Roller Coaster Timeline

Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company
This was the first time that the roller coaster track would be all with one rail.

LaMarcus Adna Thompson
This innovation was made to let the riders have a longer ride by switching track types during the ride.

Unknown
The powered chainlift helped roller coasters go up steep hills, leading to a big drop, and extending ride time. It hooks onto the train, and a motor pulls the chainlift and train up.

Leaps and Dips Park
The Side Friction Coaster existed before underfriction became a realistic addition to a roller coaster. Side friction coasters had plates on the sides of the wheels to keep the cars from derailing. A brakeman had to ride on these coasters because they would derail if they went too fast

Unknown
The first lapbar helped keep riders in place during a steep bank. It was very unpopular, and took a long time to catch on.

John Miller
Underfriction wheels are above and below the track, keeping the coaster on the tract during intense movement.

James Powell & Gordon Danby
Magnets and Electrical currents harness electrical currents within the coaster, which propels it.

Bolliger & Moillard
It uses a set of large generators to propel the roller coaster uphill from 0-40 mph in 2.0 seconds.