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Wooden Roller Coaster's Renovation

Published: March 12, 2013 at 9:50 a.m. PDT — Updated: March 12, 2013 at 9:51 a.m. PDT
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  • John Hinde, President of J.P. Hinde Enterprises, Inc. has been working on building, repairingand consulting on roller coasters since 1965 and is in charge of the 4th major renovation of 'The Coaster,' at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    John Hinde, President of J.P. Hinde Enterprises, Inc. has been working on building, repairingand consulting on roller coasters since 1965 and is in charge of the 4th major renovation of 'The Coaster,' at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Jack and Janine Karvia, of Tacoma, a husband wife team working on the renovation of the wooden roller coaster pound nails in the hot sun recently. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Jack and Janine Karvia, of Tacoma, a husband wife team working on the renovation of the wooden roller coaster pound nails in the hot sun recently. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Dan McCollum cuts pressure treated Long Leaf Southern Yellow Pine being used to rebuild the wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds built in 1935. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Dan McCollum cuts pressure treated Long Leaf Southern Yellow Pine being used to rebuild the wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds built in 1935. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • A weathered member of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, built in 1935, is slated for replacement during the classic coaster's $250,000 renovation. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    A weathered member of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds, built in 1935, is slated for replacement during the classic coaster's $250,000 renovation. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • A shadow roller coaster is cast along the backside of the Puyallup Fair as runners and motorist pass by. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    A shadow roller coaster is cast along the backside of the Puyallup Fair as runners and motorist pass by. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Rob Hogue of Graham and Jeremy Russell of Puyallup use a bucket lift to work on the renovation of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. The classic coaster, reaches a height of 55 feet at it's tallest and its cars reach a maximum speed of 50 mph at a angle of descent of 63 degrees. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Rob Hogue of Graham and Jeremy Russell of Puyallup use a bucket lift to work on the renovation of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. The classic coaster, reaches a height of 55 feet at it's tallest and its cars reach a maximum speed of 50 mph at a angle of descent of 63 degrees. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • The historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds is missing it's mid- section but don't worry. A total of 1400 lineal ft. of track and 45 new legs will be replaced this summer. The Puyallup Fair and Events Center is spending $250,000 dollars on it's forth major renovation of the coaster which will be complete by Fall of 2012. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    The historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds is missing it's mid- section but don't worry. A total of 1400 lineal ft. of track and 45 new legs will be replaced this summer. The Puyallup Fair and Events Center is spending $250,000 dollars on it's forth major renovation of the coaster which will be complete by Fall of 2012. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Jeremy Russell of Puyallup left, and Rob Hogue of Graham watch and wait as a ledger beam is hoisted by crane for them to install as part of the renovation of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Jeremy Russell of Puyallup left, and Rob Hogue of Graham watch and wait as a ledger beam is hoisted by crane for them to install as part of the renovation of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • This historic 1935 photo shows the crowds flocking to see the wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds when it opened. photo Courtesy of the Puyallup Fair. (UNKNOWN/Courtesy of Puyallup Fair)
    This historic 1935 photo shows the crowds flocking to see the wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds when it opened. photo Courtesy of the Puyallup Fair. (UNKNOWN/Courtesy of Puyallup Fair)
  • A detail shot shows how the wooden roller coaster is built. No less than 7 layers of wood are used to form the track bed on most of the structure with 8 or 9 layers in areas where more force is exerted. on the structure. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    A detail shot shows how the wooden roller coaster is built. No less than 7 layers of wood are used to form the track bed on most of the structure with 8 or 9 layers in areas where more force is exerted. on the structure. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • The steep pitch of the wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds makes it a challenge for construction workers. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    The steep pitch of the wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds makes it a challenge for construction workers. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Jeremy Russell of Puyallup left, and Rob Hogue of Graham use a bucket lift to work on the renovation of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. Built in 1935, the classic coaster is undergoing a $250,000 renovation and was deemed as a 'Ace Coaster Classic,' by the American Coaster Enthusiast organization. There are approx. 20 original wooden roller coasters left in the U.S. . (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Jeremy Russell of Puyallup left, and Rob Hogue of Graham use a bucket lift to work on the renovation of the historic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. Built in 1935, the classic coaster is undergoing a $250,000 renovation and was deemed as a 'Ace Coaster Classic,' by the American Coaster Enthusiast organization. There are approx. 20 original wooden roller coasters left in the U.S. . (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image
  • Jack Karvia, of Tacoma takes a break from the work of renovating 'The Coaster,' a classic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds built in 1935. This is Karvia's second time working on a major renovation of the coaster the last of which was in 1999. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE)
    Jack Karvia, of Tacoma takes a break from the work of renovating 'The Coaster,' a classic wooden roller coaster at the Puyallup Fairgrounds built in 1935. This is Karvia's second time working on a major renovation of the coaster the last of which was in 1999. (DEAN J. KOEPFLER/THE NEWS TRIBUNE) Buy this image

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