Rollercoaster's last run

[kevinashe]

If rumour has it,the rollercoaster at blackpool pleasure beach has had its last run today and looks like its going to be demolished in the future.Sad that the uk could lose another classic woodie on top of other losses over the previous years and possibly enough to stop me returning to the park if it goes ahead.

[EAS]

[Marky66]

Hopefully it's just rumours about the Rollercoaster and not that fool Amanda going mad with the wrecking ball!
This was a message from Justin Garvanovic (founder of the ECC and pretty much in the know) on the ECC mailing list.......................................................................

As I understand it - and I hope I am right - the RC will be opened when
other coasters are down - which is why it's been open up to now because of the Grand National...

So, I am hopeful this is not its last day.


Email all soon,

Justin.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Only open when other stuff is down? That stand-by status isn't fantastic.
Says "Not willing to maintain it full time...."

[sullee]

if it is closing and being demolished, couldnt it be saved by the trust for relocation to dreamland?? just a thought like cos surely having a couple of woodies at dreamland would make it more appealing to people??

[EAS]

It really, really needs to stay where it has been for decades, alongside this country's finest collection of woodies. In order to move it, it really would have to be demolished = cost horrific I suspect, and it's pretty big. Dreamland Heritage Park as planned hasn't vast amounts of space.

There will be the Scenic and the Morecambe then Pleasureland Wild Mouse woodies at Dreamland (all fingers crossed...)

[faro]

can't believe anyone in their right mind would consider getting rid of a ride as significant as the roller coaster at blackpool.
it has a great deal of historic value and is highly thought of by many.
looking at whats happened to many of the resorts around the country should be a wake up call to the pleasure beach owners to protect and promote what they already have.
its quite unique to have so many 'woodies' in a single park,and all good ones at that.
i certainly won't go back to bpb if they start destroying their heritage!

[EAS]

Yes, we thought that about Cyclone, then the rest of Pleasureland, but she did it there and no doubt can do it at Blackpool also...

[kevinashe]

its safety inspection is up in june,hopefully it will be reinspected and passed as it has had a lot of work done on the hill lift in previous years.I am bemused and amazed that one of the busiest coasters isnt operating although you cant rule out the possibility of a new ride being built and the sceptic in me says its too much of a coincidence the rollercoaster and ice drome are both closed and the only thing seperating them is the watson street underpass

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Well, start contacting whoever's important all the way to the top to be sure she lets the trust get it if at all possible. It'll be expensive to dismantle and move, but left unchecked, she'll simply knock it down.

[EAS]

I can't see that there would be any room at Dreamland for it.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Oh, you'd be surprised where one will fit. Replace some base wood with a few steel arch supports, and it can span a midway or small building easily, and still retain its charm.
We'd have to see a scale aerial view and try to superimpose it.
It would be very worth redrawing the park if a second woody could be retained.

[cliffc]

Well, start contacting whoever's important all the way to the top to be sure she lets the trust get it if at all possible. It'll be expensive to dismantle and move, but left unchecked, she'll simply knock it down.

Hi Jim

The only person who is Important in this is Amanda Thompson and to be honest you might as well talk to the wood in the coater than talk to her, if she has made the decision to remove it then it will be removed (see the Cyclone story), the coaster in question is a large one and the Dreamland site is not that large I think it would be a struggle to find space for it, even if it can be removed at all.

Allthough its is by no means confermed this coaster is to be removed thay have done much work on it and from all reports the ride is running and performing much better than ever. It was opened in the early part of the season to provde an extra ride in place of the Grand National which was not ready to be openend, and from reports on other Pleasure Beach web sites the National has not been working 100% since it opened, as far as i know Rollercoaster had no downtime at all during its breaf opening this season so there is still hope for the old girl yet. June is the crunch time if thay re-certyfy the ride then its possible its not going to be demolished, however if thay dont then demolition could well be on the cards.

Cliff C

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

I was all over the Cyclone disaster. As I've done here, I sent money and well written letters to all the key players, Including Miss Thompson.

[kevinashe]

although the rollercoaster is standing but not operating i dont think its in immediate threat and it will interesting to see if the safety certificate is renewed and if it isnt then it a whole different ball game.Also sbno is noahs ark which is rumoured to be getting turned into a museum,whether is just the space below the ride i dont know but i would class this as a much more historic ride and possible to get listed,what do you think eas.