Silver Comet (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver Comet |
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Station
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| Fantasy Island | |
| Location | Fantasy Island |
| Coordinates | 43°01′42″N 78°58′26″W / 43.02833°N 78.97389°W |
| Status | Temporarily Closed |
| Opening date | May 1, 1999 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Custom Coasters International |
| Designer | Dennis McNulty & Larry Bill |
| Track layout | Triple Out and Back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift |
| Height | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Length | 2,800 ft (850 m) |
| Speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) |
| Duration | 1:45 |
| Max vertical angle | 50° |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train. |
| Silver Comet at RCDB | |
The Silver Comet is a thrilling wooden roller coaster. It has a special steel frame. You can find it at Fantasy Island amusement park. This park is in Grand Island, New York.
Contents
Riding the Silver Comet
The ride begins right after you leave the station. You will feel a short drop. Then, the track turns slightly to the left. After a short straight part, you will go through a U-turn. This turn leads you to the tall lift hill. It is about 82 feet (25 meters) high.
The First Big Drop
Once your train reaches the very top of the lift hill, get ready! The biggest drop of the ride happens here. After this exciting drop, the track turns a little to the left. You will then go over two smaller hills.
Twists and Turns
Next, the coaster climbs up a large hill. It then makes a wide turn to the left. This is followed by another small drop. The track turns slightly right, leading to another big drop. You will go up another hill. This leads into a large U-turn to the right.
More Drops and Hills
The ride continues with another drop and then an ascent. This is followed by another turn to the right. You will experience a third set of a drop and an ascent. This time, the track turns to the left. A large drop comes next.
The Final Stretch
After the large drop, you will go over a series of small hills. These hills lead into a turn to the left. This turn can feel a bit bumpy. It also changes height as you go through it. There are more drops and rises. Finally, the track turns slightly to the right. This leads to the brake run, which slows the train down. The brake run is next to the lift hill. A small drop follows the brake run. This brings you back into the station.
The Station
The Silver Comet's station looks a lot like the old station for the Comet roller coaster. That old station was at Crystal Beach Park. The Silver Comet station is a wide building. It has some cool comet designs on its front. Both stations had a tower that said "comet" in five different colors.
The Train
The Silver Comet used to have one train. This train had six cars. Each car could hold four riders. So, a total of 24 people could ride at once. For safety, each rider had their own lap bar. They also had seat belts and dividers between seats. The company Philadelphia Toboggan Company built the train.
Train's Changing Look
The train was first painted purple. Later, it was painted to look like a comet. It had colors like red, orange, and yellow. Eventually, it was painted a shiny metallic blue. After the park closed in 2020, the train was sold. It was sent away to be fixed up. It will be sold again later.
Fun Facts
- The idea for the Silver Comet came from the Comet roller coaster. The Comet is now at The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom.
- In 2010, the Silver Comet was named one of the top 50 wooden roller coasters in the world!
