Over the past few years launch coasters have been popping up everywhere. Rides like VelociCoaster, Hagrid’s Magical Creature Motorbike Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and Tron, are all magnetic launch coasters – as are many other rides around the world. But, how do they work, and why are they so popular, and will we see more in the future?

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Credits:
Coaster Studios: https://www.youtube.com/c/CoasterStudios
Theme Park Family World Wide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYPsuCB2XAA
Pixie Dust: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmdbPCAxP2Y
dlrpfans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPz5F_onkWI
The Coaster Scoop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD90dM1rYYE
The Coaster Spot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96l1HNnWf1w
Canobie Coaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a85_d3Auys8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxhet3DaOwo

00:00 Introduction
01:21 LIMs explained
03:45 LSMs explained
06:02 Why did magnetic launches catch on?

28 Comments

  1. LIMs & LSMs are both popular magnetic systems used for roller coasters when the train launches! Some coasters used this when the train hits the brakes when the ride ends! Great video Coaster Bot! You help us learn about roller coasters more than ever! Please keep it up! 👍👍👍

  2. Came back from Phantasialand a couple of weeks back – FLY will be my favourite coaster for a long, long time.

  3. LSMs are cool, but nothing beats an Intamin hydraulic launch for absolute power, except for S&S air launches (which are a lot more rare)

  4. Hooray for this Coasterbot video on the best noise in Theme Parks. I love a hydraulic launch, I know it's harder and more forceful but that NOISE of a magnetic launch is amazing.

  5. How do you explain the catch cars on the Vekoma LSM Launch Coasters: Rock N' Rollercoaster (and Xpress: Platform 13, which is the same ride, but outdoors with a few less blockbrakes). ? Since now it seems like the Catch Car is not needed with LSM technique?

  6. LSM launches certainly seem to be the future and I'm all for it…however, you cant beat the intensity of a hydraulic launch. Coasterbot – quickly becoming the encyclopedia for all things theme park related. Superb content. 👍

  7. Sounds good but, there's something special about the ANTICIPATION of the climb UP the hill before the drop. Launch coasters are hella' fun, but it feels more like a quickie than a long, intense sex session, if you konw what I mean. That feeling in my stomach as I hang in the balance as the coaster slowly begins to drop over, or the beautiful view on the way up, that feeling that you can touch the sky and overlook the scenery. The calm before the storm, than BOOM!

    There's a place for launch coasters, no doubt. BUT BUT BUT! Theme parks mustn't be so tempted to make EVERY coaster a launch coaster. It's the same reason wooden coasters have a special place in my heart next to steel coasters. That "rikety rikety" feeling is unmatched. Fun is fun, and the "build up" coasters as well as the "fast paced caosters" are both neccessary additions. Some parks realize that variety is best, not a one-size-fits all kind of coaster, such as Cedar Point. They just "get it".

  8. Best explanation of this I've seen. Never realized the magnetic field itself had motion.

  9. Man awesome video! Was curious as to why you didn't mention a bit more about the unique launches of top thrill dragster and kingda ka however. It seems dragster may be going to the LSM launch next season.

  10. Thanks, always wanted to know more about these magnetic launches, awesome video and explanation. Please keep making more of these explained videos, I love them.

  11. They should try to make Top Thrill Dragster a LSM… The ride were more down than running and now after the incident, it's only the park's point of reference.

  12. Parks also like how they usually have a smaller footprint since you don’t have to have a massive lift hill to get to quite a high speed, the lack of a lift hill being particularly attractive to parks like Phantasialand who have issues with height restrictions.

    Great video!

  13. Thank you for this video! I've been watching you other video about launches, but I couldn't really understand the difference. This video helped me a lot!

  14. Omg is this Lenz's Law?? A-Level Physics actually being useful lol

    Anyway thanks Harry, very informative!

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