If you’ve ever ridden a roller coaster with a lift hill, you’ve definitely heard that iconic sound:
Clickety-clack… clickety-clack… clickety-clack.
But what exactly causes that noise?
To find out, I spoke with Tom Rebbie and Janine Rebbie-Matscherz from Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Inc..
The Role of Safety Dogs
That clickety-clack sound comes from something called safety dogs.
Underneath each roller coaster car are two metal components that interact with a steel ratchet track running along the lift hill.
As the train climbs the hill, the safety dogs move over the ratchet teeth, creating the familiar clicking sound.
Why This System Exists
The safety dogs serve an important purpose.
If there were ever a power failure or a problem with the lift chain — which is extremely rare — the safety dogs would catch the train and prevent it from rolling backward down the hill.
In other words, the sound you hear is actually part of the coaster’s safety system at work.
A Sound That Means Coasters
For many coaster fans, the clickety-clack sound is pure nostalgia.
As Tom and Janine pointed out, when you walk into a theme park and hear that sound echoing from a wooden coaster, it instantly feels like a great day at the park.
After more than 120 years in the industry, companies like Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters Inc. have helped keep that tradition alive.
Watch the Reel
https://youtu.be/n7AJsFXmBxs?si=tEke4qrbzUtIaYtI
Final Thoughts
The next time you hear that clickety-clack sound on a lift hill, you’ll know it’s not just noise.
It’s a classic part of roller coaster engineering — and one of the sounds that defines the theme park experience.
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