Roller coasters speed up throughout the day, why?

Your experience of the same roller coaster will most likely be slightly different each time you ride it. Even though theme parks market their rides with a specific top speed, and the physics of the earth are constant around the globe, the speed of a roller coaster's train can change from moment to moment. There are a huge number of other minor factors that can affect how the train will perform through the circuit. So, why do roller coasters generally speed up throughout the day?
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VIDEO STRUCTURE:
00:00 Introduction
00:36 Temperature
03:34 Passenger Numbers
04:17 Weather
05:16 Wheel Types
06:43 Track Paint
07:06 Too Fast?
08:40 Too Slow?
09:58 Conclusion

[@coasterbot]

Help us find the world's best roller coasters! We've created a brand new poll called Vote Coasters, and we need your help. Rank from best to worst the roller coasters you've ridden and from that we'll find the world's best. To learn more and take part, head to: coasterbot.com/votecoasters

[@everettjohnson4498]

First of all let me say that I love your videos and content and always find them fascinating. Second I was wondering if I could use some off the diagrams you include in videos on a website I am making for school? I would of course credit you.

[@freedomfighter2668]

the biggest thing you left out was that every train gives a different ride. train #1 of a particular coaster might run noticeably slower or faster than train #2 or#3 of the same coaster. also, if a coaster adds or removes a train, though out the day it may also have a different speed compared to the ones that have been running all day

[@McPizzaPerson]

Lightning will reduce a coaster’s speed to a whopping 0km/h 😂😂😂

[@coasterbot]

I'm glad you liked that joke Alfie!

[@5MadMovieMakers]

@@coasterbot what if there's a direct strike to the LSM launch system, resulting in electircal overload and an insanely high speed launch?

[@Asmejg0204]

@@5MadMovieMakers If only that could happen, my god that would be fun

[@bandmfanboy]

Could add heavy precipitation to the list too.

[@Jolei33]

Then the riders would Back To The Future out of there

[@DJBKoasteRs]

I rode Untamed at 10pm during a thunderstorm and oh boi was it speedy compared to morning rides I had

[@coasterbot]

Damn sounds spooky!

[@re0473]

Evening dan

[@DJBKoasteRs]

@@re0473 gud ebening

[@downtowncoolsville.8958]

5:12 Never have i seen a rollercoaster go so fast!

[@DryEyeBuilds]

This was actually a topic I was very curious about, and this is the first video to explain it as well as this one has!

[@coasterbot]

That's great to hear, thanks for watching :)

[@TripleTSingt]

Taron has another way of warming up the trains: Boost mode. This mode isn't safe for guests due to higher acceleration on the 2 launches, but is used in the morning to warm up the trains, especially if they were outside over night.

[@coasterbot]

It's a clever feature!

[@coasterhockygamingboy9549]

In 2019, yukon striker got drastically faster every time I rode. Back in April/May you were on the zero g winder for 5-7 seconds and on the vertical loop was slow at the top and you got hangtime but by July and August there was barely any hangtime on the zero g winder around 1-2 seconds and you sped through the vertical loop and 2nd Immelmann. Roller Coasters can also get faster during the year and I have evidence with that with Yukon Striker at Canada’s Wonderland, my home park. Unfortunately I haven’t ridden it in 2020 because Doug Ford is a big poopie head and won’t open CW

[@vortexluigirosalina5557]

I’m very sad wonderland couldn’t open despite the protocols

[@5MadMovieMakers]

So what you're saying is obesity is the key to fast rides

[@coasterbot]

ha ha I'm not sure that should be the thing to take away from this video! ;)

[@Stubwood_on_YT]

I tried explaining this to a gp friend the other day, now I'm going to send him the link of this video. When I first experienced Icon at BPB, I had a rly slow ride in the morning, didn't even crack my top ten. I went on a few other rides until mid-afternoon when I had a second ride and it was SO much better!

