Mourning the Passing of An Engineering Legend

[CoasterMatt]

http://www.siliconvalley.com/opinion/ci_11176068

Karl Bacon, co-founder of Arrow passes away.

You might not know the name, but you've certainly experienced his genius - Matterhorn Bobsleds, virtually every dark ride in Fantasyland, Pirates of the Caribbean - all featuring ride systems created by Karl Bacon and Ed Morgan. Bob Gurr designed the Autopia cars, Karl and Ed designed the system for the single rail guide.

If you get a chance, check out the book "Rollercoasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers" - there's some great construction pics of old Disneyland favorites, it's amazing what these two contributed.

[Gemini Cricket]

[RStar]

With a name like bacon he must have been a real special person.

And many of us will enjoy his work for a long, long time. Thank you, Mr. Bacon!

[lashbear]

I have footage of him being interviewed in the Vincent Price doco "America Screams" - he speaks about the Log Flume & Runaway Mine Train at 6 Flags over Texas (which I had the pleasure of riding in person with Stoat in 2002...) and then goes on the corkscrew etc etc. I love Arrow rides, even if some coaster sites don't !!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

[Snowflake]

Very sad cheese.

Thanks for many things, but for the Matterhorn, a special thanks, indeedy!