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Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

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TheBolt said:
BPB is thrashing AT as a whole family park. Had more fun at BPB than we've had at AT all season with the Merlin pass.
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I agree that AT don't have a great deal of "Family" attractions but I think SW8 will at least add a good quality family coaster to the line up and it is exactly what they need.

Rick said:
They can only store three trains, so they have a 'Fast', 'Normal' and 'Slow' train.

On most days you can run two of the above. On a very windy day you can run the 'Fast' train but if it's too windy, you can't run the normal train because it will likely stall. Likewise, if the Irish sea is like a millpond, they run the 'Slow' train but you can't run the 'Normal' train because it runs too quickly...
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Heard they had 2 slow and 1 fast and visa versa, and also that all three were the same but never that they have 3 different speed trains.

None of it makes sense to me. If they really do have 3 different speeds of train due to the wind then that would be a total farce. Wind speeds can change at the drop of a hat (especially in Blackpool), you can easily get gusts from nowhere or the wind changes direction or stops completely, which would make running the ride almost impossible if the wind affects things that much. Also, they managed to run all 3 at the same time in the 1990's quite happily.

As for a train being too quick, can't the 1st set of breaks slow the ride enough at that point ?
 
Breaks shakey...breaks!
Brakes you tyke!
And if the train goes too fast the mcbr can't stop it apparently.
I've heard fast and two slow, two slow and one fast, but never "medium" before.
Slow for less windy days, fast for windy/gusty days, and shut on very windy days.
The problem often in that it seems a little windy on the park, but it is blowing a gale at 100 foot up.
The prom shops created a lot of shelter when they were built.
 
I had no idea until I joined park forums how complex PMBO operations can be. I am lucky enough to be able to live an hour away and visit on quiet days, so as much as I love the ride especially in the dark, I would not touch a 2-3 hour single train queue for it (not to mention with Speedy Passers waiting on the exit ramp & beyond) with a barge pole. I think its only fair to give punters an idea of queue times. But imagine how complicated the signs would be in the PMBO queue:

The queue time from this point is approximately 120 minutes. . . Dependant on wind speed, number of trains in operation, whether said trains have 'fast' or 'slow' wheels, how many speedy passers are waiting for the ride, how many numpties we have to tell to put their phones away, how many e-stops between this point and you boarding the ride, etc. :laughing:
 
I'd suggest a sign at the entrance of the ride stating "number of trains in service: 1/2" and then various signs dotted around the queueline with something along the lines of "approximate queue time: 1 Train - 60 mins 2 trains - 25 mins"

Communication regarding queue times and ride stoppages is something BPB could improve massively on IMO.
 
Jamie said:
I'd suggest a sign at the entrance of the ride stating "number of trains in service: 1/2" and then various signs dotted around the queueline with something along the lines of "approximate queue time: 1 Train - 60 mins 2 trains - 25 mins"

Communication regarding queue times and ride stoppages is something BPB could improve massively on IMO.
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Great idea. Lets face it, they show number of mice / horses / cars / boats in service on Wild Mouse / Steeplechase / Ghost Train / Valhalla, but as far as I know they don't show number of trains in operation on PMBO. These days it is pretty poor to leave people so in the dark, for mega queues of 2-3 hours etc.
 
They did try an app a couple of years ago. It didn’t have queue times on from what I remember but that may have been dipping their toe into this kind of area, ie communicating with guests via mobile device.

The app was discontinued a while ago so that perhaps gives an indication of either take up or BPB’s view on how useful/successful it was. Personally I’d like to see it return with queue times, show times, better F&B information and park tips. Surely it would be good for driving awareness of stuff like the free tickets for Hot Ice - something which seems to have little awareness but has the potential to be a differentiator for BPB and a highlight for guests if they do go.
 
rob666 said:
Very similar to the old one.
When did this appear then ringo?
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If I may answer -- Must be 2-3 years at least Rob !! You need to get one of them there new fangled phones :)

And speedypass mobile is cheaper than using the machine. £10 instead of £15 usually.

Although I wasn't aware you could check the waiting times unless you had actually bought a speedypass on your phone. (But haven't used the app this season so it may be possible).
 
shakey said:
If I may answer -- Must be 2-3 years at least Rob !! You need to get one of them there new fangled phones :)

And speedypass mobile is cheaper than using the machine. £10 instead of £15 usually.

Although I wasn't aware you could check the waiting times unless you had actually bought a speedypass on your phone. (But haven't used the app this season so it may be possible).
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I think a lot of people don’t realise you can check the times without purchasing but you’ve always been able to since the Speedy Pass mobile started. Obviously it only shows rides that are part of Speedy pass but gives a decent snapshot of how busy things are.
 
No trains from Preston to Blackpool North until 26th March, However after the 26th January a hourly service to Blackpool South via Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be in operation, and replacement buses will operate to Blackpool North.
 
Hopefully once complete the trains will be more often and less likely to be cancelled so that'll be good. Should be a regular service come easter, which is also the earliest I'd imagine Icon to be opening for.
 
MattyH said:
No trains from Preston to Blackpool North until 26th March, However after the 26th January a hourly service to Blackpool South via Blackpool Pleasure Beach will be in operation, and replacement buses will operate to Blackpool North.
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Also for drivers, that bridge over the railway at Squires Gate Lane that brings you out on the front near the Starr Gate tram depot is closed for ages too
 
Completely forgot to mention on Sunday they seemed to be stripping everything out of Coasters, unscrewing posters off the wall and everything. Was rumoured for removal round the time the Tom Sawyer bridge was removed so could that be happen? Feel it leaves the park a bit light on covered catering options if it does go.
 
John_P said:
Completely forgot to mention on Sunday they seemed to be stripping everything out of Coasters, unscrewing posters off the wall and everything. Was rumoured for removal round the time the Tom Sawyer bridge was removed so could that be happen? Feel it leaves the park a bit light on covered catering options if it does go.
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I hope they at least keep all the old photos of the park that were in there and find a home for them somewhere in the park. The large colour ones on the right as you go in are awesome
 
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