Cyclone | |
---|---|
Revere Beach | |
Location | Revere Beach |
Coordinates | 42°25′12″N 70°59′10″W / 42.420°N 70.986°W |
Status | Removed |
Opening date | 1925 |
Closing date | 1969 |
Cost | $125,000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Wood |
Manufacturer | Traver Engineering |
Designer | Frederick Church |
Height | 100 ft (30 m) |
Length | 3,600 ft (1,100 m) |
Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
Inversions | 0 |
Capacity | 1400 riders per hour |
Cyclone at RCDB |
The Cyclone was a wooden roller coaster that operated at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts, from 1925 until 1969. [1] When Cyclone was constructed, it was the tallest roller coaster ever built, [2] as well as being the first roller coaster in the world to reach 100 feet (30 m) in height. [3] In addition to being the tallest roller coaster of its day, some also claim that it was the largest and fastest roller coaster in the world, [2] [4] with a length of 3,600 feet (1,100 m) and top speeds between 45 and 50 mph [4] (some dispute the speed record claim and instead award that honor to the Giant Dipper [5]). Cyclone held the title of world's tallest roller coaster until 1964 when it was surpassed by Montaña Rusa at La Feria Chapultepec Mágico in Mexico City, Mexico. [6]
Given its location near the Atlantic Ocean, Cyclone would take much damage throughout the years from ocean storms, flooding, and blizzards. [7] Despite the abuse the coaster took from the ocean, however, it was a fire that eventually destroyed the Cyclone. [8] When the Cyclone burned down in 1969, it was an event that signaled the demise of the Revere Beach amusement industry. [7] The coaster's charred ruins were finally torn down in 1974. [1]
As with Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, Revere Beach's attractions were owned by a variety of amusement operators, with the Cyclone being owned by the Shayeb family. [2] In its heyday, Cyclone was a popular ride, regularly transporting as many as 1,400 riders per hour—a rate which was quickly able to recoup the 125,000 dollar cost of the coaster. [9]
Cyclone was constructed by the notable roller coaster builder and pioneer Harry Traver of Traver Engineering and designed by Frederick Church. [1] It was similar in design to another Traver-built coaster at Savin Rock, the Thunderbolt. [10]
Cyclone was one of two roller coasters that Traver built at Revere Beach, the other one being the Lightning. Lightning was part of a model line known as " Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters". These coasters were steel-framed coasters, which, ironically enough, had a particularly poor safety record. [11] Because Cyclone predated Lightning at Revere Beach, Lightning was the only Cyclone Safety Coaster to not share the Cyclone name of its sister coasters.
Cyclone | |
---|---|
Revere Beach | |
Location | Revere Beach |
Coordinates | 42°25′12″N 70°59′10″W / 42.420°N 70.986°W |
Status | Removed |
Opening date | 1925 |
Closing date | 1969 |
Cost | $125,000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Wood |
Manufacturer | Traver Engineering |
Designer | Frederick Church |
Height | 100 ft (30 m) |
Length | 3,600 ft (1,100 m) |
Speed | 45 mph (72 km/h) |
Inversions | 0 |
Capacity | 1400 riders per hour |
Cyclone at RCDB |
The Cyclone was a wooden roller coaster that operated at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts, from 1925 until 1969. [1] When Cyclone was constructed, it was the tallest roller coaster ever built, [2] as well as being the first roller coaster in the world to reach 100 feet (30 m) in height. [3] In addition to being the tallest roller coaster of its day, some also claim that it was the largest and fastest roller coaster in the world, [2] [4] with a length of 3,600 feet (1,100 m) and top speeds between 45 and 50 mph [4] (some dispute the speed record claim and instead award that honor to the Giant Dipper [5]). Cyclone held the title of world's tallest roller coaster until 1964 when it was surpassed by Montaña Rusa at La Feria Chapultepec Mágico in Mexico City, Mexico. [6]
Given its location near the Atlantic Ocean, Cyclone would take much damage throughout the years from ocean storms, flooding, and blizzards. [7] Despite the abuse the coaster took from the ocean, however, it was a fire that eventually destroyed the Cyclone. [8] When the Cyclone burned down in 1969, it was an event that signaled the demise of the Revere Beach amusement industry. [7] The coaster's charred ruins were finally torn down in 1974. [1]
As with Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, Revere Beach's attractions were owned by a variety of amusement operators, with the Cyclone being owned by the Shayeb family. [2] In its heyday, Cyclone was a popular ride, regularly transporting as many as 1,400 riders per hour—a rate which was quickly able to recoup the 125,000 dollar cost of the coaster. [9]
Cyclone was constructed by the notable roller coaster builder and pioneer Harry Traver of Traver Engineering and designed by Frederick Church. [1] It was similar in design to another Traver-built coaster at Savin Rock, the Thunderbolt. [10]
Cyclone was one of two roller coasters that Traver built at Revere Beach, the other one being the Lightning. Lightning was part of a model line known as " Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters". These coasters were steel-framed coasters, which, ironically enough, had a particularly poor safety record. [11] Because Cyclone predated Lightning at Revere Beach, Lightning was the only Cyclone Safety Coaster to not share the Cyclone name of its sister coasters.