Wood or Steel?

The most basic classification; at the time of this posting, all existing roller coasters fall into one of two categories: Wood or Steel. While both of these terms conjure up a "standard" imagery, there is a pretty precise definition that encompasses all of the outliers too.

When most people think of a wooden coaster, they most likely picture a hulking mass of spiderwebbed timbers, like White Cyclone (pictured at right). But the "woodie" designation has nothing at all to do with the obvious superstructure. The track of a modern wooden roller coaster is made of stacks of wood topped with a laminated steel running rail. The metal is only there to protect the wood from wear and tear, but it is the timber that forms the path the trains follow -the track- so it is what gives wooden coasters their name.

Conversely, on a steel roller coaster, the train is guided along its path by steel tubes, which are what give the "steelies" their characteristically smooth feel. Unlike wooden tracks, most steel coasters are not reliant on gravity to hold the trains on the rails. It is this trait that allows them to take on wildly convoluted, nausea-inducing shapes.

There are exceptions of course, some steel coasters' rails are square, not round, come in trios instead of pairs, or are made of some other metal instead of steel. Bobsled coasters for one, don't cling to their (steel) rails at all, but coast freely down the channel between them. Some other, older woodies have single layers of wood, or lack the metal running rails atop their guides. But despite the oddballs out there, the ol' rule of thumb still applies:

If the path the roller coaster takes is defined by wooden forms or rails it's a wooden coaster. If it is defined by metal, it's a steel coaster. If it's anything else, make sure to sign a nice, long insurance waiver before riding.