Chain Lift – This is the most traditional way of getting the train to move up the lift hill. They resemble a bike chain or long conveyor belt and are responsible for the clacking sound that's heard when going up a hill. Catapult-launch Lift – This is another way of moving the train up a hill in newer roller coasters.

The structural components that hold up a roller coaster are primarily called Supports or A-frames. On modern steel coasters, these consist of massive steel columns or "Beams" that are bolted into reinforced concrete footings known as "Piles" or "Footers." The track itself is attached to these supports via "Ledgers" and "Cross-ties" which provide the lateral and vertical stability needed to handle high G-forces. For older wooden coasters, the support structure is a complex "Lattice" or "Trestle" design made of thousands of pressure-treated southern yellow pine beams, which provide the iconic "creaky" flexibility that wooden-coaster fans love. In 2026, engineering firms like B&M and Intamin utilize "box-beam" supports for their silent, smooth performance. These supports are not just "poles"; they are precision-engineered to flex slightly under the weight of the train, distributing the kinetic energy safely into the ground to ensure the coaster can run for decades without structural fatigue.