[@coasterbot]

Icon warms up a lot, so I can definitely see what you mean :)

[@cedarflags]

"A roller coaster may valley" *shows smiler* *Heavy Sweating*

[@jojo_hendriks]

B&M: boohoo we need trims this is too fast Gerstlauer: too fast? GOOD

[@DJBKoasteRs]

B&M: we need reliable rides that will be buttery smooth Gerstlauer: rattly as heck and headache-inducing? GREAT

[@jojo_hendriks]

@@DJBKoasteRs *u mean Intamin

[@DJBKoasteRs]

@@jojo_hendriks I think Intamin are more in the middle

[@jojo_hendriks]

@@DJBKoasteRs Intamin Rattle is a lot worse than any Gerst rattle, and they‘re the most unreliable big manufacturer

[@MrPatrickbuit]

Kärnan Fanboy Hahaha your name is so suitable here. Karnan’s first turnaround on a hot summer day on the left wing is INSANE. Best coaster element ever.

[@MrPatrickbuit]

8:15 love the choice for footage of Goliath there. It’s a ride that’s known for speeding up insanely on hot days. From what I remember when I went this summer, it was doing laps that were almost 5 seconds faster than they were supposed to be. They actually had to close the ride temporarily cause they reached the minimum lap time.

[@coasterbot]

Goliath really does speed up! We rode it back to back in the morning 5 times, and each ride got faster and faster!

[@bocahdongo7769]

5:05 Literally what happen in my childhood dream about rollercoaster

[@Handlepandle786]

You should do a video on ‘what happens when a train valleys’ like how they deal with it, how they get the trains back to the station and such

[@Skippyboy2348]

Gerstlauer uses adjustable pressure springs on their euro fighter side guides which help to keep the vehicles running within spec by increasing the pressure on the track

[@eddienhp]

Thanks for making this! By the way, I understand why they use breaks so that the ride can slow down!

[@coasterbot]

Thanks for watching :)

[@eddienhp]

@@coasterbot, no problem :)

[@jaconoorland6330]

As an engineering student I'm happy that someone has finally sum up all the points nicely, always wondered how many factors contributed to this affect as it is described by all coaster enthusiasts.

[@iamaloser666]

U had me at the lightning section for a minute 😂

[@badgerstatecoasters7725]

So does Lil Phantom, it goes flying by midnight

[@vortexluigirosalina5557]

This is really cool! I can’t believe this is how roller coasters go fast or slow

[@toomuchcontext]

Great video, Harry! While I knew a lot of this beforehand, I believe your video covered this in a quite thorough manner that made me learn at least a few new things.

[@coasterbot]

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it and learnt some new things :)

[@danielstanley3313]

Great video Harry, always find these types of videos very interesting!! Keep it going 🙂

[@coasterbot]

Thanks Daniel, I'm glad you like them. There's plenty more to come :)

[@lwillis112010]

Omg I have learned so much about coasters watching your channel. I thank you for all the information you give because now I know about parks that I didn't know existed. Of course a lot of these parks are in other countries and alot here in the states where I live.🙂🙂🙂💯💯💯🎢🎢

[@coasterbot]

That's awesome to hear! Thanks for watching :)

[@AmityAmaan]

Never knew the colour of the track can determine the speed of the coaster! Thank you for telling us this useful information.

[@technoandrew]

A really well explained video. I never really thought about how many factors there are which affect the speed.

[@coasterbot]

Thanks Andrew! :)

[@patrickkoller901]

Yesterday I've been to Toverland in Europe and there's a wing coaster, Fénix. I went in the morning, was good, in the afternoon again and I realised that this beauty is faster. My friend didn't have the impression. However, in the evening at 8pm (after 10hrs of opening) you race through the zero-g-roll, it's insane how fast the coaster goes when you compare it to the morning

[@coasterbot]

It is crazy to see how much faster some roller coasters can be!

[@ohranger]

Another awesome video!! Love the models!

[@coasterbot]

Thanks Mike! :)

[@The.Toaster]

I went to thorpe park on a 38'c day summer 2022. Every coaster felt significantly faster than normal. Saw gave me a throbbing headache right as the last ride of the day. Nemesis and stealth were insane. I was curious why it felt so crazy. I always had suspicion because it was abnormally hot that day. Now I know. HEAT!

