Figure 8 Gravity Coaster
Built in 1919 by Arthur Looff, Gravity Figure 8 Coaster was a tired and dated design. Coaster design and technology was growing by leaps and bounds (no pun intended!). These old and SLOW 'Scenic Railway' type Coasters weren't very exciting in 1919. This was a friction coaster, which means the cars kinda stayed on the track by sliding along a side railing.... Not the most exciting or fast ride. Looff knew this and had already planned t o build a modern, more exciting coaster. The Figure 8 COaster lasted from 1919 - 1922.
James r Smith COllection
Not exactly! All we're seeing here is the cattle pen waiting area for the Figure 8 Coaster and it's sign. The coaster we see is actually the big dipper. -James R Smith Collection
Looking North on La Playa
Vuoristoraaa (literally "rollercoaster" in Finnish) was built at Linnanmäki in Helsinki, Finland. It's the last friction coaster ever built.
This tangled mess is a little old and a little new. Parts of the Figure 8 can be seen, but so cane parts of the Big Dipper. -James R Smith Collection
Figure 8 lift hill and tunnel -James R Smith Collection
Great photo of the Bobs running through the CHutes Structure. The TOP Level of teh Chutes is still under construction, so we can actually see a Bobs car running through the structure. In distance we can see the Figure 8 Coaster
Vuoristorata - Take a RIDE! Turn back the time to 1910's.