Thunderbolt was a
wooden
Wood is a structural tissue/material found as xylem in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulosic fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin t ...
roller coaster
A roller coaster is a type of list of amusement rides, amusement ride employing a form of elevated Railway track, railroad track that carries passengers on a roller coaster train, train through tight turns, steep slopes, and other elements, usua ...
which operated at
Savin Rock Amusement Park
Savin Rock was an American amusement park in West Haven, Connecticut. It was previously called The White City and was established in the 1870s . The park included a number of roller coasters, other rides and numerous funhouses.
The park has bee ...
in
West Haven, Connecticut
West Haven is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located on the coast of Long Island Sound. The city is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, South Central Connecticut Planning Region. At the 2 ...
, from 1925 until 1938 when it was destroyed by a hurricane. It was rebuilt in modified form in 1939 and it continued to operate until 1956.
When it was first built, it was purported to be the fastest roller coaster in the world.
History
Originally named "The Bobs", the coaster was best known by its later name of Thunderbolt.
It was designed by noted roller coaster engineers
Frank Prior and
Frederick Church and built by the
Traver Engineering Company
Harry Guy Traver (November 25, 1877 – September 27, 1961) was an American engineer and early roller coaster designer. As the founder of the Traver Circle Swing Company and Traver Engineering Company, he was responsible for the production of ...
.
The coaster was built approximately out onto Liberty Pier in
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is a sound (geography), marine sound and tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It lies predominantly between the U.S. state of Connecticut to the north and Long Island in New York (state), New York to the south. From west to east, ...
and could be easily seen from up and down the beach and from several nearby piers.
It was quite popular, financially successful, and is thought to have driven at least one other nearby coaster out of business.
In 1936, the Thunderbolt was struck by lightning which caused damage to its mechanical operation.
The coaster was closed the remainder of that year but reopened for the 1937 season.
In 1938, however, the coaster was destroyed by
the Great New England Hurricane.
The coaster was rebuilt in 1939 and renamed the
Giant Flyer.
The ride was somewhat modified in this rebuild, however, and is thought to have become a less exciting ride as a result; it was demolished in 1957.
The flagpole from the ride is preserved in the
Savin Rock Museum.
Layout and ride experience
Standing approximately tall and approximately long,
Thunderbolt had a fearsome reputation and violent ride experience (as was common for Traver coasters).
Its layout was very similar to the
Revere Beach
Revere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts, measuring over long and located about north of downtown Boston. In 1875, a rail link was constructed to the beach, leading to its increasing popularity as a summer recreation area. In 1 ...
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone () is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure, counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere as viewed from above (opposite to an ant ...
(another Traver-built coaster).
Although exact speeds are not given, several sources suggest that it was the fastest roller coaster in the world when it was built.
The ride had several reported fatalities (before 1938), and it was said to shake riders so much that ride operators would collect valuables that fell loose to the pier floor.
The ride had a much milder reputation after its rebuild in 1939.
See also
*
Cyclone (Revere Beach)
References
{{reflist, 30em
Former roller coasters in Connecticut