[@DisneyTLK110]

I love your footage of Liseberg!

[@coasterbot]

Thanks! :)

[@alkankondo89]

Cool fact at 9:26! I actually JUST noticed those wheel-heaters when I rode Candymonium an hour ago today (a cold, drizzly day). I was hoping you'd mention that!

[@coasterbot]

Good spot! :)

[@Timesocussa]

Tbh I enjoyed all the footage you’ve filmed. Thanks for the video

[@coasterbot]

No problem, thanks for watching :)

[@thejoysequence]

Engaging and well-explained video as always. One to send to my friends who don't believe me when I tell them to wait for a ride to 'warm up'!

[@coasterbot]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Those lightning videos were beautiful

[@Paul86LFC]

Excellent video, Harry. Very interesting.

[@coasterbot]

Thanks Paul! :)

[@Paolo8772]

This is true for most coasters. Coaster at Playland has its speed adjusted by changing the friction in the wheels (They don't use the MCBR) by making them looser when its too fast or tighter when it's too slow. They're flange wheels that have locked pins in them. The ride ops time the ride and call a techie to unlock the pin and turn the middle of the wheel with a wrench; thereby giving it more friction or less friction as the situation requires. Having said that: Yes, on most days when it's open (hot days) left unchecked, even "Coaster" at Playland would run faster as the day progresses. Thanks for this fantastic video; it is information needed for fascinated people who don't know this yet, of which there are always plenty.

[@feesrmt]

skyrush, great bear , storm runner & lightning racer were my faves to ride later in the day bc they would literally haullllllll

[@coasterbot]

Hersheypark looks amazing generally!

[@thequackenscoasterchannel2927]

I love these kinds of videos

[@coasterbot]

Me too! ;)

[@BmanTheChamp]

Wow, you never fail to teach me something fascinating.

[@coasterbot]

Thanks, glad you learnt something new :)

[@Ilandria.]

Temperature also affects air density. Cold air is more dense than hot air, meaning there's literally more stuff in the way causing drag against the trains on colder days.

[@alkankondo89]

I rode Golden Lasso Coaster -- the single-rail RMC at SF Fiesta Texas -- this past July in the afternoon, and, I tell ya, the summer heat had those trains TEARING through that course! It was overwhelming!! My head was spinning at the end of every ride I got that afternoon!

[@coasterbot]

They already look like they tear through the course anyway! :)

[@alkankondo89]

@@coasterbot Haha, EXACTLY! So a faster-than-normal Golden Lasso Coaster gives UNREAL rides at cartoonishly fast speeds, LOL!

[@lbcspotter]

A warmed up Coaster on a hot Summer day with some Rain is just 🤌🤌🤌 Colossos at Heide Park usually gives great rides. But on one visit last year somewhen in August the Ride went nuts! It was around 8pm, about 32°C, with a rain shower coming through. From the first drop till the final bunny hills the Ride tried to launch me beyond space. I didn´t get stapled and they specifically anounced, that the trims were off. That ride honestly scared me... On the first hill I was lifted multiple centimeters out of my seat to the point I thaught I can just stand up, while the rain was blasting at me. Before the second hill I pushed down my bar and it seemed to have no affect at all. That ride left me speechless and with tears in my eyes... Also got a similar experience on Kärnan at Hansa Park. Also mid Summer and late in the afternoon. The coaster whiped through it´s course whipping me around. It was just going so stupidly fast. That was my 200th ride on Kärnan and it made my month.

[@craigrogers3864]

Excellent video, thankyou

[@coasterbot]

Thank you for watching!

[@craigrogers3864]

@@coasterbot Be great to see you around Alton Towers sometime 👍

[@CoasterConnection]

Brilliant video! 🤩 Did Wicker Man at night during the rain recently, it was insane. Fastest I’ve ever seen it. 🔥

[@coasterbot]

Thanks man! Yeah, it really *really* speeds up! :)

[@ThemeParkScienceOfficial]

Nice video! :) Great extra insights. Love the fact you also show the paint en passenger numbers. Now the million dollar question: Can a roller coaster be too fast? :P

[@coasterbot]

Thank you! I think the answer for us enthusiasts is no! Also, I appreciate that you made a similar video a month ago. I was part way through writing this when I heard about your upload. Fantastic video by the way :)

[@ThemeParkScienceOfficial]

@@coasterbot Same subject, but different video's. Love the fact that you showed us even more information about the paint and weight. Love the editing and a very nice voice over! Please please more! :) Love it!

