CoasterGlobe: Features: Quick Reference: Roller Coaster Dictionary

ACE web site:
http://www.ace.org/

ACE - Acronym for "American Coaster Enthusiasts". The largest and most well known club for roller coaster enthusiasts. They are often involved in openings, preservation efforts etc.

Example:
Coaster at Playland (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

ACE Coaster Classic - A designation given by ACE to many classic roller coasters. To qualify for standing as an ACE Coaster Classic, these coasters must have bench seats and single position lap bars, and have open trains with no headrests or other VOUT.

Example:
Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa (Tampa Bay, Florida)

Air Gates - Commonly found on inverted coasters; Platforms underneath the boarding platform which drop away before the train exits the station. This is to ensure that rider's feet do not drag as the train exits the loading area.

Example:
Hypersonic XLC at Paramount King's Dominion (Doswell, Virginia)

Air Launch - A method of launching a roller coaster train. This type of launch uses compressed air to do so. The air launch system was pioneered by S&S Power (Logan, Utah) on their tower rides. It was first applied to a coaster on their prototype ride, "Thrust Air 2000", in 1999. Compare with: Flywheel Launch, LIM Launch, LSM Launch, Tire Launch, Weight Drop Launch.

Airtime - The sensation of weightlessness or the sensation of being pulled out of your seat. This is usually experienced while cresting a hill.

Anti-Rollback Dogs - A ratcheting mechanism which prevents a train from rolling backward where a ratchet rail is present. This is what makes the "clickety-clack" sound as a train ascends its lift.

Arched Hill - A hill which forms or is supported by an arch. These are often used when a walkway, river, or other obstruction runs below the track.

Arrow - See Arrow Dynamics.

Ascending Helix - See Helix.

Auto Coaster - An early 1900's ride similar to a roller coaster, except that instead of riding in special trains, riders drove their own car over a series of dips

Backbone - See Spine.

Example:
Face/Off at Paramount King's Island (King's Mill, Ohio)

Back-to-back Seating - A seating arrangement in which each car has two rows that face outwards. This can be found on Vekoma Invertigos and a yet unbuilt "mega coaster" car design from Giovanola.

Example:
Mindbender* at Galaxyland (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
*Often not run with a backwards car

Backwards Cars - A novelty that parks sometimes employ in which they turn one or more cars on a standard coaster train around, so that they face backwards. This seating style is not to be confused with Back-to-back seating, Backwards seats, Backwards trains, and Face-to-face seating.

Example:
Joker's Revenge at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio, Texas)

Backwards Seats - A novelty seating arrangement where the seats on a coaster face backward. This provides a unique and disorienting ride experience. This only truly exists on Joker's Revenge at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. This seating style is not to be confused with Back-to-back seating, Backwards cars, Backwards trains, and Face-to-face seating.

Example:
One side of Rebel Yell at Paramount King's Dominion (Doswell, Virginia)

Backwards Trains - A novelty seating arrangement where the park turns one or more trains on a coaster around to face backward. This seating style is not to be confused with Back-to-back seating, Backwards cars, Backwards trains, and Face-to-face seating.

Banking - When a section of track is angled laterally.

Banked Turn - A turn in which the track is banked toward the inside of the turn, usually to reduce lateral g forces during high speeds.

Bar - See Lap Bar.

Barrel Roll - See article: Table of The Elements

Batwing - See article: Table of The Elements

Belt - See Seat belt.

Example:
Coaster at Playland (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Bench Seat - A seat which has no dividers between passengers. Around turns with high lateral g forces, the inside rider is often cause to slide over and press against the outside rider.

Big Ol' Brake Lever - The large lever used on older wooden coasters to control the station brakes.

Block - A section of track separated from the rest of the track a check brake, a lift hill, or any other place on the circuit where the train can be halted if required. This allows the safe operation of multiple trains on one circuit. One train is not allowed to enter a block unless the train ahead has already exited that block. If that train, for any reason, fails to make it through it's block, the next train will be stopped before it enters the next block.

Example:
Disaster Transport at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)

Bobsled - A type of roller coaster which features a trough-like track through which it's cars can roll freely. The name comes from the cars, which are shaped or thumbed like bobsleighs.

