Just a quick historical note.
On this date in 1884, “The Switchback Railway,” America’s first roller coaster ride, opened at Coney Island.
“The 1885 patent states the invention relates to the gravity double track switchback railway, which had predicated the inclined plane railway, patented in 1878 by Richard Knudsen. Coney Island’s version was designed by LaMarcus Adna Thompson in 1881 and constructed in 1884. Thompson’s motivations to develop the roller coaster alledge to come from his disgust with current the cultural rise of hedonistic amusements like saloons and brothels.”
old spirituals 