[@gasparwysokinski2247]

Xpress platform 13 in afternoon was epic

[@ItzZanty]

9:00 love how you show a video of the Smiler at Alton Towers when talking about trains being too slow... But fortunately, rollercoasters have safety mechanisms to stop this from happening, right? xD

[@Luxurzx]

I went to Alton towers scarefest yesterday, I had my first ever night ride on nemesis and it was the most intense ride I’ve ever had, I’ve rode it well over 30 times and it was insanely quick compared to normal operating hours!

[@coasterbot]

That's awesome to hear! :)

[@zuthalsoraniz6764]

There is one more effect that weather has: Changing air density! Hot, moist air at a low air pressure is less dense than cool, dry air at a high pressure. At, say, 950 mbar, 30 C and 80% humidity, air has a density of 1.077 kg/m^3. At 1050 mbar, 10 C and 20% humidity, it has a density of 1.291 kg/m^3 - and since wind resistance is directly proportional to air density, that can have a significant effect.

[@TheSwant98]

The first time I experienced how slow a train can be if it's unloaded was on Toos Express at Toverland. I was the only rider and it barely made the hills.

[@al0742]

This is very fascinating

[@coasterbot]

I'm glad you think so :)

[@walterfenger]

3:36 When you're casually watching a two year-old video and randomly spot yourself in the footage

[@coasterbot]

That's wild!

[@Jolei33]

9:26 I one went to a park on a cold day. I came into the station to find it warm! Now I know why it felt warm inside the station

[@coasterbot]

There you go then! :)

[@Nerdchacho]

My personal biggest differences I've noticed are Raptor at Gardaland between 10am and 5pm (Front, Right side) and Wickerman at Alton Towers (10 am to 4pm); both on sunny, warm days. They were like 2 very different rides between times..

[@coasterbot]

Yeah, both Raptor and Wicker Man speed up a lot! :)

[@roanwessels5931]

they way u poasted it as i needed it for a school project xD

[@coasterbot]

Best of luck!

[@TheAndroidvsapple]

Nice one Harry!

[@coasterbot]

Thanks Brian!

[@coasterplanet4141]

Wickerman destroyed my spine in the dark

[@coasters4life388]

Amazing video

[@coasterbot]

Thanks! :)

[@ReNewReViews1]

Slightly deeper, air density and barometric pressure has a great affect on coaster speed too

[@brianmacdonald7297]

I love arriving at rope-drop, and getting rides in while the lines are short. The downside to that is that I've sometimes ridden everything I want to by midday, and I would leave instead of standing in longer lines. But now that I've gotten a bunch of night rides on some excellent coasters, and experienced this phenomenon for myself, I stay until after dark whenever I can.

[@coasterbot]

Yeah exactly! Some parks do seem to get less busy right at the very end of the day though, so cram rides in and the beginning and the end! :)

[@mcmadness110]

What do the station heaters even look like. I’ve heard of it before but when I search it I can never find it online no matter what wording I use when looking for it either on a website or picture.

[@StamfordBridge]

Biggest morning-to-evening difference I’ve felt was on Leviathan at CW.

[@vortexluigirosalina5557]

Nice dude

[@theovaromme5594]

Same for me leviathan Felt pretty slow in the morning

[@iceblade019]

I had a trimless ride at night in the rain last summer on Levi and it is absolutely insane

[@lewis2524]

I enjoyed this

[@coasterbot]

Thanks for watching :)

[@John010]

"If lightning is in the area, a roller coaster will cease operation, reducing its top speed to a whopping 0 km/h" 5:04 this got me 😂

[@coasterbot]

I'll be here all week

[@Bxn320]

Guys, have they removed the handles off icon? I can't remember them being on the harness

[@TheRadioAteMyTV]

So what you are saying is, the speed of light from lightning creates a zero speed from the coaster? That line made me laugh! Another great video I am going to be using to help in my classes, particularly for temperature and viscosity. I have already been pitching the thing about momentum due to an experience riding Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain, where we rode with giant buff guys and traveled at a crazy rate with lots of swing in the train too, then we quickly ran through the empty night time line to ride it again, but this time with juniour high aged kids, and the difference was remarkable. The second trip was like a little kid ride instead of the zooming roller coaster we had just had. Lesson learned, momentum now taught!

