Steel Force
{{Short description|Steel roller coaster at Dorney Park}}
{{Infobox roller coaster
|name=Steel Force
|image=Steel Force (Lift).jpg
|caption= Steel Force at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania
|location=Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
|section=
|type=Steel
|type2=
|status=Open
|opened=May 30, 1997
|manufacturer=D. H. Morgan Manufacturing
|designer=Steve Okamoto
|model=Hyper Coaster
|track=Out and Back
|lift=Chain lift hill
|height_ft=200
|drop_ft=205
|length_ft=5600
|speed_mph=75
|inversions=0
|duration=3:00
|angle=61
|capacity=1,700
|cost=US$10,000,000
|acceleration=
|gforce=3.4
|restriction_in=48
|trains=3
|carspertrain=6
|rowspercar=3
|ridersperrow=2
|virtual_queue_name=Fast Lane
|virtual_queue_image=Cedar_Fair_Fast_Lane_availability_icon.svg
|virtual_queue_status=available
|rcdb_number=276
|coordinates={{coord|40|34|44|N|75|32|17|W|display=title,inline|region:US-PA_type:landmark_source:dewiki}}
}}
Steel Force is a steel roller coaster located at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. At {{convert|5600|ft|m}} in length, Steel Force is the eighth-longest steel coaster in the world as of 2024.{{cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/rhr.htm?m=2&t=1|title=Record Holders - Length|work=RCDB.com|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}
Built by D. H. Morgan Manufacturing and designed by Steve Okamoto, the roller coaster opened to the public on May 30, 1997, and was billed as "the tallest and longest roller coaster on the east coast",{{cite news|url=https://www.mcall.com/1997/05/20/dorney-parks-steel-force-is-engineered-to-deliver-a-thrilling-performance/|title=Dorney Park's Steel Force Is Engineered To Deliver A Thrilling Performance|last=Salter|first=Rosa|date=May 20, 1997|work=The Morning Call|access-date=April 6, 2018}} featuring a {{convert|205|ft|adj=on}} drop, {{convert|5600|ft}} of track, and a maximum speed of {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Steel Force|location=Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom|rcdb_number=276|accessdate=April 6, 2018}}
History
On September 16, 1996, Dorney Park announced that Steel Force would be added to the park.{{cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1996-09-17-3100612-story.html|title=DORNEY UNLEASHES STEEL FORCE FOR 1997}} The ride opened on May 30, 1997.
Steel Force has been ranked among the top steel coasters in the world several times.{{cite web|title=Top 10 Coasters|url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/resources/tv/topten/topten_list.shtml|publisher=Ultimate Rollercoaster|accessdate=15 July 2012|year=1999}} Its logo was originally intended to be used for the stand-up coaster Mantis (now Rougarou), which opened at Cedar Point a year earlier. Mantis was originally going to be named "Banshee," but the name and logo were changed prior to its debut.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Mantis|location=Cedar Point|rcdb_number=7|accessdate=15 July 2012}} Dorney Park adopted it for its Steel Force coaster a year later.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Steel Force|location=Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom|rcdb_number=276|accessdate=15 July 2012}}
Ride experience
The train departs the station entering a slight decline into the lift hill. After reaching the top, the train enters the first drop of {{convert|205|ft}}, reaching a maximum vertical angle of 61 degrees. At the bottom of the first drop, riders pass through a tunnel and into a camelback hill. The train then ascends a third hill, which doubles as the entrance to the downward helix turnaround. After the helix, the train enters a mid-course brake run, before entering the ride's finale – a series of three back-to-back airtime hills and a double-up. The first airtime hill in this series features a tunnel, and an on-ride camera snaps photos at the bottom of the second. Following the double-up element, the train passes over the entrance plaza and enters the final brake run before returning to the station.
Awards
{{GTA table
| type = steel
| accessdate = September 14, 2015
| 1998 = 5
| 1999 = 4
| 2000 = 4
| 2001 = 4
| 2002 = 6
| 2003 = 16
| 2004 = 11
| 2005 = 14
| 2006 = 15
| 2007 = 20
| 2008 = 18
| 2009 = 23
| 2010 = 27
| 2011 = 26
| 2012 = 39
| 2013 = 37
| 2014 = 37
| 2015 = 45
| 2016 = 37
| 2017 = 44
| 2021 = 45
}}
Construction data
The following materials are included:
- 2,000 tons of steel
- {{convert|12150000|lb}} of concrete footers
- 2,742 anchor bolts
Ride elements
- Two {{convert|120|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} tunnels
- 510-degree downward helix
- Mid-course brake run
- 4 airtime hills, including a double-up hill
- On-ride photo camera between the last two airtime hills
Gallery
Image:Steel Force (Drop).jpg|Steel Force's first drop
File:Steel Force (Full Drop).JPG|Steel Force's first drop
File:Steel Force (Airtime).JPG|Steel Force's first airtime hill
Image:Steel Force (Return).jpg|Steel Force's final airtime hills
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.dorneypark.com/rides/Roller-Coasters/Steel-Force Official Steel Force page]
{{DP Coasters}}
Category:Steel roller coasters
Category:Roller coasters introduced in 1997