Bogie - The underside of the car, on to which the chain dogs, anti-rollback dogs, braking fins, wheel assemblies, couplings to other cars are attached.

Boomerang - See article: Table of The Elements

Booster Wheels - Wheels along a coaster's rack used to move the train along on flat sections, usually near the station.

Bowtie - See article: Table of The Elements

Brake Run - A stretch of track with brakes. These are often covered to keep them dry, as they are less effective when wet.

Brakes - Applied where needed along a coaster's track in order to slow down a train when it passes over that section. See Check brakes, Fin brakes, Magnetic brakes, Scarf brakes, Skid brakes, Trim brakes.

Braking Fin - The fin on the bottom of a car which is squeezed between two plates in order to brake the train. These, of course, are only used with fin brakes.

Bull Wheels - The large wheels which directly drive the chain on a coasters lift hill.

Butterfly - See article: Table of The Elements

Camelback - 1. See article: Table of The Elements 2. A hill which is shaped to provide substantial airtime.

Capacity - The number of riders which a given ride, train, or car can hold. For example, most B&M coasters have a car capacity of 4, a train capacity of 32, and a ride capacity of 96. Not to be confused with THC.

Car - The vehicles that passengers ride in. Cars make up a coaster's train.

Catapult Launch - See Flywheel Launch.

Centrifugal Force - The force which the rider has on his or her seat (or as a train has on its tracks) as they experience positive g forces due to vertical accelerations. From a physics standpoint, this force does not actually exist, and is only an effect of inertia.

Centripetal Force - The force pushing inward around a curve, for example, the force exerted on the train by the track in a loop.

Chain Dog - A ratcheting device which is attached to the underside of a car, and engages the lift chain.

Example:
Grizzly at Paramount King's Dominion (Doswell, Virginia)

Chain Lift - The most common method of powering a roller coaster. Trains catch a moving chain, which drags them up an incline. Compare with: Elevator Lift, Tire Drive.

Check Brake - Used to separate blocks. They are for safety purposes and usually remain inactive.

Circuit - One completed lap which a train makes around its track.

Circular Loop - See article: Table of The Elements

Example:
Autosled at Galaxyland (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

Circumferential Coaster - A coaster that is not restricted to its own designated area, but instead has a layout that takes it around the park, often intermingling with other attractions.

Example:
Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia)

Clamshell - A type of restraint used on B&M's "Speed coasters". These are similar to individual lap bars, but cover more of the lap area, and are therefore more comfortable than more comfortable than other types of lap restraint. Compare with: Horsecollar, Individual Lap Bar, Lap Bar, OTSR, Seat Belt.

Clothoid - The mathematical term for the shape of most vertical loops: an upside-down "teardrop" shape.

Coaster - See Roller Coaster.

Cobra Roll - See article: Table of The Elements

Compressed Air Launch - See Air Launch.

Corkscrew - See article: Table of The Elements

Cutback - 1. See article: Table of The Elements

Crossover - A place in a coaster's layout where a section of track crosses directly over another section of track.

Corral Lines - See Seat Queues.

Example: Outer Limits: Flight of Fear at Paramount King's Island (King's Mill, Ohio)

Dark Coaster - A coaster that is enclosed within a dark building. This usually results in a more disorienting and surprising ride experience.

Dead Sheep Stop - A very hard, abrupt stop which usually results in the rider's limbs sticking straight out in front of them, mimicking the stereotypical position of an animated dead sheep.

Descending Helix - See Helix.

Dip - A section of track that drops down in the middle.

Dive Loop - See article: Table of The Elements

Dog Leg - A special case of an out and back coaster which features a turn part way through it's layout.

Double Dip - A drop that levels off momentarily part way through the drop. This is done to increase airtime on the second part of the drop.

Double Loop - A layout which includes two vertical loops as a coaster's only inversion elements.

Example:
Wilde Beast at Paramount Canada's Wonderland (Vaughn, Ontario, Canada)

Double Out and Back - A coaster with a layout that takes it out a stretch of track, back to a certain point, and out again before returning to the station.

