Welcome to the glossary page. Throughout the site there are certain words used from the industry and by enthusiasts, which you may not understand, for example: OTSR's or Air Time. I have tried to include all the terms used by enthusiasts and the industry, that feature on my web site pages.
So, should you be unaware of what the word means, you can now get a translation from geek to English.
When the rider is pushed out of their seat caused by a negative G. This is the sensation of the butterflies in your stomach and yes gentlemen, that tingling feeling...down there. |
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When the roller coaster track is tilted to a certain angle of degrees. |
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Also know as an Air Time Hill, a drop or a series of drops in succession, creating positive and negative G's. |
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A single section from a roller coaster train, normally a section between 2 and 6 seats long. |
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Newton's second law and a form of inertia. A force that tends to move objects away from the center in a system undergoing circular motion. Centrifugal force keeps the water in a whirling bucket from spilling or keeps a rider firmly pinned into their seat. |
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During the winter months, normally between November and Easter, most UK parks close. Enthusiasts name this, the closed season. |
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A flat ride enclosed into a building. |
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A roller coaster enclosed into a building. |
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A flat ride that will hoist riders up a tall tower and then be released to accelerate, under gravity, towards the ground. |
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A drop quickly followed by a second drop, normally hidden from view. The best roller coaster element for air time. An example: Grand National's first drop at Blackpool. |
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The generic word for any section you see on a roller coaster, such as an inversion, helix or lift hill... etc. |
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Exclusive/Extra/Early Ride Time. Normally only available to roller coaster clubs and their members. The park will let the coaster club members ride on a particular coaster, for a certain amount of time. Normally after the park closes to the public or before it opens. |
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A permanent ride installed at a theme park that is not a roller coaster. The dodgems would be a good example. |
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When Zero G's take over. Your left floating in your seat, you will be neither against the restraints, nor in your seat. This will occur during a Zero-G-Roll and a double down element, normally. This is the sensation of the butterflies in your stomach again and yes gentlemen, that tingling feeling...down there. |
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Positive or negative forces, the invisible forces created by the earth, that will lift riders out of their seats or keep them pinned into it. If your viewing this from earth, you are currently feeling 1G of pressure, all the time. |
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Created by a roller coaster going very close to another attraction or it's own support structure over your head. Normally making the riders duck, as it looks like there isn't enough room for the train to pass through. |
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A spiral section of track. |
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A roller coaster element that will turn riders fully upside down. |
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The most common restraint you will come across. This restraint will come to rest just above your lap, normally pulled down from in front of you. |
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Similar to going round a roundabout in a car, when you get pushed and squeezed to the opposite side your turning. Lateral forces are considered bad on roller coasters at speed. These forces will be most felt on flat rides. |
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A coaster element that will take the train up the initial first hill, using a chain or some other device. |
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The use of linear induction motors, powered pneumatic tires, compressed air or anything else ride designers dream up, to launch coaster trains from a standing start. |
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A coaster between 100ft and 200ft in height. |
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A generic name given to a roller coater that can be bought straight out of the roller coaster manufacturers brochure. |
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Over The Shoulder Restraints. This restraint will come over your head and come to rest just above your shoulders. |
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A bend/turn in a coaster track, normally reaching 90°. |
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A roller coaster propelled by an electric motor under the train which is connected to the electrified track. |
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A roller coaster element that has changed it's original design after being built. An example would be the Pepsi Max Big One's first drop, this was altered to save the train's wear and tear and rider comfort. |
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There are many types of restraint, but they all do the same thing. To stop you from falling out. |
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One row of seats in a roller coaster car or train. Row one, would normally be the front seats. |
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A quick change in direction from left to right and vise-versa. |
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The code name given to all of Alton Towers major roller coasters. 'SW1' and 'SW2' never made it off the chalk board. 'SW3' was Nemesis, 'SW4' became Oblivion, 'SW5' turned into Air and 'SW6' is Th13teen. |
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This element allows the track to be switched underneath you. The result is being released backwards or forwards onto a different section of track. A special effect is normally played to take riders minds from the switch. |
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See: Launch/Launched |
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More than one roller coaster car linked together. |
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A flat ride or roller coaster that can be easily moved, normally using a H.G.V. |
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See: Float Time |
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A roller coaster made out of wood. |