Comet (Waldameer)
| Comet | |
|---|---|
_1.jpg) | |
| Waldameer & Water World | |
| Location | Waldameer & Water World |
| Coordinates | 42°06′28″N 80°09′24″W / 42.1077°N 80.1568°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1951 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters |
| Designer | Herbert Paul Schmeck |
| Track layout | Wood |
Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 37 ft (11 m) |
| Drop | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Length | 1,300 ft (400 m) |
| Speed | 25 mph (40 km/h) |
| Duration | 1:24 |
| Restraint style | Buzz bars |
Height restriction | 46 in (117 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 4 cars; riders arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 16 riders per train |
| Comet at RCDB | |
Comet is a wooden roller coaster located at Waldameer & Water World in Erie, Pennsylvania. It was designed by Herbert Schmeck and built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) in 1951.[1] It is similar to other Schmeck-designed PTC junior wooden coasters which feature a layered figure-eight oval layout. However, Comet is taller than those of its type which came before it.[1]
Comet was designated an ACE Coaster Classic by American Coaster Enthusiasts for maintaining its classic standards of operation.[2]
History
[edit]The park began planning the coaster in 1946, and several smaller rides at the park were sold to finance its addition.[3] The ride's construction was overseen by James Martz. It was built from Pacific coast timber. The ride's name was coined by Bobby Benson, a radio show host, at an event in the park on June 27, 1951. The ride was also nicknamed the "Bobby Benson Stratocruiser" for the day.[4]
For the 2012 season, Comet received an updated braking system and a new control system from Velocity Magnetics.[5] The new system uses a combination of magnetic and friction brakes, which allows for two-train operation.[6]
The ride received a significant amount of retracking following the 2026 season. Some of the replaced wood was original to the ride's 1951 debut year.[7]
Ride experience
[edit]
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The ride begins with a right turn out of the station into a 37 feet (11 m) lift hill. It descends a 25 feet (7.6 m) first drop before immediately ascending up into a left turn. It drops again, into two airtime hills, and curves through a righthand turn over the station. Then it drops into a series of two bunny-hops and traverses a right curve directly underneath the first left curve. It then drops into two final bunny-hops before entering the brake run and turning right to return to the station. In its minute and 24 second-long ride time, it reaches a top speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). It has 1,300 feet (400 m) of track.
Trains
[edit]Comet has two Junior PTC trains of four cars, all of which utilize flanged wheels. Each car has two seats that can hold two riders, for a maximum of 16 riders per train. Riders are restrained by a single buzz bar.[8] Although the park owns two trains, for several years, only one was placed into daily operation, as park management was not comfortable running two trains with manually operated skid brakes.
References
[edit]- 1 2 Jenkins, Torrence Jr (2006). Herbert P. Schmeck, The Forgotten Legacy. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts. p. 144. ISBN 0-9703987-1-9.
- ↑ "ACE Coaster Classics - American Coaster Enthusiasts". www.ridewithace.com. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ Futrell, Jim (2013). Images of America: Waldameer Park. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-9837-6.
- ↑ Myers, Valerie. "Happy birthday to these Waldameer rides marking 15 to 75 years in 2026". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2026-09-30.
- ↑ "Comet brakes make their final stop". 6 March 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ↑ "The Comet gets magnetized". 30 January 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
- ↑ Martin, Jim (September 30, 2026). "Waldameer Park replacing some original wood from 75-year-old Comet". GoErie. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
- ↑ Baldwin, Timothy; Seifert, Jeffrey (2000). Guide to Ride 2000. Zanesville, Ohio: American Coaster Enthusiasts Worldwide Inc. p. 95. ISBN 0-9703987-0-0.
