ok, this may be a little off-topic, but it is a question that has bothered me for a while. how do "they" measure the length of a coaster? good sites like www.rcdb.com have some measurements in feet AND inches. how could one find the length in feet AND INCHES? is the measurement taken from the middle of the track? both sides and averaged together? one side of the track? someone please clarify.

Im not too sure how tracks are measured specificly. I assume that the measurment would come from the middle of the track in order to be accuate. I do konw that the computer programs that are used to design the tracks on modern coasters will do all of the calcuations as far as length. My best guess, and I do emphisize GUESS, is that a wheel is attached to each side of the track (left and right) and the average between the two lengths is calculated. Good luck in actually finding out.

A guy gets up on the track with one of those hand held sticks with a wheel and walks the track. When he gets to the end he reads the meter and BAM! you know how long the track is.

No.. the designers know exactly how long the ride is by designing the ride. They have to know inorder to get the track pieces made to the right size. But how they do it. I'd assume that is down the middle, the path of the heart line.

No.. the designers know exactly how long the ride is by designing the ride. They have to know inorder to get the track pieces made to the right size. But how they do it. I'd assume that is down the middle, the path of the heart line.

:::Wack! Hammer hits nail right on the head:::

Absolutely correct. There is no measuring involved after the ride is constructed. That would be nearly impossible. The designer knows the exact length of each piece of track and they just add that up. The reason why there are sometimes discrepancies is because some might include the extra track that they store the trains on as part of the ride.

NO, no one walks with the sticks down the track... Im not saying that at all. I was saying (incorrectly) that it could be done with a counter on the coaster wheel. Yes I relize that in todays world of computers length is easily calculated.

Its easy to get inches and feet. 12 inches = 1 foot :-p Im sure when it was built they built it in sections size wise they took the estimated speed of the train and how long to go arounda whole circuit. With the speed of the train and how long it took to get through each 2nd. Would give you the numbers with the right knowledge of math. Now we have computers for all of that.

ok, thanks to all who answered. i will sleep better tonight...

Brad.. my answer was completely sarcastic. I hope you realize that.