Joyland Books

Whilst taking a few pictures on site Sunday , i was told that the Scenic train and the Dodgems should arrive on sit at some point this week.

Sounds great.
Role them out!

I heard the dodgems were, will be good to see the trains! All coming together now =D

Alas no, from the Dreamland Facebook page, posted earlier today...

Unfortunately the trains for the Scenic Railway restoration project won’t be finished in time for our grand opening day. If you have already bought tickets, please don’t worry, these will still be valid for the day you booked and you will be given a second ticket to come back absolutely free once the Scenic Railway project has completed. The date of this will be announced soon.
While this is disappointing news, we’re pleased to say that it is the only delay and all of the other 17 restored, up-cycled and retro-fitted rides and amusements will be fully operational! Not to mention the Roller Disco, Pleasure Gardens, arcades and side shows from the golden age of the British seaside. Be one of the first!

Recently posted on Twitter, I hope CNC Woodwork won't mind if I repost here... THE DRAGONS!

Thanks for posting that.

It looks as I'd they've got different noses between the two. That would make sense in that on Bert and Ernie that they borrowed there's a repair on one of them. I'd assumed they'd mirror the unrepaired one or merge the 3D scan data. Maybe it's just that photo though.

Looking forward to seeing them now.

Whilst we're on Dragon's progress I've included another in progress shot of the Dragons as well. You may need to click it to see all of it.

Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about.

Since the dragons' heads are purely decoration and don't actually serve any mechanical purpose, I can't quite understand why the Scenic Railway can't run without them. I really am beginning to smell the most enormous rat here.

Is there any truth in the rumour that the company originally contracted to build the trains has gone into administration?

Busheyfields : WGH Transportation Engineering won the £0.9m contract to provide trains and some elements of the track. I can't find anything on the web that indicates they've gone into administration, it may purely be someone's guess at why the Scenic hasn't opened unless you've seen anything more definitive.

Vince : I believe it's less to do with the Dragon's themselves and more to do with the new train design in it's entirety needing to be approved/signed off. As the trains are new they now need to meet modern safety standards. This signoff was applied for very late according to FOI documents (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tjf8rw306viq ... Ydlxa?dl=0) - Something like the 22nd May 2015 rings a bell.

The specialist firm building the trains appears still to be in operation.

http://www.wghltd.co.uk/roller-coasters.php

I dont think the Scenic is going to get to this stage and not have any trains. I guess there are always going to be delays building something from pictures and the burnt rusty remains of the old Scenic trains. Yes if a company goes into Administration its going to cause a bigger delay but thats now part of every day life.The days of Godden and Toby Hunter are long gone, we have to show some faith in Sands they have moved mountains to get the park open. If you havnt been yet go its great it is loved and run with such passion and needs our support , yes they have problem and people picking at it does not help Dreamland.

And while the trains don't form part of the II* listing, as not 'fixtures', they are running on a VERY important heritage structure. Listed II*. It's all part of the package.

Let's remember that's how it has been saved, and that's how heritage and lottery cash has been made available, it isn't any old roller coaster. People can be sniffy about 'heritage', but that's the reason Dreamland isn't stuffed full of houses now.

Funders and Historic England I'm sure will wish to see the ride fully up to spec with the dragons, so lets be patient.

Doesn't look like it will be too long now before it's thrilling yet another generation, with a brakeman at the helm.

And I agree, there are bound to be teething problems at Dreamland, it's been a massive undertaking in a short space of time. I see the Octopus Garden for kiddies opened at the weekend, and I gather it's very good.

So all praise to Sands Heritage and Dreamland Trust, and I look forward to riding the Scenic Railway very soon.

I agree, I just wish we could get a definitive statement as to when the Scenic Railway will be running. I don't think that's unreasonable.

When the trains are ready and it's all been passed by funders & tested for safety I suppose. And of course when the brakeman gets his special new SatNav...

I don't think it will be too long. Track & machinery all looking amazing.