Roller Coaster 88 (POV) - Children's Grand Park, South Korea

[@paulboncaldo3692]

That was pretty descent for a small coaster.

[@Hypernukeleosis]

Why 88? Is it suppose to represent the shape of the corkscrews on the ride? What a strange name.

[@davidjellis]

No idea - there are a lot of coasters with odd names in Korea and the far eats in general...perhaps it's lost in translation somewhere!

[@Hypernukeleosis]

"The Far Eats" is definitely the name of a coaster in Korea, hah, sorry, had to do it.

[@railroad_good]

The reason why this roller coaster was named 88 can be found out back in 1984 when it was opened. At that time, the 88 Olympics were decided to be held in Seoul, so to commemorate this, the Blue Dragon Train, Korea's first roller coaster, was retired and a new one was built. The number 88 is for roller coaster. Because at the time, hosting the Olympics in a small country was a happy event for Korea.

[@gpfp169]

Yes, I get it, this ride was popular, but it looks like your average 4 Ring model.

[@alaeriia01]

Question: What do you think is the reason that the Asian coaster manufacturers all copied Arrow's track and train design, especially once the Zierer two-rail and Schwarzkopf central tube became more well known?

[@davidjellis]

Interesting question and I don't know the answer - in recent years the Asian manufacturers have copied a lot of models from the established coaster companies, including Vekoma and earlier models from Arrow - there are now more coasters in China than the USA but many of these are nothing to write home about. Increasingly companies like B&M and Intamin are delivering rides in Asia so there are less local models being built, but no idea why Arrow was used as a model.

[@riparianlife97701]

As a metals manufacturer, about half of my attraction to coasters is their construction. So many factors need to be weighed, like steel cost, labor cost, transportation, longevity, appearance, noise, and ability to span over existing structures. I'm most struck by the difference between Steel dragon and Fury 325 where the designs have more to do with earthquakes or their absence than anything else.

[@davidjellis]

It's a fascinating subject isn't it!

[@spacemountain4760]

+ Alex: Let me add more Asian coaster facts. I think it's kind of easy to tell Meisho and Senyo apart, IMO, because of track width. As far as I know Senyo (For instance "Cosmic Express" at Kezouji Park.) also resembles an Arrow Coat Hanger style.

[@alaeriia01]

Which are the ones that had that weird variable-beam-height banking?

[@ulilikechannel1771]

👍

[@saltyipaint]

pffffttt ever been on the highest roller coaster in england I have

[@davidjellis]

The highest coaster in England is only 214ft tall...I have ridden one that's 456ft tall :-)

[@alexanderj5845]

1

[@cosmicjesterr]

Booring

[@davidjellis]

Sure was...but it was the first coaster I rode in South Korea so that's got to be worth celebrating :-)

[@cosmicjesterr]

***** haha