Tornado (Coney Island)

Tornado (formerly known as Bobs) was a roller coaster located at Coney Island along Bowery Street in Brooklyn, New York City. Designed by Fred Church and built by the L. A. Thompson Company, the roller coaster cost $250,000 to build and opened in 1926. Much like the neighboring Coney Island Cyclone, it was a hybrid design consisting of a wooden track and steel structure. The coaster's track wrapped around a tower atop which the ride's name was attached. The land under the coaster was narrow, only 70 feet wide at its widest.[1]

Tornado
Tornado in the 1950s
Coney Island
LocationConey Island
Coordinates40°34′26″N 73°58′44″W / 40.574°N 73.979°W / 40.574; -73.979
StatusRemoved
Opening date1926 (1926)
Closing date1977 (1977)
Cost$250,000
General statistics
TypeWood
Track layoutTwister
Height71 ft (22 m)
Length2,970 ft (910 m)
Inversions0
BuildersFrank Darling
Frank Prior
Fred Church
LaMarcus A. Thompson
Tornado at RCDB

In 1977, much of the coaster was destroyed by arson.[2] The coaster was completely demolished in April 1978.

See also

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Illustrated postcard depicting Tornado in the 1940s

References

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  1. ^ Marden, Duane. "Tornado". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "3 Women Killed in Brooklyn Fires". The New York Times. December 11, 1977. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  • The American Roller Coaster, Scott Rutherford, Andover Junction Publishing, 2000
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