ROLLER
COASTER MAYHEM![]()
UK WOODEN COASTERS
This list represents all known wooden roller coasters that have operated in the UK. There is still much work to do in completing the information on this list and if you have any information regarding missing entries or incorrect information please contact me at Andrew@rollercoastermayhem.com
Historic Information:
1st
Switchback coaster in the UK - 1885, Switchback at Skegness (1st in
the world La Marcus Thompsons Switchback at Coney Island, 1884)
1st
Scenic Railway in the UK - 1907, Velvet Coaster at Blackpool or Scenic Railway at
White City, Manchester (1st in the world La Marcus Thompsons Scenic
Railway at Atlantic City, 1887)
1st
Figure Eight in the UK - 1908, Figure Eight at Edinburgh Exhibition or Figure Eight at
Belle View, Manchester or Figure Eight at Mumbles or Figure Eight at Skegness
North Parade Amusement Park or Figure Eight at Southport Kings Gardens, latter
Pleasureland. (1ST in the world at Haverhill, Massachusetts, 1887)
1st
Under-track Friction Wheeled Coaster in UK 1923, Big Dipper at Blackpool
Pleasure Beach, still operating today
(Please note those coasters listed in
blue are coasters still operating or standing)
SWITCHBACKS |
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|
Location
(Town) |
Park Name |
Ride Name |
Year
Built |
Year
Removed |
Designer |
Additional
Info |
|
Aberdeen |
|
Switchback |
1886 |
1911 |
|
|
|
Barry Island |
Pleasure Park |
Switchback |
1897 |
1914 |
La Marcus Thompson |
Rebuild of Cardiff Exhibition switchback of 1896 |
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Switchback |
1891 |
1922 |
|
|
|
Blackpool |
Raikes Hall |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Blackpool |
Rigby Road |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Blackpool |
St Chads Drive |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Blackpool |
Uncle Toms Cabin |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Bradford |
Bradford Exhibition |
Switchback |
1904 |
1904 |
|
|
|
Bradford |
Shipley Glen |
Royal Yorkshire Ocean Wave |
1888 |
1920 |
|
Relocated from Saltaire Exhibition of 1887 |
|
Bridlington |
|
Switchback |
1898 |
1912 |
|
|
|
Brighton |
Devils Dyke |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Burgess Hill |
|
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Cardiff |
Cardiff Exhibition |
Switchback |
1896 |
1896 |
La Marcus Thompson |
Relocated to Barry Island in 1897 |
|
Cleethorpes |
|
Switchback |
1897 |
? |
|
|
|
Crystal Palace |
Exhibition |
Switchback |
1889 |
1889 |
|
|
|
Douglas, Isle of Man |
|
Switchback |
1887 |
1908 |
|
Replaced by a Figure Eight |
|
Folkestone |
|
Switchback |
? |
1906 |
|
|
|
Glasgow |
Glasgow Exhibition |
Switchback |
1888 |
1888 |
|
|
|
Glasgow |
Glasgow Exhibition |
Switchback |
1901 |
1901 |
|
|
|
Great Yarmouth |
|
Switchback |
1887 |
1909 |
|
Believed to have been moved twice between 1887-1892. Relocated at Honley, Huddersfield in 1910 |
|
Honley, Huddersfield |
|
Switchback |
1910 |
193? |
La Marcus Thompson |
Rebuild of Great Yarmouth Switchback |
|
Hull |
White City Pleasure Grounds |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Morecambe |
Winter Gardens |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Nottingham |
Nottingham Exhibition |
Switchback |
1903 |
1903 |
|
|
|
Ramsgate |
Ramsgate Pier |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
|
Saltaire |
Saltaire Exhibition |
Switchback |
1887 |
1887 |
|
|
|
Scarborough |
|
Switchback |
1888 |
1905 |
|
|
|
Skegness |
|
Switchback |
1885 |
1911 |
La Marcus Thompson |
1st ever coaster in the UK |
|
Southend-on-Sea |
Marine Gardens |
Switchback |
1894 |
? |
La Marcus Thompson |
Was still in operation in 1958 |
|
Southport |
|
Switchback |
|
|
|
Was there in 1895 |
|
South Shields |
Ocean Pleasure Beach |
Switchback |
? |
1910 |
Wilkie Family |
|
|
Sutton Coldfield |
Sutton Park |
Switchback |
1906 |
1936 |
La Marcus Thompson |
Replaced by Coronation Thriller in 1937 |
|
Weston-Super-Mare |
Birnbeck Pier |
Switchback |
|
|
|
|
SCENIC RAILWAYS |
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|
Location
(Town) |
Park |
Ride Name |
Year
Built |
Year
Removed |
Designer |
Additional
Info |
|
Aberdeen |
Aberdeen Beach Amusement Park |
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