Big Dipper (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)

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Big Dipper
Big Dipper (Pleasure Beach, Blackpool) 02.jpg
Big Dipper
Pleasure Beach Resort
Location Pleasure Beach Resort
Coordinates 53°47′21″N3°03′25″W / 53.78917°N 3.05694°W / 53.78917; -3.05694
StatusOperating
Opening date23 August 1923;102 years ago (23 August 1923) [1]
Cost£25,000 (1922)
General statistics
Type Wood  – Out-and-back
Manufacturer William Strickler
Designer John A. Miller
Track layoutOut-and-back
Lift/launch system2 chain lift hills
Height65 ft (20 m)
Drop50 ft (15 m)
Length3,300 ft (1,000 m)
Speed40 mph (64 km/h)
Inversions 0
Duration2:28
Max vertical angle46°
G-force 3.7
Height restriction46 in (117 cm)
Trains2 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Big Dipper at RCDB

Big Dipper is a wooden out-and-back roller coaster at Pleasure Beach Resort (better known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach) in Blackpool, England. Originally built in 1923, its layout was extended in 1936. It was designated as a Grade II listed building on 19 April 2017. [2] Big Dipper is the second-oldest rollercoaster in England after Scenic Railway. [3]

Contents

History

Construction and expansion

The coaster was designed by John A. Miller, and opened on 23 August 1923. [1] It is located in the southwestern portion of the park. [4] It was extended in 1936 with arches over the south entrance of the park and additional drops by American engineer Charles Paige (whose work at Pleasure Beach Resort is all that survives of the 13 wooden coasters he is known to have built). British architect Joseph Emberton designed the ride's station. [3] [5]

Refurbishment

On 13 February 2010, Big Dipper reopened after months of refurbishment following an incident in August 2009. [6] The station was upgraded during this period of time: retracking was completed, a decorative water fountain was added, and the trains were repaired and repainted dark blue with new decorative decals on their sides. The handrails were replaced in 2014.

Characteristics

Manufacturer

Big Dipper was designed by John A. Miller at Krug Park in Nebraska in 1918, and built by William H. Strickler. [2] [3] [7] It cost £25,000 to construct.

Trains

The ride's trains were built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. It operates with two trains, each containing three four-row cars, seating two people per row, for a total of 24 riders per train. [3] Each row features a single lap bar which restrains all riders in the row.

Track

The track is 1,005.8 metres (3,300 ft) long and the lift hill is approximately 19.8 metres (65 ft) high, with a first drop of 15 metres (50 ft). [3] [2] It has a maximum vertical angle of 46 degrees, and subjects riders to a maximum of 3.7 Gs. It runs north-to-south. Big Dipper was the first coaster in England to feature upstop wheels, allowing for a steeper and faster experience. [7] The ride has top speeds of 64 km/h (40 mph). One cycle of the ride takes approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Incidents

Records

In August 1998, Richard Rodriguez set a world record by riding Big Dipper for over 1,000 hours. There is a plaque commemorating this event in the ride's station. Although he doubled this mark two years later to 2,000 hours, [12] Guinness World Records nullified the achievements by altering the rules in 2007, and Rodriguez instead set a new record on Big One. [13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Blackpool Pleasure Beach's Big Dipper rollercoaster turns 100". BBC News. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Historic England, "The Big Dipper (1436080)", National Heritage List for England , retrieved 21 April 2017
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Big Dipper (RCDB)". RCDB. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  4. ↑ Wood, Allan W. (2015). Blackpool : history tour. Stroud, Gloucestershire. ISBN   9781445646244 . Retrieved 15 June 2021.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ↑ Brodie, Allan; Bowdler, Roger (2017). "The designation of amusement parks and fairground rides in England". In Wood, Jason (ed.). The Amusement Park: History, Culture and the Heritage of Pleasure. New York: Routledge. p. 259. ISBN   9781472423726.
  6. ↑ "The Big Dipper". Blackpool: Pleasure Beach Resort.com. 6 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  7. 1 2 Kane, Josephine (2013). The Architecture of Pleasure : British Amusement Parks 1900-1939. Farnham: Routledge. pp. 147–148. ISBN   978-1409410744 . Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  8. ↑ "FIRE ON BIG DIPPER AT AMUSEMENT PARK IN BLACKPOOL". YouTube (video, 1 min). AP Archive. 23 July 2015 [26 June 1975]. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  9. ↑ Malvern, Jack (11 August 2009). "Big Dipper accident leaves thrill-seekers injured". The Times. Retrieved 11 August 2009.[ dead link ]
  10. ↑ Wainwright, Martin (12 August 2009). "Police investigate Blackpool Big Dipper crash". The Guardian.
  11. ↑ "Big Dipper derailed". CoasterForce. 5 June 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  12. ↑ "Record breaking teacher on a roll". BBC News. 7 September 2000. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  13. ↑ "Longest marathon on a roller coaster". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  14. ↑ Wawzenek, Bryan. "The top 10 songs about theme parks". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
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