Comet (Lincoln Park)

Comet

Remains of the Comet in 2011
Lincoln Park (Dartmouth, Massachusetts)
Coordinates 41°38′10″N 71°02′35″W / 41.636170°N 71.043162°W / 41.636170; -71.043162Coordinates: 41°38′10″N 71°02′35″W / 41.636170°N 71.043162°W / 41.636170; -71.043162
Status Closed
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
Pictures of Comet at RCDB

The Comet was a twister-layout wooden roller coaster that operated in the now defunct Lincoln Park in Massachusetts. It operated from 1946 until 1987.

History

The coaster was designed by Edward Leis and Vernon Keenan and built by the National Amusement Devices. The ride was 3000 feet long, and had a top speed of 55 mph. One ride lasted two minutes and ten seconds. It had two trains, each with five cars, arranged with two per row, two rows per car, for a total of 20 riders per train.

The coaster was originally designed with five cars, but during the last years of its operation, the ride was shortened to four to allow the last carts to be used for spare parts. The roller coaster stood abandoned for 25 years until it was demolished on July 11, 2012.

In 1964, a man died on the roller coaster as a result of standing up as it ascended the first lift.

In 1968, the rear car of one of the trains became disconnected while ascending final hill, causing it to roll backward. As a result, the train derailed sideways, injuring six people dumped to the ground ten feet below, caused by rocking the car, which damaged the connecting plate.[1] During the era when Hoffman owned Lincoln Park, safety became a bigger concern, and more accidents on the Comet resulted in its closing.

On August 17, 1986, a local man was killed as a result of findings unknown to this day. Therefore, causing an unforeknown accidental drop of more than 55 feet causing immediate death. On September 29, 1987, four people were injured when the braking system failed just as the cars were entering. The cars jackknifed into the roller coaster wood and as a result, Comet marked its final ride.[1]

The trains of the ride were purchased by Little Amerricka Amusement Park when the ride closed. Little Amerricka also expressed interest in buying the coaster in 2002. The owner of Lincoln Park at the time, Walter Bronhard, offered to sell the coaster for $90,000, but received no buyers. Various preservation efforts were made to save the coaster; however, the coaster's lift had partially collapsed in January 2005. The efforts were then cancelled. Instead, Little Amerricka expressed that it would probably build an exact replica of the ride but this plan was cancelled.

Having abandoned all proposals and future plans, the remainder of the Comet was demolished on July 11, 2012.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lincoln Part Comet, North Darthmouth MA, About Lincoln Park, Lincoln Park Explorer | Lincoln Park Comet Fan Site".
  2. ↑ Travis Andersen; Sarah N. Mattero (July 11, 2012). "Lincoln Park's Comet roller coaster demolished today in Dartmouth, evoking memories of thrills past". Boston Globe. Retrieved July 12, 2012.

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