Arkive – In the Mail – Switchback (1906)

Created by LaMarcus Thompson, the Switchback Railway concept debuted in Coney Island in 1884. This comic postcard sent from Blackpool in June 1906 shows the Pleasure Beach ride, that actually pre-dated the Pleasure Beach itself.

Although it could be construed that the placement of the trains is for comic effect, the nature of the ride meant that two vehicles would pass each other on parallel tracks.

Eventually, the Switchback gave way to the Big Dipper.