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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.
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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