Joyland Books

I thought people might be interested in this page, which is about the restoration of "Leap-the-Dips" in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Built in 1902, and restored in 1999, it is described as being the World's oldest roller coaster.

http://www.ridezone.com/rides/coasters/leapthedips/

Vince, Charlie and Sam

Wow! It looks like they have done a wonderful job restoring the ride - the before images are really sad, but what a difference.

Thanks for the link Vince.

Vince.
(Confused yet?)

That's quite an old site...it talks about the ride being ready for the 1999 season.

I rode it in 2001, and what a marvellous ride it is. Apparently it is closed again at the moment due to some more refurbishment work...some friends visited the park last month and were disappointed that the coaster was closed.

When you ride it you really feel you are riding a bit of history...I suppose it is like riding the Scenic Railway then!

David.

It is an amzing ride , more so for its age. I always think when I ride the scenic , what must it have been like riding it in the 1930's when cars and aeroplanes were not about in such large numbers . It must have felt really fast, but now with the taller and faster rides it just doesn't have the same impact.

Back in the 1920s, they used to have four sets running at once on the Scenic Railway, without lapbars or seatbelts

I was once on the ride with Charlie and Sam, and there were a couple of teenage lads in front of us. They were talking about other coasters they had been on.

"The ones at Alton Towers are faster" said one of them knowingly "but the thing is, this one is really dangerous"

I didn't correct them. I know all about ADIPS, I have a fairly good mechanical grounding, I wouldn't take my children on a dangerous ride.

But the thing is, it creates the illusion of danger. It is wooden, it has a character of its own, it creaks and rattles, it rides differently every time you go on it, depending whether it is hot or cold, dry or wet. Steel coasters, fun though they are, don't do this.

My ideal scenario would be Dreamland remaining open, but with the Scenic Railway owned and operated by a preservation society, and restored to its former glory.

Vince, Charlie and Sam

Have to agree with you there Vince. I have ridden over 400 Roller Coasters now, and all my favourites are made of Wood. The Leap the Dips was saved and restored by donations. I am not sure about the finances? but it was something like a $100 for a foot of track, I know that the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain owns part of the track. It sounds like a great way to raise funds, with that in mind .How long is the Scenic?

It's about 1200 feet I believe, although someone else could probably give you a more precise figure. Certainly I think that if the Scenic Railway was operated along the same lines as, for example, preserved railways, that many people, myself included, would pitch in to help.

The problem of course is that the Scenic Railway is not in trouble because it cannot be maintained- it is in danger because the owner positively does not want it to remain- he feels that it would be in his own financial best interest for a supermarket, casino, or housing to be developed on the site.


This is the only reason Dreamland is under threat, and for this reason it is essential that the Council refuse permission for any change of use.

Hi Vince the length is approx 3/4 of a mile.

I thought that man might know!

Isn't 1200 feet almost the same as 3/4 mile?

Vince.

Oops, sorry, a typo on my part- I meant yards, not feet!


A search of the net gives the track length as 3757 ft which is 1252 yards and one foot. Which is just a tad under three-quarters of a mile (1320 yards) as Dave said...




Source www.bannister.org/coasters/parks/dreamland.htm


Vince

Hi Vince

Another interesting thread you have started! I am deeply appreciative of your continuous informed and measured contributions - thank you!

I was intrigued to read your comment regarding four trains running. I have been taking the occasional ride on the Great Yarmouth coaster for many years. They have five trains - I believe all still functional - and one of the regular brakemen told me that in its heyday, Albert Botton would have all five running at once. Although the track is reputed to be 1 mile long there is only one lift hill so controlling five trains at different points would surely have required military precision!

On the matter of the oldest coaster, I have just returned from a visit to Copenhagen where I had the good fortune to take one ride on the "original" at Tivoli reputed to date from 1905 - have you tried it?
It was like a cross between the Scenic and the wonderful old Racing Coaster (complete with long tunnel) from the glory days of early 1960s Margate - simple safety bars, lots of children riding freely, choose your seat and it went like a rocket with loads of "whip" ( I think the aficianados call it airtime today) - just like the old yellow train on the Scenic!

Best wishes, Antony

PS I also once had a Rolls Canardly!

Hello Antony, thanks for your comments.

As I understand it (and I am more than willing to stand corrected), when the Scenic Railway had four sets out on the track, there was a "spotter" who sat in an elevated position above the ride in a watchtower where he could see all of the track and give a warning if anything went amiss.

Other people have mentioned a colour-light signalling system around the track used in later years- I cannot remember this myself.

There is a simple signalling system used on the Scenic Railway. As the set leaves the station, it runs over a sensor which turns on the flashing red light suspended above the track. This remains red until the set passes another sensor, whereupon it changes to a white flashing light, and another set can be sent out. I believe the second sensor is positioned on the second pull-up but Dave 771 is the man who would know for definite.

I once went to Copenhagen in the truck I drive for a living, but unfortunately this was a fortnight before Tivoli opened for the season, so I had to make do with a look at the Little Mermaid statue instead. Quite why this became the symbol of Copenhagen when they have a beautiful roller-coaster they could have used instead is beyond me........

The Rolls Canardly- pictured below- passed its MOT this week so it looks as if I'm lumbered with it for another year.......











Vince

Hi All,

just a quick reply regarding the spotter on the scenic, there used to be a booth situated at the bottom of the second pull up where the last dip is, who according to John Husband used to control the lights around the track so brakemen knew if it was safe to continue on the track should a problem of came up, there were at one time six working trains on the Margate Scenic and to my knowledge it had five on the track at any one time.

There are five sensors on the track which are as follows, one on leaving the station, one on first lift, one on second lift, one after last dip behind workshop and one coming in to the station. the first sensor activates the lights to red and will change to white as train activates sensor on second lift to allow another train out, the ones on the lifts are mainly to tell if a train is stuck on the lifts somewhere as there is a set amount of time to get from one sensor to the next. If the trains do not reach certain points within that time the alarm on the station will sound and cut the power off as an added safety device.

As some of you may have heard the expression "belling out" on the scenic from myself Simon or John, this is when the train has stopped on the track somewhere and the alarm has sounded, so if the Scenic has belled out when you have been there you now know what it means!

a quick message for dave 771.............RING ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

At one time, whenever the Scenic "belled out" it meant I was driving!

Sarah