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| The Pippin when it was known as Silver Flash, in 1950 | |||||||||
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| Statistics | |||||||||
| Builder | Harry C. Baker | ||||||||
| Designer / calculations | John A. Miller Harry C. Baker | ||||||||
| Type | Wooden | ||||||||
Pippin, previously known as Flash and Silver Flash, was a wooden roller coaster previously located at Riverview Park in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The ride featured unique trains with enclosed tops.
History
The ride was designed in October 1920 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.[1] Construction began on November 3.[1]
The ride opened on May 11, 1921 and was originally known as Flash.[1] It featured four seats per car at opening.[1]
The ride was renamed Flash in 1934.[1] At this time, the ride's trains were changed to three seats per car because of the additional weight of cages and canvas coverings added over the seats. This adjustment was made at the request of insurance companies following deaths on the park's Big Dipper roller coaster.[1]
The ride was renamed Silver Flash in 1937. The trains' canvas coverings were removed and stainless steel was installed on the cars. The ride's entrance and cashier booth were also updated.[1]
Portions of the ride were rebuilt in 1952, including the rear curve and a few dips.[1]
The ride's name was changed to Flash in 1962 and the facade was updated.[1]
The ride was later renamed Pippin.
The ride closed with the park in 1967.[1] After the park closed, all of the roller coaster trains - including Pippin's - were offered for $100,000 each.[1] After there were no bidders, the trains were sold with the trains from Fireball and Bobs to Adventureland in Addison, Illinois, USA for $6,000.[1]
Incident
Approximately 20 riders were injured in 1936 when a train stalled in a dip and a second train hit the stalled train.[1]
Design
Color Scheme
White supports and brown track.
Trains
The ride's original trains were built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters for the park's Jack Rabbit ride.[1] They had four rows per car.[1] These were replaced with cars with three rows in 1934.[1]
2 trains with 4 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows, for a total of 24 riders per train.
The trains had the distinctly unique feature of having a roof and walls with entryways onto the train. Another coaster at the park, Blue Streak, had the same train design.
Only the first and last seats of the train had locking lap bars, with all other seats having a stationary bar.[1] The train also had a headlight and tail lights.[1]
References
External links
- Pippin on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
