It was Dame Judi Dench who once said, “Remember how easy it was to learn your ABC’s? Thank the Phoenicians, they invented them.” Spaceship Earth references aside, we wanted to examine all of the world’s operating roller coasters (sorry, no alpine coasters on this list) and determine some of the fastest coasters that begin with each letter of the alphabet. If nothing else, it can be an interesting way for coaster enthusiasts to teach coaster enthusiasts in training the alphabet!
Our first list was the oldest by each letter, posted back in August — and this next installment will span the globe while reaching speeds of nearly 150mph, as we highlight the fastest operating coaster that starts with each respective letter of the alphabet.
A is for Apollo’s Chariot
Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA)
Top Speed: 73mph
Since opening in 1999, Apollo’s Chariot has finished inside the Top 10 for Best Steel Roller coaster voting in every year except two. (1999: 20th, and 2017: 11th)
B is for Bullet Coaster
Park: Happy Valley (Guangdong, China)
Top Speed: 83mph
While Bullet Coaster is printed in English on the coaster’s sign, the Chinese characters on its sign, 雪域雄鹰, translates to “Tibetan Eagle” according to RCDB. (or “Snow Eagle,” according to Google Translate.)
C is for Coaster Through the Clouds
Park: Nanchang Sunac Land (Xinjian, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China)
Top Speed: 84.5mph
Coaster Through the Clouds features a cable lift hill, and is currently the tallest and fastest roller coaster in China.
D is for Do-Dodonpa
Park: Fuji-Q Highland (Japan)
Top Speed: 111.8mph
Do-Dodonpa’s iconic top hat (pictured above) was replaced with a vertical loop between 2016 and 2017. It is the first air-powered roller coaster to feature an inversion.
E is for Extreme Rusher
Park: Happy Valley (Beijing, China)
Top Speed: 83mph
While Extreme Rusher operates at a different Happy Valley park, it appears the speed limit for the entire chain is 83mph, the same speed as Bullet Coaster at Happy Valley Guangdong.
F is for Formula Rossa
Park: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates)
Top Speed: 149.1mph
Formula Rossa is the fastest roller coaster in the world, but would lose a race to the car that inspired it. Ferrari’s “LaFerrari” can reach speeds of 220mph (though videos exist of a LaFerrari exceeding 230mph.)
G is for Goliath
Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)
Top Speed: 85mph
While it might look like that Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Goliath is designed by renowned designers Bolliger & Mabillard, it was actually one of three coasters designed by now defunct design company Giovanola.
H is for Hyperion
Park: Energylandia (Poland)
Top Speed: 88.2mph
Hyperion was allegedly almost constructed by Vekoma, as Energylandia asked park guests to choose between Vekoma and Intamin, who would eventually build the ride.
I is for Intimidator 305
Park: Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA)
Top Speed: 90mph
Start your Engines! Intimidator 305 is named and themed for legendary racecar driver Dale Earnhardt!
J is for Junker
Park: Powerland (Finland)
Top Speed: 64.9mph
Junker opened in 2015 and was the third-ever Infinity Coaster built by Gerstlauer. Powerland also has the most recently opened Infinity Coaster, Pitts Special.
K is for Kingda Ka
Park: Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)
Top Speed: 128mph
Kingda Ka is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the United States. A triple drop tower, Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom, is attached to the structure and is currently the tallest drop tower in the world. (415′)
L is for Leviathan
Park: Canada’s Wonderland (Ontario, Canada)
Top Speed: 92mph
Leviathan was the first ever “Giga Coaster” constructed by Bolliger & Mabillard, and remains one of just three built by the company.
M is for Millennium Force
Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
Top Speed: 93mph
Millennium Force is one of two non-launched Giga Coasters from Intamin, and was constructed 10 years prior to the next one, Intimidator 305.
N is for Nitro
Park: Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)
Top Speed: 80mph
According to Wikipedia, Nitro’s station music is a remix of the Mortal Kombat theme song. Ready? Fight!
O is for Orion
Park: Kings Island (Mason, OH)
Top Speed: 91mph
Orion was built on the land where Firehawk once stood. The park’s X-Base area was renamed “Area 72,” and a new backstory was created for the area.
P is for Phantom’s Revenge
Park: Kennywood (West Mifflin, PA)
Top Speed: 85mph
Phantom’s Revenge reaches its top speed on its second drop as opposed to its first, diving 225′ through Thunderbolt into the park’s ravine.
Q is for Quantum Leap
Park: Sochi Park (Russia)
Top Speed: 65.6mph
Quantum Leap is one of just three Giant Inverted Boomerangs from Vekoma to still operate within the park in which it was originally built.
R is for Red Force
Park: Ferrari Land (Spain)
Top Speed: 111.8mph
With a height under 400′, Red Force became the tallest and fastest giga coaster in the world when it opened in 2017.
S is for Superman: Escape from Krypton
Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)
Top Speed: 100mph
Superman: Escape from Krypton was once known as Superman: The Escape. Riders now face backwards on the track during launch instead of forwards, resulting in looking down while coming back to Earth.
T is for Top Thrill Dragster
Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
Top Speed: 120mph
Top Thrill Dragster reaches its top speed of 120mph in just 4 seconds with its hydraulic launch.
U is for Ukko
Park: Linnanmäki (Finland)
Top Speed: 65.3mph
Ukko translates to “Old Man” in English. In reality, Ukko just turned 10 in 2021!
V is for Valravn
Park: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
Top Speed: 75mph
Valravn was the 100th roller coaster installation for Bolliger and Mabillard. If you look at the track from a certain angle, it spells Ohio. It’s never been “officially” confirmed if this was intentional.
W is for Wild Thing
Park: Valleyfair (Shakopee, MN)
Top Speed: 74mph
One of three Morgan hypercoasters at Cedar Fair parks, Wild Thing actually has the shortest drop of the three, resulting in a slightly slower top speed (74mph v. 75mph, according to RCDB). However, it’s the only one of the three to crack this list!
X is for Xcelerator
Park: Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, CA)
Top Speed: 82mph
Xcelerator was Intamin’s first ever hydraulic launch coaster, and replaced the short-lived Windjammer Surf Racers.
Y is for Yukon Striker
Park: Canada’s Wonderland (Ontario, Canada)
Top Speed: 80.8mph
While Valravn and Yukon Striker have the same maximum height of 223′, Yukon Striker’s first drop is an additional 31′ longer, making it the fastest Dive Coaster.
Z is for Zadra
Park: Energylandia (Poland)
Top Speed: 75.2mph
Zadra is the only roller coaster that’s not 100% steel on this list. It features three inversions, and actually opened ahead of schedule.
Now you know your ABC’s, and you learned with coasters’ speeds!
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