I was wording what type of eductaion would you need to become a coaster mechinic and where would you go to get this education and is the pay someone could make a living off of. Thank you for you post

you're not alone, i am looking for the same thing, can anyone help us out?

Well I plan to go to college to become an engineer and design roller coasters. In the design phase there is usually three types of engineers involved. The structural engineer is the one who designs the track and supports. The mechanical engineer will design vehicles and restraints along with some work in the safety systems design. The electrical engineer is the one who designs all of the electrical systems and safety features, like brakes, blocking ect. I plan to become a structural engineer and do track and support layouts. I'm also getting a minor in architecture, in case the coaster thing doesn't work out.

I think Engineers do pretty good.... they make a good living!

Your best bet would be mechanical engineering. You'll also have to be very smart and most likely have to have an in somewhere. Rollercoaster companies are very small. Sometimes there is only 12 employees that work for one coaster company.

Edited January 1, 197056 yr by mars1825

Your best bet would be mechanical engineering. You'll also have to be very smart and most likely have to have an in somewhere.

Not necessarily. Doing very little research on the web will turn up all kinds of info for those interested in building coasters. Not to mnetion, that design work is only a small part of the coaster company. Most companies build thier own trains, so the only thing that gets subbed out for the most part is track construction. Visit Arrow dynamics at this link, if you want to know more about a coaster career. http://www.arrowdynamics.com/faq/index.php?D=1

Thanks for the link but you dont get what I was asking I would like to be like a maitance man that upkeeps the rides so I would work for the park and not the actually rollercoaster manfucator.

Well you can start by learning mechanics and then get a job at the park.... then work your way up the ranks to be a great mechanic.

I was intrested in the smae career. I was intrested in becoming a mechanic for Cedar Point. To become one for Cedar Point you have to join the Union, I am not sure if the same applys for PKi though.

I was interested in a ride operator and have always wanted to know if you have to have a special training or anything?

I was interested in a ride operator and have always wanted to know if you have to have a special training or anything?

Are you talking of the ride operator position like a lot of people on this site have? Cause anyone can do it, you just have to apply.

Edited January 1, 197056 yr by matt3224

Oh ok I'm sorry I didn't think that you did but I was just being curious.

So structural engineers figure out the track layout? I always thought it was mechanical! Structural is for me!

yeah i would like to be a structural as well. But a maintenence person for a park would be cool also, i think that's what i want to do.

Most of the wood coaster maintenance guys at pki were all union carpenters at one time. you don't need to go to college, just join a union carpentry company and learn the trade, then you can switch over to wood coasters. Just my .02

oh cool. That would be pretty cool to do, carpentary is a pretty neat thing to do. If you need that in maintenance i guess i could do that, but i still have a few years left before i do that.