[@coasterbot]

Glad you liked the joke. Interesting point about momentum, it's interesting stuff right!

[@hanjovandewouw]

Now, THIS is a good video.

[@coasterbot]

Thanks!

[@gasparwysokinski2247]

There’s so much Walibi coasters not like It’s bad it’s good but rare

[@bramversluis93]

Steel coasters go faster in the rain, but it slows down wooden coasters. Because wooden coasters have steel wheels on steel track the track itself needs to be lubricated quite often. On Troy it happens on average every other day, depending on the state of the track and the weather conditions of the track. In the rain the lubricant is washed off, wich slows the train down by about 2,5 seconds

[@coastersane4658]

So I might be going to kings dominion in December and I'm hoping that denominator will be ok

[@casuallystalled]

it was fun to ride the incrediable hulk at night, it was basically a walk on and was fast af

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Interesting as ever 🤔👌🏼🧱👍🏼

[@coasterbot]

Glad you think so! :)

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@coasterbot 👌🏼🧱👍🏼

[@sasukelover2561]

This is why El Toro is so good at night,I swear we be flying through the course

[@tomwilsonn]

The rolling thunder hill late in the afternoon on a hot day is wild.

[@AllanBlakee]

I rode Afterburn and Copperhead strike at night in the rain 😂 number one the rain hurt my face number two it went so fast

[@jimthar17]

I did not know this.

[@ceek16]

got the chance to ride iron gwazi day and night and there is a huge difference

[@coasterbot]

That's awesome!

[@andrewn8002]

This will be very useful for my trip to Magic Mountain. 😉 I'll just wait until 10PM to ride X2. Damn craziest rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain by far! If you couldn't tell, I love Magic Mountain. Tee-hee. 😀

[@timmyt4207]

I had like the 1st ride of the day on wickerman then did the same at like 4 and it felt so fast compared to the first ride

[@coasterbot]

It's a totally different ride almost!

[@Joypyf]

How are trim breaks triggered? Each ride by the system, or the park turns them on or off?

[@coasterbot]

The ride system will decide whether to enable the trim brake or not. Though, I imagine the park might be able to override it somehow if they wanted to :)

[@Soonjai]

How to know if your train was heavy on Fluch von Novgorod: If a train on that coaster is loaded with a bunch of big bois the trim brake just before the final brakes isn't capable to slow it down enough for the intended, gradual brake experience. Instead it will just slam into the brakes.

[@Thim22Z7]

This is probably why I rate Lost Gravity over Untamed. On Untamed I only got an early morning ride, while I got an afternoon ride on Lost Gravity.

[@fdoelmand]

Some launch coasters can also launch their trains a bit faster at the start of the day to warm up their systems. However, this is stopped when riders board

[@coasterbot]

Very true!

[@Sukkulents_]

Talks about empty trains stalling and shows The Smiler 😳

[@illusionismm]

can you do a "what is" on meisho amusement machines?

[@coasterbot]

I'll note that down, thanks for the suggestion :)

[@Z34Birkan]

When Fury 325 was running 100 mph+ cause of the heat 🥲

[@kenepo4u496]

Have you ever seen the GP video “Secrets the Roller Coaster Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know”? You should see it and GP to Enthusiast’s Debunked video which features it.

[@g-pa2023]

Fun fact: On viper at six flags great America, Train 1 is 10 seconds faster than Train 2

[@ThemeParkLuke]

Are there there videos of people testing speed differences riding a rollercoaster in the morning and then again later in the day?

[@coasterbot]

I wish, that'd be cool!

