Comet (Hersheypark)
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| Comet | |
 The Comet as seen from the since removed Giant Wheel |
|
| Location | Hersheypark |
|---|---|
| Park Section | Comet Hallow |
| Type | Wood |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | 1946 |
| Manufacturer | Philadelphia Toboggan Company |
| Designer | Herbert Paul Schmeck |
| Track layout | Out and Back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 84 ft (25.6 m) |
| Drop | 78 ft (23.8 m) |
| Length | 3360 ft (1024.1 m) |
| Max speed | 50 mph (80.5 km/h) |
| Duration | 1:45 |
| Capacity | 950 riders per hour |
| Height Restriction | 42 in (106.7 cm) |
| Comet at RCDB | |
| Pictures of Comet at RCDB | |
The Comet is a wooden roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Built in 1946 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the coaster features an out and back track layout. When built it was jointly owned by Hershey Park and PTC.
The Comet was re-tracked in the 2006 off-season.
[edit] Ride Experience
The Comet goes up an 84 foot lift, and then drops 96 feet, according to Hersheypark. Though Hersheypark claims this to be the correct number, other people dispute this measurement and say that the lift is the same as the drop, at 84 feet.
After the first drop, also called the "Chocolate Drop," the train goes up a hill and then makes a 180 degree turn, drops back down another hill, goes up a small hill, and then up a larger hill, making another 180 degree turn. After the turn, there is another drop, and after a bunny hill, the track makes a right turn ("dog leg"), going through several bunny hills before another 180 degree turn. Following the second set of bunny hills is a left turn, two bunny hills and the then the train slows into the station.
As is typical, the train usually sits for a few moments before coming around into the station because of an extra "brakage" that served as an unloading point until the comet was renovated in the mid 1990s. By having a "load" and "unload" point, the ride could handle three trains, as it did when it was built.
[edit] Trivia
- The two trains on the Comet are named "Mork's Comet" and "Halley's Comet"[1]
- A Comet car that retired in 1994 is currently used as seating at the Hershey Museum. The other was donated to ACE.[1]
- In 1964, the Comet received 6,640 individual 10-watt chaser lights.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Hershey Community Archives
- ^ Sweetness of Success, Charles J. Jacques, Jr., Amusement Park Journal, 1997
| Roller coasters at Hersheypark |
|---|
|
Current: Comet - Great Bear - Lightning Racer - Roller Soaker - SooperDooperLooper |
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Past: Mini Comet/Little Comet - Twin Toboggans - Wild Cat |
|
Cancelled: Turbulence |