Double Down - See Double Dip.

Double Up - A hill which flattens part way up, increasing airtime on the first portion.

Drop - A section of track over which elevation is lost in exchange for speed.

Example:
Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia)

Dual Lifts - A coaster that has two separate lift hills.

Example:
Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California)

Dual Track - A coaster that has two circuits. It is often the case that both circuits will release trains at the same time, when they are to race or duel against each other.

Example:
Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa (Tampa Bay, Florida)

Dueling - A type of dual track coaster which is designed so that at various points along the track, the trains appear is if they are going to collide. This provides an added thrill, as well as an often unexpected surprise to the riders.

Ejector Airtime - Slang. A type of airtime which forces riders violently up against their restraints. Compare with Floater Airtime.

Element - A particular and distinctive section of track. Elements are often inversions, but can also be helices, turns, hills, or other track figures.

Elevated Curve - A turn over which elevation is gained or lost.

Example:
1. Millennium Force at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)
2. Scooby's Ghoster Coaster at Paramount King's Island (King's Mill, Ohio)

Elevator Lift - 1. A lift system designed by Intamin which uses a super strength elevator cable to lift a train to the top of its lift. 2. A vertical lift system much like an elevator. A train rolls onto a section of track which is then raised vertically. The train is then released and runs its course. Compare with: Chain Lift, Tire Drive.

Example:
Coaster at Playland (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Empty Loading - A loading procedure where a train is unloaded, moved forward to a second platform, and then loaded. Compare with: Flush Loading, Full Loading.

Example:
Outer Limits: Flight of Fear at Paramount King's Dominion (Doswell, Virginia)

Enclosed - A coaster which which runs entirely within a building or other structure. All dark coasters are enclosed; however, not all enclosed coasters are dark coasters.

Enclosed Seats - A feature where a coaster's cars are have covers. These coasters often have no restraints.

ERS - Acronym for "Exclusive Ride Session". ERS is the English term for ERT.

ERT - Acronym for "Exclusive Ride Time". This is a period of time booked by a club or other organization during which its members get exclusive rides on a coaster.

Face-to-face Seating - A seating arrangement in which each car has two rows that face inwards. This can be found on a yet unbuilt "mega coaster" car design from Giovanola.

Fan Curve - 1. A turn which is supported by spokes radiating from a central anchor. 2. A turn where a train enters while ascending, and exits while descending.

Figure Eight - A layout which resembles the shape of the number eight when viewed from above.

Fin Brakes - A system of braking a coaster where a large hydraulic clamp squeezes fins attached to the bottom of the cars. This creates immense friction which slows down the trains. Compare with: Magnetic Brakes, Skid Brakes.

Finé Del Capo - A phrase meaning "End of the head". In coaster terms, this is a place where the track brings the rider's heads seemingly close to passing objects, giving the illusion of imminent decapitation.

First Drop - The first and usually the longest drop on a roller coaster.

Flanged Wheels - Wheels which have an edge on the inside which keeps them aligned with the rails. These are commonly found on older wooden coaster trains, and have since been replaced by guide wheels.

Flat Spin - See article: Table of The Elements

Flat Turn - Any unbanked turns. These commonly follow shallow dips directly out of a station, off the top of a lift hill, or at the top of a tall slow turnaround.

Floater Airtime - Slang. A type of airtime that lets riders gently float weightlessly through the air. Compare with Ejector Airtime.

Flush Loading - A very efficient loading process where passengers are unloaded on one side of a train as passengers are loaded from the other side. Compare with: Empty Loading, Full Loading.

Flyer - A junior suspended coaster, usually with short trains, and slow, shallow curves.

Example:
Greezed Lightning at Six Flags Astroworld (Houston, Texas)

Flywheel Launch - A method of accelerating a roller coaster train which uses kinetic energy stored in a large flywheel. Compare with: Air Launch, LIM Launch, LSM Launch, Tire Launch, Weight Drop Launch.

Footprint - The area of ground which a roller coaster occupies. A coaster with a smaller footprint requires less land, and visa versa.

