Comet (Waldameer)

Comet
Waldameer Park
Coordinates 42°06′28″N 80°09′24″W / 42.1077°N 80.1568°W / 42.1077; -80.1568Coordinates: 42°06′28″N 80°09′24″W / 42.1077°N 80.1568°W / 42.1077; -80.1568
Status Operating
Opening date 1951
General statistics
Type Wood
Manufacturer Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters
Designer Herbert Paul Schmeck
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)
Duration 1:24
Height restriction 46 in (117 cm)
Comet at RCDB
Pictures of Comet at RCDB

Comet is a wooden roller coaster that is 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, Comet is taller than the previous junior wooden coaster designs.[1] Comet is an ACE Coaster Classic.

Layout

The ride begins with a right turn out of the station onto a 37 ft (11 m) lift hill. It then drops 25 ft (7.6 m) and heads back up into a left turn which faces the 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 mph (40 km/h) over 1,300 feet (400 m) of track.

Trains

Comet has two Junior PTC trains of four cars and utilizes flanged wheels. Each car has two seats holding 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, 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

References

  1. 1 2 Jenkins, Torrence Jr (2006). Herbert P. Schmeck, The Forgotten Legacy. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts. p. 144. ISBN 0-9703987-1-9.
  2. ↑ Baldwin, Timothy; Seifert, Jeffrey (2000). Guide to Ride 2000. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts Worldwide Inc. p. 95. ISBN 0-9703987-0-0.
  3. ↑ "Comet brakes make their final stop". 6 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "The Comet gets magnetized". 30 January 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.


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