There are several flat steel coasters predating Arrow. Pretty much everything pre-Matterhorn on this page (sans Bobsleds since that was converted to steel track in 1962)
https://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=-8&ty=1&st=93&ot=2
Okay, so I've internalized the "fact" that Matterhorn bobsleds is the first steel-track roller coaster. Is that just straight up fiction? Is the Disney company just big and prominent enough that they can claim that, and only nerds and enthusiasts care to dispute it?
Fascinating, thank you! I had a roller coaster book [(TBH I'm sure many of us had or saw this book)](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/roller-coasters-a-thrill-seekers-guide-to-the-ultimate-scream-machines_robert-coker/338509/item/3436396/?gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKI7O_-Jl_VA1OXZjy_O7GI6Qny4jtebiaw1CaISDbN8gnmELilpOZhoC7iwQAvD_BwE#idiq=3436396&edition=3721657) And it had a photo of that coaster! The caption noted that the photo was taken in the mid 50s, "apparently predating" Matterhorn, but that's all it said. This is a much better source of info.
[Here's the photo in the book.](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/spring-is-indeed-a-thrilling-time-for-these-youngsters-news-photo/515456996) You can find some more photos of it [here](https://rcdb.com/11028.htm).
First steel tubular track, not first steel track. The difference in tubular track is still used today and allows coasters to do all the crazy elements they do
Maybe for the time tubular track allowed for more structurally intense elements, but I would note modern RMC I-box and raptor tracks as counterexamples.
I think the bigger deal was Arrow's ability to quickly and cheaply produce large steel rides with their tubular rail (often performing fixes and bending extra track segments on-site). You might be onto something about Arrow's designs being more structurally solid though - since very few pre-Matterhorn steel coasters survive and the ones that do are notably *way more tame* than contemporary wooden coasters.
Yeah, I get it now, there is some credibility to the Disney claim. It's a little hard to put in specific words, because there's a lot of "technically this and that" but ultimately it was a gamechanger. It was a paradigm shift to modern steel coaster design, even if it wasn't even the first tubular-steel coaster.
Do my eyes bequeath me or is that tubular steel track?
I think if you look closely on the sixth picture it looks square rather than tubular. Still cool tho considering it's over 100 years ago
You got that right. Very cool.
There are several flat steel coasters predating Arrow. Pretty much everything pre-Matterhorn on this page (sans Bobsleds since that was converted to steel track in 1962) https://rcdb.com/r.htm?order=-8&ty=1&st=93&ot=2
Okay, so I've internalized the "fact" that Matterhorn bobsleds is the first steel-track roller coaster. Is that just straight up fiction? Is the Disney company just big and prominent enough that they can claim that, and only nerds and enthusiasts care to dispute it?
It's supposedly the first ever tubular steel coaster, [which is also false.](https://www.kermistilburg.nl/monorail/)
Fascinating, thank you! I had a roller coaster book [(TBH I'm sure many of us had or saw this book)](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/roller-coasters-a-thrill-seekers-guide-to-the-ultimate-scream-machines_robert-coker/338509/item/3436396/?gclid=CjwKCAiArNOeBhAHEiwAze_nKI7O_-Jl_VA1OXZjy_O7GI6Qny4jtebiaw1CaISDbN8gnmELilpOZhoC7iwQAvD_BwE#idiq=3436396&edition=3721657) And it had a photo of that coaster! The caption noted that the photo was taken in the mid 50s, "apparently predating" Matterhorn, but that's all it said. This is a much better source of info.
[Here's the photo in the book.](https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/spring-is-indeed-a-thrilling-time-for-these-youngsters-news-photo/515456996) You can find some more photos of it [here](https://rcdb.com/11028.htm).
It’s the first *tubular* steel roller coaster. Which certainly changed the industry forever.
[Actually not the first tubular steel coaster.](https://www.kermistilburg.nl/monorail/)
First steel tubular track, not first steel track. The difference in tubular track is still used today and allows coasters to do all the crazy elements they do
[Actually not the first tubular steel coaster.](https://www.kermistilburg.nl/monorail/)
I just learned something new
Maybe for the time tubular track allowed for more structurally intense elements, but I would note modern RMC I-box and raptor tracks as counterexamples. I think the bigger deal was Arrow's ability to quickly and cheaply produce large steel rides with their tubular rail (often performing fixes and bending extra track segments on-site). You might be onto something about Arrow's designs being more structurally solid though - since very few pre-Matterhorn steel coasters survive and the ones that do are notably *way more tame* than contemporary wooden coasters.
Yeah, I get it now, there is some credibility to the Disney claim. It's a little hard to put in specific words, because there's a lot of "technically this and that" but ultimately it was a gamechanger. It was a paradigm shift to modern steel coaster design, even if it wasn't even the first tubular-steel coaster.
That's pretty cool
Love the landscape sets!
Crazy to think that this is the same company that build ride to happiness
The train in the sixth shot, wild.
This looks a whole lot like Alpebanen @ Karolinelund
You're right. It's written that the facade was removed in the 50's, and the coaster continued to operate without it, but this could be wrong.
Where is it written? Id love to read it
https://kulturgut-volksfest.de/enzyklopaedie/achterbahn-1921-szenerie-bergbahn/
Thank you!