Momonga Standing and Loop Coaster

File:Loop Coaster MOMOnGA vertical loop - Yomiuriland.jpg

The Standing and Loop Coaster first opened at Yomiuriland in 1979 as a sit-down steel coaster. In 1982, TOGO opened the Dangai coaster (then known as the Merry Dolphin) at the now-defunct Thrill Valley park in Gotemba, Shizuoka (which at the time went by the name Odakyu Gotemba Family Land).{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Merry Dolphin|location=Thrill Valley|rcdb_number=20947|accessdate=September 21, 2021}} The coaster quickly incorporated a set of Togo's then-prototype stand-up trains, and that same year Yormuiriland also bought a standup train for the Standing and Loop Coaster.{{Cite web|url=http://www.coastergallery.com/2005/Riddlers_Revenge-06.html|title=Stand-Up Coaster|website=www.coastergallery.com|access-date=September 22, 2021}} Since then, the roller coaster simultaneously operated both a standup and sit-down train with a modified sliding station. The success of these quickly attracted the interest of Ohio-based Kings Entertainment Company, who acquired a trio of standup coasters from Togo between 1984 and 1986; King Cobra at Kings Island, SkyRider at Canada's Wonderland, and Shockwave at Kings Dominion.{{cite web|url=https://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog/2020/august/the-astro-comet-remembering-king-cobra|title=The Astro-Comet: Remembering King Cobra|date=August 22, 2020|last=Kruthoffer|first=Kyle|publisher=Kings Island|accessdate=September 22, 2021}}

In August 2021, Yomuiriland announced that the Momonga Standing and Loop Coaster would permanently close after 42 years of operation.{{Cite web|url=https://getnews.jp/archives/3096869|title=よみうりランド「ループコースターMOMOnGA」9/20でクローズ|date=September 2, 2021|website=getnews.jp|access-date=September 21, 2021|language=japanese}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20210908-OYT1T50096/|title=宙返りしながら最高速度75キロで疾走、「モモンガ」20日で引退|date=September 2, 2021|newspaper=読売新聞オンライン|access-date=September 21, 2021|language=japanese}} Beginning on September 4, the park launched a last riders campaign, where free souvenirs were handed out to participants and a lottery held to determine the coaster's last official riders.{{Cite web|url=https://magazine.atnavi.net/articles/12690|title=世界初の立ち乗りコースター よみうりランド「ループコースターMOMOnGA」9/20クローズ 42年の歴史に幕|date=August 31, 2021|author=あとなび|website=magazine.atnavi.net|access-date=September 21, 2021|language=japanese}} Momonga gave its last ride with the stand-up train on the evening of September 20, 2021.{{Cite tweet|user=yomiuriland_com|authorlink=Yomiuriland|number=1439908761921933315|date=September 20, 2021|title=42年間ありがとう！お疲れ様でした!|language=japanese}}

The Loop Coaster MOMOnGA operated with two 20-passenger trains throughout much of its lifetime; a sit-down train and a stand-up train, where guests rode the attraction while standing up. Both trains could be queued for separately, and operated with a sliding platform; while one train was making its circuit on the track, the other was loading and unloading guests on its respective side of the station. The addition of the stand-up train in 1982 rendered it as one of the first known stand-up roller coasters, and following the Dangai's closure in 2002 remained the oldest stand-up coaster in the world until its own closure in 2021.

Upon dispatch, the station platform slid the train sideways either to the left or right, connecting it to the coaster layout. Exiting the station, the train immediately ascended the {{convert|82|ft|m|adj=on}} tall chain lift hill. At its peak, riders made a right hand turn and descended into a curved drop, entering the coaster's sole inversion; a vertical loop wrapping around the lift hill. A counterclockwise helix followed, before riders made their final turnaround and rose into the brake run. The sliding track in the station then delivered the train sideways back to its respective platform. One ride on the Loop Coaster MOMOnGA lasted approximately 1 minute and 10 seconds.

Loop Coaster MOMOnGA was {{convert|82|ft|m}} tall, {{convert|1380|ft|m}} long, and reaches a top speed of {{convert|46.6|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. An exact clone of the Loop Coaster MOMOnGA was built for the 1984 Otaru Expo,{{cite news |title=北海道初の立席コースターも 充実した遊園地部門 '84小樽博覧会|trans-title=The first Stand-up coaster in Hokkaido, Ample playland area EXPO OTARU'84|url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19840715p.pdf|access-date=2021-09-04|agency=Game Machine|date=July 15, 1984 |language=ja}} but was relocated to Rusutsu Resort in 1985 and continues to operate as Standing Coaster.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Standing Coaster|location=Rusutsu Resort|rcdb_number=1359|accessdate=September 21, 2021}}{{cite news |title=地方版ニュースから ルスツ高原に導入小樽博の大型遊具四基|trans-title=News from Local edition Otaru Expo's four large rides, install to Rusutsu Kogen|agency=Hokkaido Shimbun|date=March 23, 1985 |language=ja}}{{cite news |title=経済パトロール ルスツ高原 今年もわくわく 大型遊具を増設 小樽博の「コースター」も|trans-title=Economic Patrol Rusutsu Kogen Exciting this year, Expand large rides, including Otaru Expo roller coaster |agency=Hokkaido Shimbun|date=March 19, 1985 |language=ja}}

• Stand-up roller coaster

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20210921163807/https://www.yomiuriland.com/attraction/momonga.html Loop Coaster MOMOnGA (archive)] at Yomiuriland

Category:Roller coasters in Japan