Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

[Mattmash]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

I have to admit, I really wouldn't mind if Big Dipper was removed. It would certainly be my first choice of the 'classic' attractions. The ride is a shadow of it's former self, I find it to be a complete borefest, it used to be absolutely brutal on the back row!. And what with Rollercoaster (Nick Streak) getting it's makeover and Nash being completely irreplacable, something's got to give somewhere I feel, if only to free up a bit of space.

Would love to see it replaced with a modern woody, preferably a huge Gravity Group or something crazy from Rocky Mountain! (Complete with inversions )

 

[Adam James]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Sorry, all the woodies at BPB are just awfull get rid of them all I say and replace them with something better.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

All five of them?! I don't think it's a case of you not liking the Blackpool woodies as opposed to you not enjoying wooden coasters at all.

Speaking of the Big Dipper, I have heard from the rumour mill that it along with the Go Karts are the only things stopping a new Mack coaster from heading to the park for 2014/15. Then again, the rumour mill is nothing but speculation.

 

[John]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

I'd be careful about saying things like that around these parts - you'll have a gang of TST members plotting to burn down Dipper to make way for one of Roland's finest.

 

[Sam]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

The fact that Big Dipper has been altered (messed around with, the layout changed, etc.) is more of a reason to keep it than a reason to demolish it.

It's a ride with a huge amount of character, history, and stories. The alterations over time give it a rich past that make it all the more vital. It's like an elderly person with dozens of fascinating stories to tell, and even though it's had a hip replacement and a false leg, that only adds to its charm.

Demolishing it would be a tragedy, refurbishing it would be a triumph.

 

[Andrew]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Today, Big Dipper probably had the biggest queue after Valhalla.
I think that shows that it must stay.

It's part of BPB's history!

On the subject of my visit today, I had a talk about BPB.

The Big One cannot operate in wind speeds coming from the North West over 30mph, or else it will roll back.
No wonder it is always closed!

Also, when building Ice Blast, they didn't know how much the actual car itself weighed because the computer calculates it for them!
Great planning!

There were various models of BPB's rides, as well as some CoasterDynamix models.
Also, there were ride cars from various rides, especially the woodies, as well as some small sectios from flats such as the carousel.

Ride count:

Big One
Wild Mouse (Or whatever it's called)
Infusion
Valhalla x2

I saw the man wbo was trying to break the record for most consecutive days riding a coaster on the Big One.
He's at 36 out of 104 right now.

A great day at BPB!
Valhalla is as great as ever, and Revolution looks great, although, in the short while I was there, I did not get time to ride it.

The Wallace and Gromit ride is coming along nicely as well, with scaffolding erected, and work continuing at a great speed.

 

[Rupert]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Surely a ride should be good to be worth keeping though? I fully understand the sentiment - I find myself reminded of 60s and 70s concrete multistory car parks, that in their own way are stark and beautiful and warrant saving. But then - if the replacement would be better in every way and cause greater happiness all around, wouldn't that be a better option?

Often it feels like the woodies are holding BPBPBP back as much as they help it attract visitors. They look a terrible state, there is a huge and widespread perception they are unsafe, they no longer ride well, have a frankly terrible safety record and take up huge amounts of space. I can't help but think that replacing Big Dipper with a new modern coaster would be a catalyst for a huge improvement in the fortunes of the park - forcing redevelopment of a huge area (and Mandy can do aesthetics pretty well), getting an actually good coaster into the park, and giving it something major to advertise again so it can shake off the image of being a decrepit, seaside fun fair park once and for all.

 

[Andrew]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

I'd just like to say that Nash wasn't running both trains today either, and was closed for about half the day.

I do not know the reasons for this.

 

[Alastair]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Today, Big Dipper probably had the biggest queue after Valhalla.
I think that shows that it must stay.

Any coaster will have a large queue at a busy theme park with a throughput as dire as the Big Dipper's. It was running on one train the last time I was there, didn't even bother queuing it was moving so slowly and was so large.

 

[Andrew]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Today, Big Dipper probably had the biggest queue after Valhalla.
I think that shows that it must stay.

Any coaster will have a large queue at a busy theme park with a throughput as dire as the Big Dipper's. It was running on one train the last time I was there, didn't even bother queuing it was moving so slowly and was so large.

