]] || [[Intamin]] and [[Zamperla]]{{efn|name="ZamperlaIntamin"|Originally built in 2003 by Intamin and later renovated by Zamperla in 2024.}} || {{Yes|Operating}} || May 4, 2003 || May 4, 2024 || {{convert|420|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/1896.htm|title=Top Thrill 2-Cedar Point|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kingda Ka]] || [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] || [[Intamin]] || {{No|Removed}} || May 21, 2005 || {{N/A}} || {{convert|456|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/2832.htm|title=Kingda Ka-Six Flags Great Adventure|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|}

====Exa coaster====
An exa coaster is a type of roller coaster with a height or drop of at least {{convert|600|ft}}.<ref name="Exa Coaster - New York Post">{{cite news |last1=Cost |first1=Ben |title=Six Flags unveils world's tallest, fastest roller coaster that sends riders speeding 150 mph off a 600-foot cliff |url=https://nypost.com/2023/11/17/lifestyle/six-flags-unveils-worlds-tallest-fastest-rollercoaster-that-sends-riders-off-a-cliff/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |publisher=New York Post |date=17 November 2023}}</ref> The term ''exa'' was first introduced by Intamin for Falcons Flight, a {{convert|640|ft|m|adj=on}} coaster expected to open at [[Qiddiya|Six Flags Qiddiya]] in 2025.<ref name="Exa Coaster - Fact">{{cite web |last1=Anwar |first1=Shaheera |title=Six Flags Qiddiya eyes a 2025 opening |url=https://www.factmagazines.com/news/six-flags-qiddiya-eyes-an-october-2024-opening |website=Fact Magazines |access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref><ref name="Exa Coaster - Interesting Engineering">{{cite news |last1=Malayil |first1=Jijo |title=World's tallest, longest & fastest rollercoaster to debut in Saudi Arabia |url=https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/worlds-tallest-longest-fastest-rollercoaster-to-debut-in-saudi-arabia |access-date=11 December 2023 |publisher=Interesting Engineering |date=20 November 2023}}</ref> Upon completion, it will be the tallest roller coaster in the world, surpassing the previous record once held by the now-defunct [[Kingda Ka]].<ref name="Exa Coaster - Coaster101">{{cite news |last1=Stilwell |first1=Andrew |title=Intamin Reveals Falcon's Flight Details |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2023/11/14/intamin-reveals-falcons-flight-details/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |publisher=Coaster101 |date=14 November 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Park !! Manufacturer !! Status !! Opening !! Height !! Ref
|-
| [[Falcons Flight]] || [[Six Flags Qiddiya]] || [[Intamin]] || {{Maybe|Under Construction}} || 2025 || {{convert|640|ft|m}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/21315.htm|title=Falcons Flight-Six Flags Qiddiya City|website=rcdb.com}}</ref>
|}