Harry Traver
Encyclopedia
Harry Guy Traver was an American
engineer
and early roller coaster
designer.
Traver was born in Gardner, Illinois
. In 1919 he founded the Traver Engineering Company in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
, which created amusement rides, including the Tumble Bug
, The Caterpillar
, Laff in the dark, Auto Ride, and the Circle Swing, a ride similar in concept to the earlier Captive Flying Machines ride popularised in the UK by American-born inventor Sir Hiram Maxim.
However, his "Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters" were what made Traver the most famous (or notorious) of all coaster designers. His most famous coasters were the "terrible trio", all built in 1927. They were:
All three shared the same twisted layout. The Prior and Church Century Flyer trains (the Great Coasters International
Millennium Flyers are patterned after this rolling stock
) left the station, turned 180 degrees, and ascended the lift hill
. Coming off the lift, the trains dove down to the right, climbing to a sharp jog to the left. A drop and hill followed, and then a severely pitched double helix. Coming out of the helix, the train entered a figure 8 banked at 89 degrees. After the figure 8, a spiral hill led under the lift, where a jarring series of bunny-hops were placed, After those, the train turned 180 degrees into the "Jazz track", which consisted of the track pitching one way then the other fast and repeatedly. The "Jazz track" was an element of all Traver coasters. After the "Jazz track", a final spiral drop led to the brakerun. The entire ride lasted 40 seconds from the top of the lift; while Traver claimed that the force exerted on passengers was in excess of 4Gs, it is actually likely to have been significantly higher.
The Cyclone at Crystal Beach survived the longest of the three, lasting until 1949. An urban legend holds that on the "Lightning", a passenger plunged to her death on the second night of the coaster's opening. On May 30 1938, Amos Wiedrich was riding the Crystal Beach Cyclone, when at the top of the 90 foot lift hill he stood up to remove his jacket. The train plunged downwards, and he was thrown onto the tracks in front of him; only to be hit a moment later by the coaster's train. The Cyclone kept a nurse at the station whenever it operated (though constant structural and mechanical failures prevented it from ever running an entire season) – this was rumored to be in order to rouse fainted passengers, treat wounds related to the violent nature of the coaster, or even for the purpose of lowering Crystal Beach's insurance policy. Most likely, a nurse was kept on staff for the sake of marketing, and to attract more riders.
One of his coasters was known as the Jazz Railway. The Jazz Railway was the forerunner of the modern Wild Mouse Coasters
that are built to this day.
He died at New Rochelle, New York
.
In 2001, Disney's California Adventure opened, featuring Golden Zephyr
, a modern-day replica of the Traver Circle Swing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and early roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
designer.
Traver was born in Gardner, Illinois
Gardner, Illinois
Gardner is a village in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,463 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Gardner is located at .-Demographics:...
. In 1919 he founded the Traver Engineering Company in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
, which created amusement rides, including the Tumble Bug
Tumble Bug
A Tumble Bug is an amusement park ride with a circular track.Only two full-sized Tumble Bugs remain operating today in the United States—one at Kennywood in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, and one at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, PA. All full-size instances were made by Traver...
, The Caterpillar
Caterpillar ride
The Caterpillar ride is a vintage flat ride engineered by the inventor Hyla F. Maynes of North Tonawanda, New York who dubbed it the Caterpillar when it debuted in Coney Island, NY in 1925. It is a fast-paced ride that generates a decent helping of centrifugal force, causing the riders on the...
, Laff in the dark, Auto Ride, and the Circle Swing, a ride similar in concept to the earlier Captive Flying Machines ride popularised in the UK by American-born inventor Sir Hiram Maxim.
However, his "Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters" were what made Traver the most famous (or notorious) of all coaster designers. His most famous coasters were the "terrible trio", all built in 1927. They were:
- "The CycloneCrystal Beach CycloneThe Crystal Beach Cyclone is one of a 'Terrifying Triplet' of highly extreme and vicious Roller Coasters designed and built by Harry G. Traver in the late 1920s. The Cyclone was located at the Crystal Beach Amusement Park in Ontario, Canada.-History:...
