Figure Eight Toboggan
| Other Name(s) | Figure Eight Toboggan Figure 8 Toboggan Slide Figure 8 Three-Way Figure Eight Toboggan |
|---|---|
| Type | Roller Coaster Track Rides |
| Park Section | North, West |
| Built | 1902 |
| Opened | 1902 |
| Closed | 1937 (park closure) |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) |
| Designer | Henry B. Auchy |
| Materials | Wood |
| Vehicle Type | Car |
The Figure Eight Toboggan was the first track-based roller coaster built at Olentangy Park and the first ride built after the Dusenbury Brothers bought the park in 1899. Opening in 1902, it was originally called a "toboggan ride" or "toboggan slide" before "roller coaster" became a common term for rides where riders coasted on rollers inside their toboggan "cars."[1][2] The ride was in the shape of a figure-eight and was located on the north plateau south of Fair Japan and the original Miniature Railway location and where the giant Swimming Pool would later be added.[3][4] The ride remained in operation until the park closed in 1937.
Description
Designed by Henry B. Auchy and manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC), the ride had a wooden frame and was described as being a "figure-eight" design and at times, a "three-way figure-eight."[4] The coaster would travel freely on a multi-level track and included wooden side rails to keep the cars on track.[5]
Injuries
A person was injured in August 1902, landing the term "roller coaster" in quotation marks in its reporting in the Columbus Evening Dispatch.[1]
In May 1906, Thomas Callis, a pipe organist and insurance salesman, was spooked by the flashing lights and accidentally stepped off a nearby platform and injured his right ankle bad enough that amputation was considered. He was sent to Grant Hospital for treatment.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Brevities." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 18 August 1902. Pg. 8.
- ↑ Clay Record. United States: Clay Record Publishing Company, 1903. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Clay_Record/c6pPAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
- ↑ "Geisha Girls are to be Attraction." Columbus Evening Dispatch. 2 January 1905. Pg. 5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Columbus Railway & Light Co." Street Railway Review. Vol. XVI. No. 2. Pg. 70.
- ↑ "Forest Toboggan." Roller Coaster Database. https://rcdb.com/3156.htm
- ↑ "Peculiar Accident." The Columbus Sunday Dispatch. 20 May 1906. Pg. 6.