One Of The Earliest Rides, the Switchback Railroad, was Invented In 1888

The Switchback Railroad Ride was one of the earliest riding devices invented (in 1888. This ride predated George Ferris’s giant wheel, which he erected for the World’s Columbian Exposition (in 1893) by five years. As is evidenced by the smoke stack in its center, it was a steam-powered ride. It’s amazing how closely this ride, with just a few alterations, resembles a modern day Himalaya type ride.
As you can tell from the video below, the Switchback Railroad was different and portable compared to the Switchback Railway working off gravity.



