Mountain coaster
A mountain coaster or alpine coaster is a gravity driven amusement ride with bobsled-like cars on tracks installed on a mountain. It is similar to alpine slides where a low-wheeled sled is used to navigate the track, but instead of running over a smooth concave tracks like the alpine slide, alpine coasters run on rails with up-stop wheels like roller coasters. Thus, an alpine coaster is safer and faster than an alpine slide, as it is prevented from overturning when going too fast on a curve. Tracks are tubular rails, like a steel roller coasters, while some have monorail-type tracks. Unlike a roller coaster, the rider has the capability to control the car's speed with its rider-controlled brake system. Alpine coasters can also operate year-round, even through light rain and snow.
Safety features, speed, tracks and layout vary by manufacturer. Leading makers of mountain coasters (with trade marks in parenthesis) include Wiegand (Alpine Coaster), Brandauer (Summer Toboggan), Alpine Products (Alpine Mountain Coaster), and Erbschloe Fun Construct (Rolba Bob).