Lift hill

The initial upward-sloping section of a roller coaster track is usually a lift hill, as the train typically begins a ride with little speed, though some coasters have raised stations that permit an initial drop without a lift hill.

Anti-rollback dogs engage a rack (ratcheted track) alongside the chain to prevent the train from descending the lift hill.

[1] This type of lift has also been used for Kings Dominion's Pantherian, Holiday Park's Expedition GeForce, Walibi Holland's Goliath, Djurs Sommerland's Piraten (Europe's only "Mega-Lite"-model coaster by Intamin), Tokyo Dome City's Thunder Dolphin, Hersheypark's Skyrush, Flying Aces at Ferrari World, and Altair at Cinecittà World.

Currently, there are only two wooden roller coasters that utilize a cable lift hill: El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure and T Express at Everland.

El Toro was the first coaster to incorporate a turn between the station and the cable lift hill and was the first (and so far only) of this type to engage the catch car while the train is moving.

[5] The Mack Rides-built Matterhorn Blitz at Europa Park was the first to use a two-track system with a single shaft.

This design has not been made yet; the only places where this occurs are in the video games RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, Thrillville Off the Rails and Coaster Crazy.

The Chinese company Golden Horse has made several unofficial recreations, each featuring a less than vertical drop and significantly different track elements.

[7] The familiar "click-clack" sound that occurs as a roller coaster train ascends the lift hill is not caused by the chain itself.

The anti-rollback device is a standard safety feature, typically consisting of a continuous, saw-toothed, section of metal, forming a linear ratchet.

Under the power of a stationary steam engine, railway cars were drawn up two uphill planes that had two slightly different early forms of this anti-rollback device.