With the release of 31142 Space Roller Coaster, Blocks is taking a look back at every LEGO roller coaster so far.
LEGO bricks and roller coasters are conceptually perfect for each other, as the endless creative options of the LEGO System make it possible to create some truly incredible roller coaster designs. Yet for the longest time, it seemed as if the two would never cross paths, even as fans kept asking for a roller coaster set.
When 41130 Amusement Park Roller Coaster was released in 2016, with a rather uninteresting roller coaster using recoloured train tracks, any hope of a proper LEGO roller coaster seemed lost. But then the LEGO Group shocked fans in 2018 with 10261 Roller Coaster. Since then, three more full roller coasters have been released, each with their own unique theme and design. Blocks, the monthly LEGO magazine, traces the history of LEGO roller coasters.
10261 Roller Coaster
The LEGO Group went big with the first ever roller coaster, releasing the 4,124 piece 10261 Roller Coaster in 2018. The coaster has a fairly traditional design, with a handful of hills and turns squeezed into an ovoid shape. The white supports and red track complement each other nicely, making for a pleasantly simple design. A variety of minifigures complete the scene, and they’re given two sets of cars to ride the coaster. 10261 may not be as wild as some of the later designs, but it’s an incredibly solid first outing for LEGO roller coasters.
31084 Pirate Roller Coaster
2018 marked the beginning of the roller coaster age with not one, but two models. The second was much more affordable than 10261 and came with a much smaller piece count, clocking it at only 923 pieces. 31084 Pirate Roller Coaster made roller coasters more accessible and did so with a fun theme for the ride. Pirate decorations are all over the track, from a skull for riders to pass under to a wrecked pirate ship wrapping around the track. The ticket window is built to be reminiscent of sets from the original LEGO Pirates theme, such as 6276 Eldorado Fortress. The two alternate builds feature other rides using the track in creative ways, although the main model is easily the standout of the set. 31084 was an excellent introduction to LEGO roller coasters at a smaller scale.
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10303 Loop Coaster
It took five years for another roller coaster to be released, but the wait proved to be well worth it. The striking design of 10303 Loop Coaster was a great contrast to 10261, both in track layout and colour. The dark blue and yellow are a wonderful combination, and the sheer height of the coaster make it an eye-catching build no matter where it goes on display. Minifigures ride up to the top not with a chain on the track, but rather with an elevator that places them right at the top of the vertical drop that leads down towards the double loops.
31142 Space Roller Coaster
31142 Space Roller Coaster once again provides a more affordable option for roller coaster fans. The main model comes packed with fun details, including a rocket ship, moon base and rover. A new track colour fits the space theme perfectly, as does the space shuttle design used for the cars. The set even comes with the fan-favourite baby Space figure. The alternate models unfortunately don’t make use of the track, but still offer some well-designed rides for your minifigures to enjoy.
Roller Coasters are still a relatively new addition to the LEGO lineup, but with four amazing sets already released, there’s bound to be more amazing coasters on the way.