Vuoristorata

Infobox roller coaster
name = Vuoristorata


caption = Picture of Vuoristorata
location = Linnanmäki
type = Wood
type2 =
designer = Valdemar Lebeck
manufacturer = Svend Jarlström
model = Side friction
lift = Cable lift hill
status = Open
opened = July 13, 1951
height = 75.2
drop = 75
length = 3149.7
speed = 37.3
inversions = 0
capacity = 1500
cost = 48,000,000 FIM (1951)
rcdb_number=1073

Vuoristorata is a roller coaster in the Finnish amusement park, Linnanmäki. It opened July 13, 1951 and was designed as a temporary attraction for the Linnanmäki park, opened in 1950. One of the main reasons for its construction was to attract tourists of the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Since then, its temporary status was renewed for extended periods, until eventually it was regarded as a permanent structure. It is the most legendary amusement ride in Finland, and a symbol of the Linnanmäki park, even the park logo has a shape representing the lifts of Vuoristorata. "Vuoristorata" is simply "Roller Coaster" in Finnish language (literally: vuoristo = mountain range, rata = track; mountain range track). Vuoristorata has never had a given name to differ from the general word used for the roller coaster rides in general.

Vuoristorata is also notable for its features. It is actually a copy of another roller coaster, Rutschebanen opened in 1932, in Dyrehavsbakken, Denmark. Valdemar Lebeck, the man who designed both of these tracks (and few others), simply took the blueprints of Rutschebanen, made few changes and designed Vuoristorata. Back in the 1950s, Rutschebanen and Vuoristorata were the two tallest roller coasters in Europe. On the other hand, Vuoristorata was the last roller coaster in the world to use side friction technology.

Vuoristorata has been carefully maintained through the years. Apart from the cars, nothing remains of the original structure. All the wooden parts have been replaced at least five times. The subsequent restorations have been done while carefully maintaining the original layout; all the wooden parts are replacements but are consistent with the coaster's original design and character. Since 1951, Vuoristorata has been the most popular ride of Linnanmäki every year.

Vuoristorata is among the few roller coasters in the world to have been given the "classic" status by the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) club.

ee also

* Linnanmäki

External links

* [http://koti.mbnet.fi/huvipg/videot/vuoristorata.avi On-ride video]
* [http://www.rcdb.com/m/id1073.htm The Roller Coaster Database's profile]