ROLLER
COASTER MAYHEM
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 |
||||||
|
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 |
||||||
|
Location
(Town) |
Park |
Ride Name |
Year
Built |
Year
Removed |
Designer |
Additional
Info |
|
Aberdeen |
Aberdeen Beach Amusement Park |
Scenic Railway |
1929 |
1943 |
|
Rebuild of the Scenic Railway from Great Yarmouth |
|
Barry Island |
Barry Island Pleasure Park |
Giant Scenic Railway |
1940 |
1973 |
John Collins |
Rebuild of Scenic Railway from Empire Exhibition, Glasgow 1938. Spent 1939 abroad before being rebuilt at Barry Island. Fully rebuilt in 1963 |
|
Battersea |
Battersea Fun Fair |
Big Dipper |
1951 |
1972 |
|
Rebuild of Scenic Railway from Sutton Park. Originally 2 Scenic Railways at Pleasureland, Southport, was relocated to Sutton Park in 1946, converted to a Big Dipper style and finally relocated to Battersea in 1951. 1/3 of track destroyed by fire in 1970, finally closed in 1972 after a crash caused the death of several children |
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Scenic Railway |
1907 |
1933 |
|
|
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Velvet Coaster |
1909 |
1932 |
|
|
|
Cleethorpes |
Wonderland |
Dipper |
1926 |
? |
Erwin Vettel for T M Harton Co |
|
|
Edinburgh |
Portobello, Marine Gardens |
|
1910 |
1914 |
|
|
|
Edinburgh |
Edinburgh Exhibition |
Scenic Railway |
1908 |
1910 |
|
|
|
Glasgow |
Scottish National Exhibition |
Scenic Railway |
1911 |
1911 |
|
Relocated to Liverpool Exhibition in 1913 |
|
Glasgow |
Empire Exhibition |
Scenic Railway |
1938 |
1938 |
John Collins |
Moved abroad in 1939 then Rebuilt at Barry Island in 1940 |
|
Great Yarmouth |
Pleasure Beach |
Scenic Railway |
1909 |
1928 |
La Marcus Thompson / William A Napier |
Destroyed by fire in 1919 but rebuilt, lease ran out in 1928. Rebuilt at Aberdeen Beach Amusement Park in 1929 |
|
Great Yarmouth |
Pleasure Beach |
Roller Coaster |
1932 |
Date |
Erich Heidrich |
Relocated from Colonial
Exhibition, Paris 1929-1931. Originally called Scenic Railway |
|
Liverpool |
Liverpool Exhibition |
Scenic Railway |
1913 |
1913 |
|
Rebuild of Scenic Railway at Glasgow Exhibition |
|
London |
Earls Court Exhibition |
Scenic Railway |
1909 |
1909 |
|
|
|
London |
Crystal Palace, Festival of Empire Exhibition |
Scenic Railway |
1911 |
1911 |
|
|
|
London |
Wembley Exhibition |
Giant Scenic Railway |
1924 |
1924 |
|
Rebuilt at Belle Vue, Manchester in 1926 following the ‘Wembley Scandal’ |
|
London |
Wembley Exhibition |
Giant Switchback |
1924 |
1924 |
|
|
|
London |
Wembley Exhibition |
Giant Safety Racer |
1924 |
1924 |
Lot Morgan (La Marcus Thompson?) |
Britain’s first twin track racing coaster |
|
London |
White City Exhibition |
Canadian Scenic Railway |
1908 |
1908 |
|
|
|
London |
White City Exhibition |
Mountain Scenic Railway |
1908 |
1908 |
|
|
|
London |
White City, Japan-British Exhibition |
Scenic Railway |
1910 |
1910 |
|
|
|
Manchester |
Belle Vue |
Scenic Railway |
1926 |
1980 |
|
Rebuild of Scenic Railway at Wembley Exhibition 1924. Closed after 1975 season, rumours suggest reopened in 1978, finally demolished in 1980 |
|
Manchester |
White City |
