10. Phantom’s
Revenge – Kennywood, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, USA
Top Speed: 82 mph / 131.9
km/h
In 2001, the Phantom’s
Revenge was built to replace the Steel Phantom, which had consistently
been ranked in the top five roller coasters in the world. It includes a
228 foot drop, subterranean tunnel, and reaches a maximum speed of 82
miles per hour. For the sake of tradition, some of the features of the
Steel Phantom were retained, including the steel track. Replacing the
loops and corkscrew, it now offers an array of hills and drops. With
more than 1400 roller coasters in the world how do you know which ones
to pack into your summer? If you are crazy about speed then here are ten
of the fastest rollers coasters in the world. The interesting fact
about this list is that USA holds seven places in ten. More after the
break...
9. Goliath
– Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, USA
Top Speed: 85 mph / 136.7 km/h
Not only is the Goliath the 9th fastest
roller coaster, but it also has the third highest drop and is the
seventh tallest (standing at over 20 stories high). It includes a 255
foot drop, at 85 miles per hour, leading to a tunnel full of smoke. It
also includes camel-like humps and an amazing bunny hop in which riders
float off their seats due the force. It is recognized as one of the most
entertaining roller coasters in the world.
8. Titan
– Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas, USA
Top Speed: 85 mph / 136.7 km/h
The Titan was built by
the same Swiss designers that built the Goliath but includes extra
twists. It has 5,280 feet of track, allowing for more drops, loops, and
corkscrews. After dropping from the 255 foot hill, you are plunged in to
a dark tunnel at the speed of 85 miles per hour. Titan includes a
spiral that creates forces of up to 4.5gs.
7. Millennium
Force – Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA
Top Speed: 93 mph / 149.7 km/h
Debuting in May, 2000, the Millennium
Force is one of the highest roller coasters in the world. It boasts 10
world records. It rises to a height of 310 feet and travels through
Cedar Point Park before crossing on to an island. During the trip you
experience corkscrew turns in dark tunnels, 300 foot drops, and an 80
degree plummet down its highest point. The 2 minute 20 second ride
covers 13 acres of track.
6. Steel Dragon 2000 –
Nagashima Spa Land, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Top Speed: 95 mph / 152.9 km/h
Steel Dragon 2000 is the tallest
coaster to utilize a traditional chain lift. Because of the length of
the lift hill, two chains are used – one for the bottom half and one for
the top half. A single chain would have been excessively long and
heavy, at least twice the weight of one of the trains. As a result, two
trains can safely occupy the lift simultaneously. It debuted only months
after Millennium Force and surpassed the Cedar Point coaster as the
world’s tallest complete-circuit coaster. It also set a record for
longest track length – 8133 feet, 2 inches (2479 m).
5. Superman: The Escape – Six
Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, USA
Top Speed: 100 mph / 161 km/h
Superman: The Escape, is probably the
most hair-raising of the coasters listed here. Instead of looping and
twisting, the Escape is a straight track that rises to 41 stories in a
matter of seconds and then, after pausing, drops back down. The ride is
L-shaped and accelerates to 100 miles per hour (the first roller-coaster
to reach that speed) in 7 seconds. The drop involves 6.5 seconds of
weightlessness and when you drop, you drop backwards.
4. Tower of Terror –
Dreamworld, Coomera, Queensland, Australia
Top Speed: 100 mph / 161 km/h
Tower Of Terror is a steel reverse
freefall coaster. The six ton passenger vehicle, is electro-magnetically
powered, accelerating its passengers rapidly to 160.9 km/h (100 mph) in
seven seconds. The track then turns skyward, with the passengers
pulling 4.5 G’s. The car climbs to almost 38 stories high. Following the
climb, there is a 6.5 second free-fall before the 90 degree turn is
executed in reverse. The vehicle then hurtles into the station where it
comes to a rapid stop.
3. Dodonpa – Fuji-Q Highland,
Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan
Top Speed: 106.9 mph / 172 km/h
Dodonpa opened in 2001 and is a steel
sit-down roller coaster with a compressed air launch. It is 52 metres
(170 feet) tall, and has a launch speed of 172 km/h (107 mph), which is
reached in less than 2 seconds. The launch is followed by a huge,
sweeping, overbanked curve, giving riders a chance to catch their breath
back, before they hit the 170 foot top hat; an element with some
extreme negative G forces. The name ‘Dodonpa’ comes from the musical
sound which is played to customers waiting to board it.
2. Top Thrill Dragster – Cedar
Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA
Top Speed: 120 mph / 193 km/h
Top Thrill Dragster was the first
“Strata Coaster,” loosely defined as a complete circuit coaster that is
400 to 499 feet tall. It was the last one to use lapbars instead of
over-the-shoulder restraints due to mechanical problems. Shortly after
reaching its maximum velocity in less than four seconds, the train
begins its ascent up a 90-degree incline that has a 90-degree
counter-clockwise twist that takes the train straight over the top of
the 420 foot hill, where riders will experience significant airtime
(zero g-forces). On the way down the other side, there is a 270-degree
clockwise twist that leads into the magnetic braking section that brings
the train to a swift but comfortable stop.
1. Kingda Ka – Six Flags Great
Adventure, Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA
Top Speed: 128 mph / 206 km/h
Kingda Ka is not just the fastest, but
also the tallest roller coaster in the world. A hydraulic launch
mechanism rockets the train from 0 to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in
3.5 seconds, pulling about 1.67 g’s. At the end of the launch track, the
train climbs the main tower, twisting 90 degrees to the right before
reaching a height of 456 feet (139.5 m). The train then descends 418
feet (127 m) straight down through a 270-degree spiral. Finally, the
train climbs the second, 129 foot hill, producing a moment of
weightlessness before being smoothly brought to a stop by the magnetic
brakes. Due to the high speed and open nature of the trains, this ride
will not operate in even light rain, as rider contact with rain drops
can cause discomfort.
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