LaMarcus Thompson opens the Switchback Railway at Coney Island

Background. Coney Island, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City, developed as an active amusement area during the late nineteenth century. By the 1880s, it attracted millions of visitors annually, shifting entertainment from passive to active experiences. The area's growth coincided with the rise of urban amusement parks across the United States, setting the stage for new mechanical attractions.

Design and Motivation. LaMarcus Adna Thompson designed the Switchback Railway in 1881, constructing it in 1884. His motivation stemmed from disgust with the cultural rise of hedonistic amusements such as saloons and brothels. The design was based in part on the Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway, a coal-mining train that began carrying passengers as a thrill ride in 1827.

Construction and Opening. The original Switchback Railway was the first roller coaster at Coney Island and one of the earliest designed for amusement in the United States. It was installed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson at West 10th Street in 1884. The ride featured a gravity double track switchback railway, which predated the inclined plane railway patented in 1878 by Richard Knudsen.