Scenic Railway |
1907 |
1927 |
|
|
|
Manchester |
White City |
Scenic Railway |
1928 |
? |
|
|
|
Margate |
Dreamland |
Scenic Railway |
1920 |
Date |
|
|
|
Margate |
Dreamland |
Velvet Coaster |
1922 |
1975 |
Christopher Wiseman |
Latter became Roller Coaster in the 1930’s |
|
New Brighton |
Tower Pleasure Grounds |
Scenic Railway |
1908 |
? |
|
|
|
Newcastle |
Newcastle Exhibition |
Himalayan Railway |
1929 |
1929 |
|
Destroyed by gales in 1929 |
|
Redcar |
The Hoppings |
Big Dipper |
1961 |
? |
|
|
|
Redcar |
The Hoppings |
Giant Racer |
1925 |
1937 |
Erwin Vettel for T M Harton Co |
Relocated to Sheerness |
|
Scarborough |
Gala Land |
Scenic Railway |
1926 |
? |
|
|
|
Scarborough |
West Pier |
Scenic Railway |
1929 |
1939 |
|
|
|
Seaburn |
Seaburn Fun Fair |
Big Dipper |
1952 |
1973 |
|
Copy of the Big Dipper at Battersea. Also known as Dragon Ride |
|
Sheerness |
|
Scenic Railway |
1938 |
1939 |
|
Rebuild of Giant Racer from Redcar |
|
Southend-on-Sea |
The Kursaal |
Scenic Railway |
1910 |
1973 |
T M Harton |
Taken out of service in 1970. A fire in December 1972 led to its demolishing in 1973 |
|
Southport |
Pleasureland |
Scenic Railway |
1922 |
1940 |
John Monks / Christopher Wiseman |
Rebuilt at Sutton Park in 1946,as Scenic Railway. latter moved to Battersea as Big Dipper in 1951 |
|
Southport |
Pleasureland |
Mountain Caterpillar Railway |
1925 |
1946 |
|
Rebuilt at Sutton Park in 1946 as Scenic Railway, latter moved to Battersea as Big Dipper in 1951 |
|
Sutton Coldfield |
Sutton Park |
Scenic Railway |
1946 |
1950 |
John Collins |
Rebuild of Scenic Railway and Mountain Caterpillar Railway from Southport Pleasureland, Relocated to Battersea in 1951 |
FIGURE EIGHTS |
||||||
|
Location
(Town) |
Park |
Ride Name |
Year
Built |
Year
Removed |
Designer |
Additional
Info |
|
Aberavon |
|
Figure Eight |
|
|
|
|
|
Barry Island |
Barry Island Pleasure Park |
Figure Eight |
1912 |
1939 |
La Marcus Thompson |
|
|
Blackpool |
Star Fairground |
Figure Eight |
|
|
|
|
|
Bristol |
Bristol Exhibition |
Figure Eight |
1914 |
1914 |
|
|
|
Clackton |
|
Figure Eight |
1937 |
1963 |
|
Copy of the 1929 Figure Eight at Skegness |
|
Cleethorpes |
Wonderland |
Figure Eight |
1911 |
1974 |
|
|
|
Cleveleys |
|
Figure Eight |
1937? |
? |
|
Believed to be the Figure Eight from Southport Pleasure Island which was sold to Fred Thompson of Cleveleys |
|
Edinburgh |
Edinburgh Exhibition |
Figure Eight |
1908 |
1908 |
|
|
|
Edinburgh |
Portobello, Fun City |
Figure Eight |
1910 |
1957 |
|
|
|
Edinburgh |
Portobello, Marine Gardens |
Figure Eight |
|
|
La Marcus Thompson |
|
|
Felixstowe |
Butlins Amusement Park (now Mannings Amusement Park) |
Giant Dipper |
1932 |
1977 |
Lot Morgan |
|
|
Folkestone |
Rotunda Amusement Park |
Runaway Coaster |
1997 |
Date |
|
Rebuild of a 1922 travelling
coaster that was found in Holland (possible 1920) |
|
Great Yarmouth |
Pleasure Beach |
Figure Eight |
1929 |
? |
|
|
|
Halifax |
Halifax Zoo |
Figure Eight |
|
|
|
|
|
Hunstanton |
Rainbow Amusement Park |
Figure Eight |
|
|
|
|
|
Littlehampton |
Butlins Amusement Park (now Harbour Park) |
Big Dipper |
1933 |
1962 |
Lot Morgan |
|
|
London |
Earls Court Exhibition |
