Comet (Waldameer)
The Comet is a wooden roller coaster located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. It was designed by Herbert Schmeck and built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1951.[1] It is similar to other Schmeck-designed PTC junior wooden coasters which feature a layered, figure-8/oval layout. However, the Comet is taller than the previous junior wooden coaster designs.[1] The Comet is an ACE Coaster Classic.
| Comet | |
|---|---|
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| Waldameer Park | |
| Location | Waldameer Park |
| Coordinates | 42.1077°N 80.1568°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1951 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | Herbert Paul Schmeck |
| Track layout | Wood |
| Lift/launch system | Chain |
| Height | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Drop | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Length | 1,300 ft (400 m) |
| Speed | 25 mph (40 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:24 |
| Height restriction | 46 in (117 cm) |
| Comet at RCDB | |
Layout
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The ride begins with a right turn out of the station onto a 37 feet (11 m) lift hill. It then drops 25 feet (7.6 m) and heads back up into a left turn which faces a parking lot. It drops again, into an airtime hill, and heads back up into a right turn over the station. Then it drops into a series of two bunny-hops and heads up into a right curve that is directly underneath the left curve that comes after the lift hill. It then drops and heads into a final bunny-hop before reaching the brakes, and curves right into the station. In its 1:24 duration, it reaches a top speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) over 1,300 feet (400 m) of track.
Trains
Comet has two Junior PTC trains of four cars, all of which utilize flanged wheels. Each car has two seats that can hold two riders, for a maximum of 16 riders per train.[2] Although the park owns two trains, for several years, only one was placed into daily operation, as park management was not comfortable running two trains with manually operated skid brakes.
Braking system
For the 2012 season, the Comet received an updated braking system from Velocity Magnetics.[3] The new system uses a combination of magnetic and friction brakes, and along with a new control system, allows for two-train operation on busy days.[4]
See also
- Little Dipper (Six Flags Great America) (similar design)
References
- Jenkins, Torrence Jr (2006). Herbert P. Schmeck, The Forgotten Legacy. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts. p. 144. ISBN 0-9703987-1-9.
- Baldwin, Timothy; Seifert, Jeffrey (2000). Guide to Ride 2000. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts Worldwide Inc. p. 95. ISBN 0-9703987-0-0.
- "Comet brakes make their final stop". 6 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- "The Comet gets magnetized". 30 January 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.