The queue was moving very quickly though, so I think the throughput is not as bad as it may seem.

If anything, Nash will be the first to go because it seems to have the biggest problems from my experiences.
It had one train and was not running for half the day, as with my other experiences at Blackpool.

 

[Fredward]

Re: Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Sorry, all the woodies at BPB are just awfull get rid of them all I say and replace them with something better.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

All five of them?! I don't think it's a case of you not liking the Blackpool woodies as opposed to you not enjoying wooden coasters at all.

Speaking of the Big Dipper, I have heard from the rumour mill that it along with the Go Karts are the only things stopping a new Mack coaster from heading to the park for 2014/15. Then again, the rumour mill is nothing but speculation.

Well I adored wodan... Just hate blackpools. Old, rough, painful perhaps I would have some sentimental value towards them if I rode them as a kid, but as rides I find them just terrible.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[BigAl]

Re: Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Sorry, all the woodies at BPB are just awfull get rid of them all I say and replace them with something better.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

All five of them?! I don't think it's a case of you not liking the Blackpool woodies as opposed to you not enjoying wooden coasters at all.

Speaking of the Big Dipper, I have heard from the rumour mill that it along with the Go Karts are the only things stopping a new Mack coaster from heading to the park for 2014/15. Then again, the rumour mill is nothing but speculation.

Well I adored wodan... Just hate blackpools. Old, rough, painful perhaps I would have some sentimental value towards them if I rode them as a kid, but as rides I find them just terrible.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Am I the only one that thinks the roughness adds to the experience of the woodies? I find them hilarious! ;D

 

[Scott]

Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Today, Big Dipper probably had the biggest queue after Valhalla.
I think that shows that it must stay.

Any coaster will have a large queue at a busy theme park with a throughput as dire as the Big Dipper's. It was running on one train the last time I was there, didn't even bother queuing it was moving so slowly and was so large.

The queue was moving very quickly though, so I think the throughput is not as bad as it may seem.

If anything, Nash will be the first to go because it seems to have the biggest problems from my experiences.
It had one train and was not running for half the day, as with my other experiences at Blackpool.

Nash won't be going anywhere before the Dipper. The Nash has way more protection and status.

 

[Fredward]

Re: Re: Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Sorry, all the woodies at BPB are just awfull get rid of them all I say and replace them with something better.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

All five of them?! I don't think it's a case of you not liking the Blackpool woodies as opposed to you not enjoying wooden coasters at all.

Speaking of the Big Dipper, I have heard from the rumour mill that it along with the Go Karts are the only things stopping a new Mack coaster from heading to the park for 2014/15. Then again, the rumour mill is nothing but speculation.

Well I adored wodan... Just hate blackpools. Old, rough, painful perhaps I would have some sentimental value towards them if I rode them as a kid, but as rides I find them just terrible.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Am I the only one that thinks the roughness adds to the experience of the woodies? I find them hilarious! ;D

I used to... But recently not so much.

Ive heard nick streak is ok but haven't been on it, but I find Nash bland and boring, big dipper is just a painfull joke.


Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

 

[Adam James]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Nash won't be going anywhere before the Dipper. The Nash has way more protection and status.

As far as I know, it's not protected at all - unlike the Scenic Railway at Margate. The only objects with the Pleasure Beach's holding that is protected to my knowledge is the Casino Building.

Saying that, it wood be a huge disappointment to see any classic coasters disappear from Blackpool.

 

[Dave]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

I really like Nash its mad good fun, Dipper these days is a bit bland so i can see the value in it going. If they dare touch Nash or Mouse though i will not be happy with Mandy.

 

[Sam]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

If the Big Dipper is destroyed, enthusiasts of a hundred years in the future will look back at us, and PBB management, with shame. They'll ask how we could not only have let it happen, but have been in favour of the destruction of a ride that has been operating since 1923, the eighth oldest operating rollercoaster in the world.

I wonder if enthusiasts in other parts of the world are equally advocating the obliteration of the other seven. Are Kennywood fans calling for the Jack Rabbit to be ripped down for a Mack? Do Tivoli Gardens fans salivate at the thought of a wrecking ball through the Rutschebanen? I doubt it, they'd be appalled at such joyous vandalism of the past, and so should we.