Friction Wheels - See Guide Wheels.

Freeform - A general name for a layout which is not extremely twisting and does not follow any typical layout such as out and back or figure eight.

Example:
Wild Mouse at Playland (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Full Loading - A loading procedure where passengers are unloaded and loaded using the same platform. This is the slowest method of loading. Compare with: Empty Loading, Flush Loading.

G Forces - The forces riders feel while riding a roller coaster. These are caused by changes in the velocity of that train and the inertia of the rider.

Gauge - See Track Gauge.

Example:
Steel Dragon 2000 at Nagashima Spaland (Nagoya, Japan)

Gigacoaster - Generally used to refer to a coaster over 300 feet tall, travels over 90 mph, and have no inversions. The term was originally by Intamin and Cedar Point to describe "Millennium Force".

Guide Rail - A third rail, commonly found on older wild mouse type coasters. It is used in place of guide wheels and upstops, to guide the car along the running rails and to keep it on the tracks.

Guide Wheels - A set of wheel located inside or outside of the running rails. These keep a roller coaster running straight along its tracks.

Gully Coaster - See Terrain Coaster.

Hairpin Turn - A very sharp 180º turn which submits the riders to high G-forces.

Head Chopper - See Finé del Capo.

Head Rest - A generally uncomfortable cushion on the top of a seat which is cradles the head and neck. Unfortunately, these are often VOUTs.

Header Beam - Beams used to support part of a coaster where the lower parts have been cut away for a path, crossover, etc.

Heartline Coaster - A coaster which has a layout designed around the riders' heartline. These usually contain zero-g maneuvers.

Heartline Flip - See Heartline Roll.

Heartline Roll - See article: Table of The Elements

Helix - A continuous and uniform turn of constant radius, generally over more than 360º. These come in two varieties, ascending, and descending. Also used more informally to describe a similar, but non-uniform turn, such a helix that is slanted on a sharp angle, or rises and falls as the turn progresses.

Example:
Boomerang: Coaster to Coaster at Six Flags Darien Lake (Darien Center, New York)

Horsecollar - A type of restraint that swivels down and over the shoulders. Not to be confused with an OTSR. Compare with: Clamshell, Individual Lap Bar, Lap Bar, OTSR, Seat Belt.

Example:
Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California)

Hypercoaster - Generally used to refer to any coaster that is over 200 feet tall, travels over 70 mph, and has no inversions. Originally used by Arrow Dynamics and Cedar Point to refer to Magnum XL-200

Immelman - See article: Table of The Elements

Inclined Loop - See article: Table of The Elements

Example:
Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)

Individual Lap Bar - A type of restraint which comes down across the rider's lap. This variety uses one such bar to cover each seat individually. Compare with: Clamshell, Horsecollar, Lap Bar, OTSR, Seat Belt.

In-line Twist - See article: Table of The Elements

Example:
Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia)

Interlocking Corkscrews - Two corkscrews which are placed such that they intertwine, much like two strands of DNA.

Interlocking Loops - Two vertical loops that are vertically offset, and that interlock with each other much like links of a chain.

Inversion - A track element through which riders are turned substantially upside-down. Exactly what constitutes an inversion, though somewhat nebulous, is generally agreed upon by roller coaster enthusiasts.

Example:
Top Gun at Paramount Canada's Wonderland (Vaughn, Ontario)

Inverted - A type or coaster where the trains run beneath the rails. These almost always include inversion elements, and 'chairlift-style' seating where rider legs can dangle below open cars.

Invertiphobia - Slang. A fear of travelling on roller coasters that feature inversion elements. This common ailment affects most people who are new to looping coasters. After riding an inverting coaster once, this fear will usually subside.

Example:
Coaster Thrill Ride at Puyallup Fair (Puyallup, Washington)

Lap Bar - A type of restraint which comes down across the rider's lap. This variety uses one such bar to cover an entire row. Compare with: Clamshell, Horsecollar, Individual Lap Bar, OTSR, Seat Belt.

Lateral Gs - G-forces which are directed sideways, and which pull the rider into the ride of his or her seat.