Figure Eight |
1909 |
1909 |
|
|
|
London |
Crystal Palace Festival of Empire Exhibition |
Figure Eight |
1911 |
1911 |
|
|
|
Mablethorpe |
Butlins Amusement Park (now Dunes Leisure) |
Figure Eight |
1931 |
1938 |
Lot Morgan |
Relocated from Skegness, Jungle Park which was now a Butlins Park |
|
Manchester |
Belle Vue |
Figure Eight |
1908 |
1934 |
|
|
|
Manchester |
White City |
Figure Eight |
1907 |
? |
|
|
|
Morecambe |
West End Amusement Park (latter Morecambe Pleasure Park) |
Figure Eight |
1909 |
1938 |
William H Strickler |
|
|
Mumbles |
|
Figure Eight |
1908 |
1919 |
|
Relocated to Coney Beach Amusement Park, Portcawl in 1920 |
|
New Brighton |
Tower Pleasure Grounds |
Figure Eight |
1905 |
1971 |
|
|
|
Onchan Head, Isle of Man |
|
Figure Eight |
1909 |
1974 |
|
|
|
Porthcawl |
Coney Beach Amusement Park |
Figure Eight |
1920 |
1981 |
|
Relocated from Mumbles |
|
Rhyl |
Marine Lake |
Figure Eight |
1920 |
1969 |
|
|
|
Rhyl |
Ocean Beach Amusement Park |
Figure Eight |
1960 |
1975 |
|
Formally a German travelling coaster |
|
Scarborough |
West Pier |
Figure Eight |
|
|
|
|
|
Seaton Carew |
|
Figure Eight |
1926 |
1965 |
|
Updated in the 1950’s |
|
Skegness |
Jungle Park (now Bottons Pleasure Beach) |
Figure Eight |
1929 |
1931 |
|
Bought from a French Showman. Relocated to Mablethorpe which was now like this park a Butlins park |
|
Skegness |
Butlins Amusement Park (now Bottons Pleasure Beach) |
Big Dipper |
1931 |
1961 |
Lot Morgan |
Replaced the Figure Eight (Jungle Park which was now a Butlins Park) |
|
Skegness |
North Parade Amusement Park |
Figure Eight |
1908 |
1970 |
La Marcus Thompson |
|
|
Southend-on-Sea |
Luna Park (latter The Kursaal) |
Figure Eight |
1910 |
1947 |
La Marcus Thompson |
|
|
Southport |
Kings Garden (latter Pleasureland) |
Figure Eight Toboggan Railway |
1908 |
1937 |
|
Relocated to the new Pleasureland in 1922. Sold to Fred Thompson of Cleveleys to make way for the Cyclone |
|
Southsea |
Butlins Amusement Park (now Clarence Pier) |
Figure Eight |
1938 |
1961 |
|
??? have info regarding the Southsea Dipper which was destroyed by a gale in 1935 but rebuilt Also was a copy of the 1929 Figure Eight at Skegness |
|
South Shields |
Ocean Pleasure Beach |
Figure Eight |
1910 |
1932 |
T M Harton Co |
Super seeded there Switchback, destroyed by fire |
|
Whitley Bay |
Spanish City |
Figure Eight |
1910 |
1975 |
|
|
UNDERTRACK
FRICTION WHEEL COASTERS
|
||||||
|
Location
(Town) |
Park |
Ride Name |
Year
Built |
Year
Removed |
Designer |
Additional
Info |
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Big Dipper |
1923 |
Date |
William Sticker / John
Miller |
Extended in 1936 by Charlie
Paige |
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Roller Coaster |
1933 |
Date |
William Sticker / Charlie
Paige |
|
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Grand National |
1934 |
Date |
BPB / Charlie Paige |
|
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Zipper Dipper |
1934 |
Date |
BPB |
Formally called Little
Dipper. |
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Wild Mouse |
1958 |
Date |
Valerie, Wright / BPB |
|
|
Manchester |
Belle Vue |
Bobs |
1929 |
1971 |
Harry Traver / