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Known as a “thrill engineer,” UK-based Brendan Walker consults with coaster manufacturers and parks on the psychology of riding the rails. In his experience, riders getting secured into their seats are at the peak of their excitement—even more so than during the ride itself.

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It can take anywhere from two to five years for a coaster to go from idea to execution.

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Every foot of roller coaster track costs a lot of money. Every foot of steelwork is about $40,000

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Designers test roller coasters with water-filled dummies that can be emptied or filled to simulate different weight capacities. Designers also sometimes use the kind of crash-test dummies found in the auto industry to observe any potential issues prior to actual humans climbing aboard.

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Wooden roller coasters are weather-sensitive. If you’ve ever been on a wooden coaster that seems a little shaky from one trip to the next, check the forecast: It might be because of the weather. Pike says that humidity and other factors can shrink the wood, affecting how bolts fit and leading to a slightly shakier experience. “The structure itself can flex back and forth,”

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Paint makes a big difference in coaster speed. The one thing that will slow down a steel coaster is a build-up of paint on the track rails.It softens where the wheel is rolling and hitting the track, which increases the drag

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The time of day can affect the coaster experience. Iin the morning it could run slower, The wheels are not as warm, the bearings are warming up. That could be different by 2 p.m., with a slicked-up wheel chassis.

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A well-cared-for wooden coaster can usually outlast a steel model.

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The Fastest: Formula Rossa in Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, UAE (149 MPH).

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Early roller coasters were inspired by 17th century Russian ice slides

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Sometimes, manufacturers offer pre-fabricated constructions that designers treat like Erector Set., presented almost like a kit with parts, like a model train set. There’s a curve here, a straight bit here, and you can pick your own layout depending on the lay of the land.”

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The first: Switchback Railway in Coney Island, 1884. 50 ft tall, with a max speed of 6MPH. People rode it sideways

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A roller coaster ride is a legal, generally safe and relatively cheap means of experiencing a natural high

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One of the earliest coasters in America carried coal before it carried thrill seekers

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The amusement park industry says its rides are safe, estimating the chances of being injured at one in 24 million, and the chance of being killed at one in 750 million, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions

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Coasterphobia. Coasterphobia, as the name indicates, is an intense fear of roller coasters and is a real thing.

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Some people, especially thrill-seeking extroverts, enjoy rollercoasters because they experience physical sensations of fear while knowing they are safe (putting aside rare accidents). Psychologists refer to this as ‘benign masochism’ and it seems to be a uniquely human phenomenon.