Sesquicentennial Cyclone

The Sesquicentennial Cyclone was a steel-framed wooden roller coaster which was operated at the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Exposition in 1926.[1][2][3] Designed and built by Harry Traver of Traver Engineering, the coaster was a medium-sized prototype of Traver's later Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters.[4]

Cyclone
Sesquicentennial Exposition
LocationSesquicentennial Exposition
Coordinates39°54′31″N 75°10′24″W
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 31, 1926 (1926-05-31)
Closing dateNovember 30, 1926 (1926-11-30)
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerTraver Engineering
DesignerHarry G. Traver
Height60 ft (18 m)
Length2,000 ft (610 m)
Trains10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train.
Cyclone at RCDB
Pictures of Cyclone at RCDB

History and design

The coaster was built as a smaller-scale prototype to the larger Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters (the "Terrifying Triplets") which Traver built in 1927. In addition to its innovative all-steel frame[5] (described by promotional material as being "[s]trong as the Rock of Gibralter [sic]"[1]), the coaster was also innovative in its use of aluminum-body roller coaster trains. The aluminum alloy used in the train bodies was said to be one used in aeronautical engineering.[4] Construction of the Cyclone took approximately half the time of a comparable wooden roller coaster.[4]

After the Sesquicentennial Exposition, the Cyclone was removed from the fairgrounds.[4] Some sources report that the coaster was put into storage for several years at the Traver Engineer Company's factory in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania,[4] whereas others report that the coaster was moved to the Alabama State Fairgrounds where it operated for several years.[6] The Cyclone coaster which operated at the Century of Progress exposition between 1933 and 1934 in Chicago[7][8] is also thought to be the same coaster.[4] While at the Century of Progress, the coaster was first built near what is now Burnham Park then later moved to a pier just south of the Adler Planetarium.[8]

A number of sources suggest that this coaster was the first to ever bear the name "Cyclone",[1][5] though other sources argue it was the Revere Beach Cyclone or another coaster.[4]

Ride experience
Diagram taken from one of Traver's patents of the rapidly undulating track utilized on the Sesquicentennial Cyclone and other Traver coasters

As with the later Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters, there was very little straight track in the Sesquicentennial Cyclone. The coaster was shorter and more compact than the "Terrifying Triplets" however. It was 60 feet (18 m) tall and operated in a footprint of 90 by 290 feet (27 by 88 m).[4] It included the rapidly undulating "Jazz Track" which was characteristic of earlier Jazz Railways and the later Giant Cyclones.[4]

The coaster grossed over $28,000 during the course of the Sesquicentennial Exposition while running at or near full capacity.[4] The coaster grossed over $75,000 at the Century of Progress in Chicago.[9]

References
  1. Cartmell, Robert (1987). The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster. Fairview Park, OH and Bowling Green, OH: Amusement Park Books, Inc. and Bowling Green State University Popular Press. ISBN 0879723416.
  2. Homan, Lynn M.; Reilly, Thomas (1999). Visiting Turn-of-the-Century Philadelphia. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 1439627134.
  3. Marden, Duane. "Cyclone  (Sesquicentennial Exposition)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  4. Munch, Richard (1982). Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror. Mentor, OH: Amusement Park Books, Inc. ISBN 0935408029.
  5. Sandy, Adam (2006). "Harry G. Traver". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Roller Coaster History: Ride Designers. Ultimate Rollercoaster LLC. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  6. Marden, Duane. "Cyclone  (Alabama State Fairgrounds)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  7. Gleisten, Samantha (2002). Chicago's 1933-34 World's Fair: A Century of Progress in Vintage Postcards. Chicago, IL: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 1439627134.
  8. Marden, Duane. "Cyclone  (Century of Progress)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  9. Mangels, William F. (1952). The Outdoor Amusement Industry. New York, NY: Vantage Press. ISBN 0848820029.
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