 

[Rowe]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

It's strange to say, among those who aren't keen on the Big Dipper, that I actually enjoyed it the last time I visited Blackpool and that I didn't have any problems with it in comparison to Nick Streak or Nash which caused me various levels of pain. It would be sad to see Big Dipper go when it hasn't reached 100 yet, that alongside Gold Mine would be a nasty mix of leave, but at the same time I can see why Big Dipper has the potential to leave.

Am holding out for some sort of miracle for Infusion to be removed instead.

 

[Adam]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

If the Big Dipper is destroyed, enthusiasts of a hundred years in the future will look back at us, and PBB management, with shame. They'll ask how we could not only have let it happen, but have been in favour of the destruction of a ride that has been operating since 1923, the eighth oldest operating rollercoaster in the world.

So by those standards I assume if in 54 years time speculation Revolution was to be removed just before it turned 90 would make you feel equally appalled?

I don't want Big Dipper to be removed in next few years, but things have to move on and in time all of PBB's roller coasters will, sadly, be replaced. If Big Dipper was to be removed on it's 90th birthday next year then I'd be sad due to sentimental value, but happy and excited at the prospect of a new coaster that could bring in the crowds much like Big Dipper did before. Regardless of when it goes, Big Dipper will be remembered fondly by millions, but most of those people will accept it was necessary for the good of the park. All good things have to come to an end one day.



EDIT

I must admit though Sam, I do love your "Hands off the Big Dipper" signature.

 

[Sam]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

So by those standards I assume if in 54 years time speculation Revolution was to be removed just before it turned 90 would make you feel equally appalled?

Possibly. Revolution, although quite a notable ride, isn't that important at the moment because it's only a few decades old and there are a few other similar rides around the world (although Revolution has the unique cantilevered support structure). It is a clone, whereas Big Dipper is not. But if Revolution is still operating in 54 years time, it would be astounding, it'd almost certainly be the only one of its kind left, and worth defending just as vociferously as the Big Dipper!

I don't want Big Dipper to be removed in next few years, but things have to move on and in time all of PBB's roller coasters will, sadly, be replaced. If Big Dipper was to be removed on it's 90th birthday next year then I'd be sad due to sentimental value, but happy and excited at the prospect of a new coaster that could bring in the crowds much like Big Dipper did before. Regardless of when it goes, Big Dipper will be remembered fondly by millions, but most of those people will accept it was necessary for the good of the park. All good things have to come to an end one day.

Not necessarily true! Nearly all other antiques and old buildings and stuff can only last as long as the materials they are built out of. A stone castle will eventually crumble away. They have a finite life. This is not true of wooden rollercoasters. Wooden rollercoasters have the track and support structure constantly replaced with new wood. Therefore, it's very unlikely that any piece of wood from the Dipper or the Nash when it opened is still in the ride now, even if the layout is exactly the same. These rides are constantly replenished and rebuilt, and can last infinitely as long as this maintenance process is ongoing. However, just because it's constantly rebuilt like this, and probably contains no original wood, is not an argument against its preservation. What makes it the Big Dipper is its history, and its layout, and its design. Not the physical components.

I must admit though Sam, I do love your "Hands off the Big Dipper" signature.

Thanks.

 

[BigAl]

Re: Pleasure Beach, Blackpool: General Discussion

Didn't they spend £500,000 on repairs after the accident in 2009? Surely that's enough to ensure it survives for a good few years to come?

I find the Big Dipper to be reasonably smooth in comparison to the other woodies at the Pleasure Beach. It's a fun ride, it has a great history and is an icon. I'd be extremely sad and annoyed if Blackpool had the Big Dipper taken down. Sure, a new ride would probably be better than the Big Dipper in every way, but would that ride stand for as long as the Dipper? Would it be as iconic? Most likely, no.

The Pleasure Beach is a great park because they offer new rides and old. There's something for everyone. Part of the charm of the place is down to the selection of old rides they have. Remove them and it becomes nothing more than a glorified fun fair.

Saying that, any park still needs new rides to continue to be as popular and appeal to their current audience. The true classics like the Big Dipper ought to be kept a little longer, but there are other rides that could be replaced with better attractions.