Layout - The path a coaster's track follows. These are often grouped into categories such as out and back, twister, or figure-eight.

Ledger Beam - The pieces of wood that directly support the tracks on a wooden roller coaster.

Lift - The part of a non-launched coaster that raises the cars to a higher location.

Lift Hill - A hill which is equipped with a system used for mechanically pulling trains to the top of itself. This is usually the first and tallest hill on a roller coaster.

Example:
Outer Limits: Flight of Fear at Paramount King's Dominion (Doswell, Virginia)

LIM Launch - Acronym for Linear Induction Motor, a device used for launching a roller coaster train. They use electromagnetic energy to accelerate the trains. This is similar to a LSM, but is different in its implementation. Permanent magnets are embedded in the underside of a coaster car. Electromagnets embedded in the track, slightly ahead of the ones on the train, turn on and the magnets on the train are attracted toward the ones in the track. When the train's magnets reach the ones in the track, the magnets in the track reverse polarity, and repel the train forward to the next set of magnets. This is repeated and accelerates the train forward. Compare with: Air Launch, Flywheel Launch, LSM Launch, Tire Launch, Weight Drop Launch.

Line - American term. See Queue Line.

Line Up - Canadian term. See Queue Line.

Linear Gs - The forces a rider feels when a train is launched or braked. They pull riders forward or backwards in their seats in a direction aligned with the train's direction of travel.

Loading Platform - The platform that a train stops next to at the beginning and end of a circuit. Riders load on to and off of the train from them.

Loop - See article: Table of The Elements

Example:
Dragon Fyre at Paramount Canada's Wonderland (Vaughn, Ontario)

Loop-screw - A roller coaster that features vertical loops and corkscrews as its only inversions.

Example:
Superman The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California)

LSM Launch - Acronym for Linear Synchronous Motor, a device used for launching a roller coaster train. They use electromagnetic energy to accelerate the trains. This is similar to a LIM, but is different in its implementation. Magnets on the car are used to induce a magnetic charge in an otherwise non-magnetic "reaction rail" between the tracks. This creates a balance of forces that pushes the train along the tracks. Compare with: Air Launch, Flywheel Launch, LIM Launch, Tire Launch, Weight Drop Launch.

Example:
Mind Bender at Galaxyland (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

OTSR - Acronym for Over The Shoulder Restraint. A type of restraint that comes vertically down over riders' shoulders. These allow for a better view than horsecollars. Compare with: Clamshell, Horsecollar, Individual Lap Bar, Lap Bar, Seat Belt.

Example:
Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)

Out and Back - A type of layout. An out and back coaster travels out to a distant point, and then back to the station.

Oval - A simple type of layout that traces a circular or oval shaped path.

Overbanked - Term coined by Werner Stengel to describe a turn that is banked past 90º. A steep enough overbanked turn could be counted as an inversion, such as Drachen Fire's "Cutback" element.

Overrun - When a coaster train overshoots its station. When this occurs, riders on the train often get another ride. This happens most commonly on older wooden coasters, especially ones that rely on the force of human operators to pull the brake levers.

Parabola - The shape of the path a free-falling body takes through the air. To provide "floater" airtime a hill will be this shape.

Pickpocket - Slang. Any element that succeeds emptying the pockets of its riders. These are usually heartline rolls, which leave the rider upside down for prolonged periods of time.

Example:
Ultra Twister at Six Flags Astroworld (Houston, Texas)

Pipeline - A type of coaster where the cars run directly between the rails, rather than above them or underneath them. These coasters are the only type capable of executing a true barrel roll.

Platform - See Loading Platform.

POP - Acronym for Pay One Price. A type of payment system where visitors to a park pay for one ticket which allows unlimited rides all day. The first park to uses a POP system was Steeplechase Park in New York.

Positive Gs - G forces that push riders down into their seats. These are usually felt at the bottom of hills, and while travelling through loops, corkscrews etc.

Potential Energy - The type on energy a coaster train has when it is on a high section of track, but not necessarily travelling very fast. A train's potential energy is jointly proportional to its mass and height.

