A Railroad-turned-Roller-Coaster

[jordon412]

This is a 14 mile long abandoned railroad in Columbia and it takes three hours from one end to the other, while also dropping 2,500 feet, powered only by gravity. And all while riding a rickety cart that looks like it'll fall apart at any moment.

Note: One of my other interests is roller coasters.

 

[MeowRailroad]

Cool! I like how the cart stops at the end. It hits the paved over track. That can go really fast!

 

[JackieG]

Have they heard of one of these?

http://i-store.walmart.ca/images/WMTCNPE/728/497/728497_Enlarged_1.jpeg

 

[rjhowie]

Really brilliant stuff and couldn't help but watch the whole thing. Just a pity I lived so far away would have enjoyed the ride!

 

[SuperSpeedMaglev]

. Just a pity I lived so far away would have enjoyed the ride!

With you brother!

It reminds me a little of this-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFvrJ7ynOcs

That still is pretty cool though!

I just hope they don't tear it up. I'll slightly shed one tear if they do. I do wonder if a single person sort of goes 'WTF' in their head.

 

[JCitron]

That's cool. It looks like an old standard gauge mining railroad line up in the mountains in Columbia. This is how the first roller coasters came about back in the 19th century. People would ride the cable-hauled mine cars in eastern Pennsylvania.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauch_Chunk_Switchback_Railway

This line lasted until 1932 when it fell victim of the Great Depression.

John

 

[jordon412]

Speaking of funiculars, I rode the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway on the 4th of July this year, and it was pretty interesting. It was only eight minutes long one way, but the wait at Point Park summit station was longgggggggggggggg. But then again, it was a good day because there was a cannon demonstration gong on at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park at the top of the mountain. Believe me, I was ready when they shot off the cannon the second time. It felt like someone punched me in the chest when they fired off that cannon!
Info about the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookout_Mountain_Incline_Railway

Info about Lookout Mountain and the unusual weather phenomenon:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lookout_Mountain