Great American Scream Machine (Six Flags Over Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great American Scream Machine |
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The lift hill
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| Six Flags Over Georgia | |
| Location | Six Flags Over Georgia |
| Coordinates | 33°45′57″N 84°33′05″W / 33.76583°N 84.55139°W |
| Status | Open |
| Opening date | March 31, 1973 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | Don Rosser, John C. Allen, William Cobb |
| Track layout | Out-and-back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain Lift |
| Height | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Drop | 89 ft (27 m) |
| Length | 3,800 ft (1,200 m) |
| Speed | 57 mph (92 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:00 |
| Max vertical angle | 45° |
| Capacity | 1200 riders per hour |
| G-force | 3.7 |
| Height restriction | 42 in (107 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
 Flash Pass Available |
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| Great American Scream Machine at RCDB | |
Great American Scream Machine is a super fun wooden roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Georgia theme park. This awesome ride stands 105-foot (32 m) tall, which is like a 10-story building! It zooms at a top speed of 57 miles per hour (92 km/h), making it a real thrill.
People who work at the park often call it GASM. It was built by a company called Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters in 1973. When it first opened, it was the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in the whole world! Riders even got a special "Red Badge of Courage" button for being brave enough to ride it.
More recently, on May 21, 2017, the Great American Scream Machine received a special award called an ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) landmark. This award recognized it for being the very first wooden roller coaster built by Six Flags and for staying at the park for a long time while being kept in great shape.
History of the Scream Machine
The Great American Scream Machine officially opened its doors to excited guests on March 31, 1973.
For its 20th birthday in 1993, something really cool happened: the Great American Scream Machine ran backwards! Imagine riding a roller coaster facing the other way! This special event happened again for its 45th anniversary in 2018.
How the Ride Works
A special computer system is used to keep the trains safe. It makes sure that the roller coaster trains don't get too close to each other on the track. The Great American Scream Machine usually runs with two trains at a time, but it can also operate with just one.
Each train on the Great American Scream Machine has six cars. Each car has two rows, and two riders can sit in each row. This means a total of 24 riders can be on one train! Every rider has a lap bar and a seat belt to keep them safe and secure during the ride.
For the 2018 season, the ride got new and improved lap bars. These new lap bars came from the former Georgia Cyclone roller coaster. They are more reliable and safer for riders. The trains themselves ride on strong steel wheels. The track is made of thick wood planks, stacked seven planks high, with steel surfaces where the wheels roll.
Before computers controlled everything, people had to use levers to operate the brakes and send the trains off. One person controlled the main brakes, and another person at the front of the station helped dispatch the trains onto the lift hill.
Images for kids
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ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaque for the Scream Machine.