Example:
Thunder Run at Paramount Canada's Wonderland (Vaughn, Ontario, Canada)

Powered Coaster - A coaster that uses an onboard drive system to power the train for part or all of the ride.

PPR - Acronym for Pay Per Ride. A payment system where visitors to a park pay individually for each ride.

Pre-drop - A small drop immediately following a lift hill. Designed to give more speed starting down the first drop.

Ride Queue - A queue line that does not divide into separate queues for each row in its station.

Example:
Racer at Paramount King's Island (King's Mill, Ohio)

Racer - A roller coasters that features two tracks. These tracks run parallel to, or as a mirror image of each other and the trains on them race against each other.

Restraint - Any device used to secure riders into their seats. See also: Clamshell, Horsecollar, Individual Lap Bar, Lap Bar, Shoulder Harness.

Ribs - The part of a steel coaster that connects the running rails to the spine. On some coasters, these connect to the outsides of the rails, while on other coasters the ribs connect to the rails insides.

Road Wheels - The wheel set that runs above the rails and directly supports the weight of the train. These are often larger than the other wheel sets. Compare with: Guide Wheels, Upstop Wheels.

Roller Coaster - An amusement ride that involves a car which rolls along a track. This track incorporates dips and curves so as to provide a rider with the sensation of fun.

Rolling Stock - A general term for the cars and trains that run on a roller coaster.

Example:
Cedar Creek Mine Ride at Cedar Point (Sandusky, Ohio)

Runaway Mine Train - A roller coaster that is themed as a mine train. This differs from a regular mine train in that the runaway variety is not self-powered.

Running Rails - The rails that a roller coaster's rolling stock runs directly on. The shape of the running rails directly determines the layout and geometry of a coaster.

Running Wheels - See Road Wheels.

SBNO - Acronym for Standing But Not Operating. Designates a roller coaster that is standing at a park, but is not in operation.

Scarf Brakes - Brakes that are used to slow a train down, but not completely stop it. These are usually pre-set to slow a train a certain amount, or to a certain speed.

Seat - The place where riders sit while riding a roller coaster. These can be anything from suspended chairlift-style seats, to high-back seats, to soft padded bench seats.

Set-Up - An occurrence which causes a train not to complete a circuit. This is usually for safety languages.

Serpentine Curves - The classic back-and-forth switchback curves found on wild mouse coasters. These are usually unbanked.

Shoulder Harness - See OTSR.

Example:
The Bat at Paramount Canada's Wonderland (Vaughn, Ontario)

Shuttle Coaster - A coaster with an incomplete circuit of track. The train travels from the station to one end, and then reverses direction either mechanically or gravitationally before returning to the station, or opposite end.

Example:
Leap The Dips at Lakemont (Altoona, Pennsylvania)

Side Friction - An early design of wooden coaster. Instead of using guide and upstop wheels, cars were kept running straight by wooden guides mounted beside the tracks. These were once common; however, there are now only two operating side friction coaster in the world.

Sidewinder - See article: Table of The Elements

Example: Scorpion at Busch gardens Tampa (Tampa Bay, Florida)

Single Loop - A roller that features a single vertical loop as its only inversion.

Skid Brakes - A type of brake that rises up underneath a train, lifting its wheels off the tracks and slowing it by friction.

Slammer - A very hard abrupt drop. Slammers provide a short, intense burst of negative Gs.

Snap Roll - See article: Table of The Elements

Speed Bump - A shallow hill that is taken at high speeds. This provides the rider with the sensation of airtime.

Speed Run - A series of speed bumps.

Example:
Outer Limits: Flight of Fear at Paramount King's Dominion (Doswell, Virginia)

Spaghetti Bowl - A track element in which the track twists and curves in a tight tangled mass of track.

Spine - The most structural part of a steel coaster's track. It runs between the running rails and in connected to them by ribs. It can be tubular, square in section, or even triangular. Some coasters use multiple spines.

Spinning Cars - A feature of some coasters where the cars can rotate on their vertical axis.

Example:
Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California)

Stand-up - A type of roller coaster that uses trains which hold riders in a standing position. These usually have less extreme G-forces than other types of coaster.