" – Built in Crystal BeachCrystal Beach, OntarioCrystal Beach is a community within Fort Erie, Ontario with a population of 3,800. It was named for the "crystal-clear" water conditions present when it was founded on the northeast shore of Lake Erie, across from Buffalo....
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. - "LightningLightning (Revere Beach)Lightning was a hybrid wooden roller coaster that operated at Revere Beach in Revere, Massachusetts from 1927 until 1933. It was one of the infamous Giant Cyclone Safety Coasters which were constructed by noted roller coaster engineer Harry G. Traver in the mid 1920s...
" – Revere BeachRevere BeachRevere Beach is a public beach in Revere, Massachusetts. Located about 4 miles north of downtown Boston, the beach, founded in 1895, is the first public beach in the country. In the past, it was known as the Coney Island of New England...
, Massachusetts. - "CyclonePalisades Amusement ParkPalisades Amusement Park was an amusement park located in Bergen County, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York City. It was situated atop the New Jersey Palisades lying partly in Cliffside Park and partly in Fort Lee. The park operated from 1898 until 1971, remaining one of the most...
" – Fort LeeFort Lee, New JerseyFort Lee is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 35,345. Located atop the Hudson Palisades, the borough is the western terminus of the George Washington Bridge...
, New Jersey.
All three shared the same twisted layout. The Prior and Church Century Flyer trains (the Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International
Great Coasters International, Inc. is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in...
Millennium Flyers are patterned after this rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
) left the station, turned 180 degrees, and ascended the lift hill
Lift hill
A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward-sloping section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point or peak in the roller coaster ride...
. Coming off the lift, the trains dove down to the right, climbing to a sharp jog to the left. A drop and hill followed, and then a severely pitched double helix. Coming out of the helix, the train entered a figure 8 banked at 89 degrees. After the figure 8, a spiral hill led under the lift, where a jarring series of bunny-hops were placed, After those, the train turned 180 degrees into the "Jazz track", which consisted of the track pitching one way then the other fast and repeatedly. The "Jazz track" was an element of all Traver coasters. After the "Jazz track", a final spiral drop led to the brakerun. The entire ride lasted 40 seconds from the top of the lift; while Traver claimed that the force exerted on passengers was in excess of 4Gs, it is actually likely to have been significantly higher.
The Cyclone at Crystal Beach survived the longest of the three, lasting until 1949. An urban legend holds that on the "Lightning", a passenger plunged to her death on the second night of the coaster's opening. On May 30 1938, Amos Wiedrich was riding the Crystal Beach Cyclone, when at the top of the 90 foot lift hill he stood up to remove his jacket. The train plunged downwards, and he was thrown onto the tracks in front of him; only to be hit a moment later by the coaster's train. The Cyclone kept a nurse at the station whenever it operated (though constant structural and mechanical failures prevented it from ever running an entire season) – this was rumored to be in order to rouse fainted passengers, treat wounds related to the violent nature of the coaster, or even for the purpose of lowering Crystal Beach's insurance policy. Most likely, a nurse was kept on staff for the sake of marketing, and to attract more riders.
One of his coasters was known as the Jazz Railway. The Jazz Railway was the forerunner of the modern Wild Mouse Coasters
Wild Mouse roller coaster
A Wild Mouse roller coaster is a type of roller coaster characterized by small cars that seat four people or fewer and ride on top of the track, taking tight, flat turns at modest speeds, yet producing high lateral G-forces...
that are built to this day.
He died at New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle, New York
New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States, in the southeastern portion of the state.The town was settled by refugee Huguenots in 1688 who were fleeing persecution in France...
.
In 2001, Disney's California Adventure opened, featuring Golden Zephyr
Golden Zephyr
Golden Zephyr is an attraction at Paradise Pier in Disney's California Adventure Park. Themed to the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon style rocket ships, it takes park guests on a relaxing trip...
, a modern-day replica of the Traver Circle Swing.