[@ThemeParkLuke]

@@coasterbot do it before someone else does! It would make for an interesting video! 😅 I'd do it but I've got 3 subscribers 🤣

[@kingbreck4648]

QUESTION: lets say a rollercoaster's general speed is 65 MPH, and one row is empty. what speed would the coaster go at now? (just a question lol)

[@ukthemeparksquad4514]

10:31 That's me on the front row 😁

[@coasterbot]

It was awesome to meet you on that day my dude :)

[@tomwilsonn]

Steel vengeance first thing in the morning.... snooze. Steel vengeance last ride of the night = omfg.

[@chandlerwillis91]

Rode the mummy today for the first time since covid it felt like it was broken how much faster it is

[@coasterbot]

That's awesome

[@mason-fb6sx]

Rita at night is amazing, better than stealth during the day IMO

[@blazewarriorwolf]

"Hey Twitter, I learned something on a Sunday"

[@100ksubssoicanbragtomyfrie4]

*Genuine question* You know how GCI, CCI and Intamin Pre Fabs are made of wood but have that sttip of metal on them, why is that? Why can't their track be pure wood? Thank you!

[@shawnspencer8766]

Are you talking about the track itself?

[@100ksubssoicanbragtomyfrie4]

@@shawnspencer8766 yes

[@shawnspencer8766]

@@100ksubssoicanbragtomyfrie4 the track itself needs steel for the road, guide, and upstop wheels. This is the part of the track that takes the most beating, and straight wood would not hold up to that kind of abuse. Thus, steel is used. Although it's good to note that the stack (the part of the track underneath the steel) is all wood as well as the structure.

[@100ksubssoicanbragtomyfrie4]

@@shawnspencer8766 Thank you! So is the bit where the upstop wheels for airtime not wood or is it wood?

[@shawnspencer8766]

@@100ksubssoicanbragtomyfrie4 any spot the train wheels ride on are steel. Roads on top, guides on the inside, and upstops have steel underneath 👍🏻

[@tismejaytee]

Good news? Coasters get faster throughout the day. Bad? Longer lines throughout the day...

[@coasterbot]

Very true!

[@jonathanadams7219]

5:04 Palpatine: NOTHING WILL STOP THE RETURN OF THE SITH! *Uses Force Lightning on All Theme Parks, destroying all shelters*

[@oblivieon1567]

Oh comon' I say run LSM coasters in lightning. I mean if it does get struck with a Bazillion Giggly-watts of power how fast would it go? It could be legendary!

[@nickthepetrock403]

_full of exited passengers_ *shows people dying on a vekoma slc*

[@coasterbot]

;)

[@matthewrobertson95]

Thirteen at Alton Towers has to have a minimum of 18 riders per train (1/3rd full) in order to make the second lift hill. To make it work with social distancing they've blocked off the seats in the back cars with water dummies.

[@coasterbot]

Yeah, exactly!

[@hanava4065]

What a detailed video, however I believe that your deduction about rain is partly false. It is true that the rain serves as extra lubricant between track and wheels, but because the wheels are rolling on the track and not sliding, you want the wheels to have a high coefficient of friction to the track, so they don't slip. The friction in the bearings of the wheels are made specifically to reduce friction as much as possible, so you want to direct all friction contacts to there and keep other contact surfaces from being affected by friction. Therefor if rain is on the track, it is more likely for the wheels to slip and therefor loose more energy due to stick-slip effects, increase wear and slow down the train. Not speed it up.

[@coasterbot]

It's a general consensus that roller coasters speed up in the rain, and they do. If you've ever ridden one it is genuinely faster. You assume that the friction when raining would be reduced enough so that the wheel no longer rolls. That may be true, but I'm not 100% sure. Surely the coefficient of friction between the wheels and track would be rather high to begin with?

[@hanava4065]

@@coasterbot It is rather high, however despite the best engineering efforts, you cannot guarantee contact at all times, so the top wheels might lift off of the track during some ejector airtime and spin freely for a bit. When they come into contact again, they surely don't have the exact speed of the train and have to slip at least for a little bit until they sync their speed back up.