Cyclone
Postcard illustrating the Cyclone roller coaster at Revere Beach
Revere Beach
LocationRevere Beach
Coordinates42°25′12″N 70°59′10″W / 42.420°N 70.986°W / 42.420; -70.986
StatusRemoved
Opening date1925 (1925)
Closing date1969 (1969)
Cost$125,000
General statistics
TypeWood
ManufacturerTraver Engineering
DesignerFrederick Church
Height100 ft (30 m)
Length3,600 ft (1,100 m)
Speed45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions0
Capacity1400 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]

Design and construction

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.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Cyclone". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  2. 1 2 3 Craig, William J.; Revere Society for Cultural and Historic Preservation (2004). Revere. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-3671-7.
  3. ↑ "RCDB list of roller coasters by height". Archived from the original on 2012-09-14. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  4. 1 2 Revere Beach historical site Archived August 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Giant Dipper". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  6. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Montaña Rusa". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  7. 1 2 Schmidt, Leah A. (2002). Revere Beach. Arcadia Publishing. p. 128. ISBN 0-7385-1030-0.
  8. ↑ Robertson, Kitty Crockett (2008). Measuring Time - By an Hourglass. Dog Ear Publishing. ISBN 978-1-59858-682-4.
  9. ↑ Francis, David W.; Francis, Diane DeMali (2003). The Golden Age of Roller Coasters. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-2338-0.
  10. ↑ Munch, Richard (1982). Harry G. Traver: Legends of Terror. Mentor, OH: Amusement Park Books, Inc. ISBN 0935408029.
  11. ↑ Rutherford, Scott (2004). The American Roller Coaster. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0-7603-1929-4.
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