Every mine train coaster on Earth — every rickety ore cart that has ever rattled through a fake gold mine — traces its lineage back to one ride in Arlington, Texas. Runaway Mine Train at Six Flags Over Texas opened on July 23, 1966, as the world’s first mine train roller coaster, and it has been running ever since.
Built by Arrow Development for $1 million, the Mine Train is the oldest roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas and one of the most influential steel coasters ever constructed. Its tubular steel rails — a design in the same family as Disneyland’s Matterhorn Bobsleds — helped define what modern steel coasters would become.
Key Stats
| Height | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Speed | 35 mph (56 km/h) |
| Length | 2,400 ft (730 m) |
| Lift hills | 3 |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 3 minutes, 10 seconds |
| Riders per hour | 2,010 |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Development |
| Opened | July 23, 1966 |
| Cost | $1 million |
The Ride That Invented a Genre
In the mid-1960s, Six Flags Over Texas wanted a family thrill ride themed to the region’s frontier history. Arrow Development answered with a compact steel coaster styled as a runaway string of mine carts — and accidentally created one of the most copied ride concepts in the industry. Dozens of mine trains followed at parks around the world, but this is the original.
The American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) recognized that legacy in September 2006, designating Runaway Mine Train an ACE Coaster Landmark — a status reserved for rides of genuine historical significance.
Three Lifts, One Saloon and an Underwater Tunnel
The Mine Train’s layout is unusual: instead of one big drop, it uses three separate chain lift hills to keep the pace up across 2,400 feet of twisting track. The second lift climbs through a themed rock crusher building, and the third rises into the “Ace Hotel and Saloon” — named in 1974 for longtime ride supervisor John “Ace” Cocharo — where riders roll past a saloon scene before the finale.
That finale is the ride’s signature: a 150-foot curving tunnel that plunges beneath the park’s Caddo Lake, billed as the world’s first underwater coaster tunnel. At 3 minutes and 10 seconds, the full journey is longer than many modern hyper-coasters — see how it compares on our list of theme park rides with the longest ride times.
Why It Still Matters
Runaway Mine Train tops out at just 35 mph, but speed was never the point. It is a masterclass in pacing, theming and family-friendly thrills — and at nearly 60 years old, it still moves over 2,000 riders per hour on three 30-passenger trains. For anyone who cares about coaster history, this is required riding.
FAQ
Was Runaway Mine Train really the first mine train coaster?
Yes. When it opened at Six Flags Over Texas on July 23, 1966, it was the world’s first mine train roller coaster, and it inspired the entire genre of mine-themed coasters that followed at parks worldwide.
How fast is the Runaway Mine Train?
The Runaway Mine Train reaches 35 mph (56 km/h) across 2,400 feet (730 m) of track, using three chain lift hills instead of a single big drop. The ride lasts about 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
Does the Runaway Mine Train really go underwater?
The track itself passes through a 150-foot curving tunnel built beneath the park’s Caddo Lake — promoted as the world’s first underwater coaster tunnel. Riders stay dry the whole way.
Photo: Martin Lewison via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)