Station - The place where a coaster's cars are stopped so that riders can load and unload.

Steel - Any roller coaster that is not made of wood. Steel coasters provide a very different ride experience than wood coasters do.

Steel Structure - Describes a wood coaster that uses a steel support structure. These coasters still qualify as wood coasters if they use wood tracks.

Example:
Steeplechase at Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Blackpool, England)

Steeplechase - A type of roller coaster that has multiple parallel tracks and uses a very narrow track.

Example:
Superman Ultimate Escape at Six Flags Ohio (Aurora, Ohio)

Straight - The layout of a roller coaster that is essentially straight, such as a shuttle loop.

Stretch Loop - A loop that is very wide. Like a corkscrew except that the axis of the helical track system in perpendicular to the track.

Example:
Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia)

Suspended - A type of coaster where cars hang from an overhead track, and swing with the G-forces.

Suspended Looping Coaster - A name used by several companies for their inverted coaster designs.

Swoop Turn - A turn which the trains enter while descending and exit while ascending.

Example:
Raven at Holiday World (Santa Claus, Indiana)

Terrain - Describes a coaster that follows the landscape of the land it travels over. These often travel through wooded areas in order to heighten the sensation of speed.

THC - Acronym for Theoretical Hourly Capacity. This is the number of riders a given coaster can handle in one hour.

Theme Park - An amusement park that has one underlying theme, or topic.

Tire Drive - A method of propelling a train up a lift hill. A fin on the bottom of each car is rolled between pairs of wheels placed at intervals along the trace, and is propelled forward. Compare with: Chain Lift, Elevator Lift.

Example:
Incredible Hulk at Universal Islands of Adventure (Orlando, Florida)

Tire Launch - A method of launching a coaster train where the train is pushed by spinning wheels set along the tracks. Compare with: Air Launch, Flywheel Launch, LIM Launch, LSM Launch, Weight Drop Launch.

Top Hat - See article: Table of The Elements

Total Vertical Displacement - The difference in altitude between the highest and lowest points on a roller coaster's track. Most coasters have a total vertical displacement that is quite close to their height, but a terrain coaster may have a very large total vertical displacement, even though no part of the coaster is very far off the ground.

TPM - Acronym for Theme Park Mentality. A pejorative term describing a park that has excessively strict rules, especially safety regulations.

Track - The rails etc. that guide a roller coaster's train along its path.

Track Gauge - The distance between the center of the rails. Wood coasters typically have a track gauge of 42 to 44 inches. Most box-section-spine steel track has a gauge of 1.2m. Arrow and Vekoma loopers use a gauge of 48 inches.

Train - A series of cars connected together. Many smaller coasters such as wild mouse rides run only a single car instead of a chain of cars.

Trick Track - A straight section of track that is banked, or that alternately banked opposite directions. This causes the car to rock from side to side as it passes over the trick track.

Trim Brake - Trim brakes are used to slow a train to a specific speed if needed. They are not always active.

Trucks - The wheel assemblies and wheels. These are often free to rotate so that the provide a smoother ride.

Tunnel - A section of track that has been partially enclosed so as to provide a unique ride sensation.

Turnaround - A section of track that turns essentially 180º and sends the track running back in the direction it came.

Turnover - See article: Table of The Elements

Twin - See Dual Track.

Twister - A layout that crosses over itself and dives into its own structure. These are usually very compact.

Water Splash - An element on a coaster where the track dips into a pool of water, making a splash.

Example:
Viper at Six Flags over Georgia (Atlanta, Georgia)

Weight Drop Launch - A method of accelerating a roller coaster train which uses potential energy stored in a large mass. The mass is dropped inside a tower and the resultant energy release is transferred to the train. Compare with: Air Launch, Flywheel Launch, LIM Launch, LSM Launch, Tire Launch.

Wheels - The rolling mechanisms which allow roller coaster trains to roll easily along the tracks. These are often flanged in order to guide a coaster more easily.

Wingover - See article: Table of The Elements

Example:
Mean Streak at Cedar Point (Sandusky Ohio)

Wood - A coaster that has track formed of laminated wood strips. These may have steel structures.