4th Dimension roller coaster

Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland

A 4th dimension roller coaster is a type of roller coaster in which the cars have the ability to rotate on an axis perpendicular to that of the track. This rotation is either controlled, via extra rails on the track, or uncontrolled, allowing for a ride experience which varies depending on the weight distribution of the car.

History

The first 4th Dimension coaster to be built was X at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It was designed and built by Arrow Dynamics and was the last ride to be made by them. The 4th Dimension design was bought along with the rest of Arrow Dynamics by S&S Worldwide. The company proceeded to sell two more 4th Dimension coasters; one in Japan, Eejanaika, and the other in China, Dinoconda. Both of these projects were manufactured by regional companies, subcontracted by S&S.

In 2007, the first ZacSpin installation opened. Kirnu was built by Intamin and is a much smaller 4th Dimension roller coaster which does not make any lateral turns. Three more ZacSpin installations have since opened.

After the 50% acquisition of S&S Worldwide by Sansei Yusoki, Co., Ltd, a new, smaller 4th Dimension roller coaster was sold to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The product is called Free Spin. Batman The Ride opened in 2015 and features free-spinning seats. A clone of this ride opened at Six Flags Great Adventure the following year. An even smaller, and family-orientated, 4th Dimension roller coaster called Roller Ball was introduced by Ride Engineers Switzerland with the first installation opened in 2018. Like the ZacSpin and Free Spin, this coaster does not make lateral turns, however unlike previous 4th Dimension roller coasters, the cars only have seats on one side of the track, making it the only 4th dimension coaster without winged seating.

Design

The seats on the train are located at either side of the track. These seats are rotated to different angles at different points in the ride to add excitement.

Mechanics

The rotation of the cars is achieved by having four rails on the track: two of these are running rails while the other two are for spin control. The two rails that control the spin of the seats move up and down relative to the track and spin the seats using a rack and pinion gear mechanism.

Similar Rides

The trains on a winged roller coaster are similar to a 4th Dimension train. Both ride types seat riders at either side of the track, but a winged roller coaster does not rotate riders. Tranan, a roller coaster built by S&S-Sansei Technologies also features seating next to the track, which also rotate. But these rotate riders from side to side, making it more of a suspended coaster. Additionally, this swinging prevents guests from inverting, wheras the track itself does invert.

Installations

A full list of all coasters seen a 4th dimension by Coasterpedia, sorted by openingdate.

Name Amusement park Country Manufacturer Spinning Opened Status
X2 Six Flags Magic Mountain
USA
Arrow Dynamics Controlled January 12, 2002 Operating
Eejanaika Fuji-Q Highland
Japan
S&S-Sansei Technologies Controlled July 19, 2006 Operating
Kirnu Linnanmäki
Finland
Intamin Free-Spin April 27, 2007 Operating
Inferno Terra Mítica
Spain
Intamin Free-Spin July 21, 2007 Operating
Insane Gröna Lund
Sweden
Intamin Free-Spin April 25, 2009 Operating
Green Lantern: First Flight Six Flags Magic Mountain
USA
Intamin Free-Spin July 1, 2011 Closed 2019
Dinoconda China Dinosaurs Park
China
S&S-Sansei Technologies Controlled April 29, 2012 Operating
Batman The Ride Six Flags Fiesta Texas
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin May 23, 2015 Operating
Joker Six Flags Great Adventure
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin May 28, 2016 Operating
Arashi Nagashima Spa Land
Japan
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin March 10, 2017 Operating
Joker Six Flags Over Texas
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin May 20, 2017 Operating
Joker Six Flags Great America
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin May 27, 2017 Operating
Joker Six Flags New England
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin May 27, 2017 Operating
Wonder Woman Six Flags México
Mexico
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin June 1, 2018 Operating
Wilde Hilde Schwaben Park
Germany
Ride Engineers Switzerland Free-Spin October 13, 2018 Operating
Nid des Marsupilamis Parc Spirou Provence
France
Ride Engineers Switzerland Free-Spin April 17, 2019 Operating
Batman The Ride Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin May 25, 2019 Operating
Roller Ball Prater
Austria
Ride Engineers Switzerland Free-Spin June 13, 2020 Operating
Dragon Slayer Adventureland
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin May 29, 2021 Operating
John Wick: Open Contract Motiongate
UAE
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin January 21, 2022 Operating
Tumbili Kings Dominion
USA
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin March 12, 2022 Operating
Fireball Adventureland
USA
Ride Engineers Switzerland Free-Spin May 21, 2022 Operating
unknown Ocean Flower Island Fairyland
China
S&S-Sansei Technologies Free-Spin 2023 Under construction
Roller coaster types