Comet (Lincoln Park) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Comet |
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Remains of the Comet in 2011
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| Lincoln Park | |
| Location | Lincoln Park |
| Coordinates | 41°38′10″N 71°02′35″W / 41.636170°N 71.043162°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | October 1946 |
| Closing date | September 29, 1987 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | National Amusement Devices |
| Designer | Edward Leis, Vernon Keenan |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift |
| Height | 65 ft (20 m) |
| Length | 3,000 ft (910 m) |
| Speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Duration | 2:10 |
| Comet at RCDB | |
The Comet was a thrilling wooden roller coaster. It had a special "twister" design. This exciting ride was a big attraction at the now-closed Lincoln Park in Massachusetts. It gave exciting rides for many years, from 1946 until 1987.
Contents
The Comet Roller Coaster
The Comet was first called the Cyclone. It was designed by Edward Leis and Vernon Keenan. The ride was built by National Amusement Devices.
Ride Features
The roller coaster track was 3,000 feet long. Riders could reach a top speed of 55 miles per hour. A full ride on The Comet lasted about two minutes and ten seconds.
The Comet had two trains. Each train had five cars. Each car could hold four riders, two per row. This meant 20 people could ride on one train at a time.
Over time, the trains were shortened to four cars. This was done to use the extra cars for spare parts.
Safety and Changes
In 1968, a part of one train came loose. This happened while it was going up the last hill. The car rolled backward and went off the track. Six people fell about ten feet but only had minor injuries.
This accident might have happened because passengers were rocking the car. After this, the park replaced the old trains. They got newer, safer Century Flyer trains.
Later, safety became an even bigger focus at Lincoln Park. More incidents on The Comet eventually led to its closing.
On September 29, 1987, the braking system failed. Four people were hurt when the cars crashed into the wooden structure. Because of this, The Comet was closed for good.
What Happened Next
After the ride closed, its trains were bought by Little Amerricka Amusement Park. Little Amerricka also wanted to buy the whole roller coaster in 2002. The owner of Lincoln Park asked for $90,000, but no one bought it.
People tried to save the roller coaster. However, part of its lift structure collapsed in 2005. This was due to rot and decay. Little Amerricka thought about building an exact copy of the ride, but that plan was canceled.
Finally, the rest of The Comet was taken down. This happened on July 11, 2012, after being abandoned for 25 years.
Images for kids
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Remains of the Comet in 2011
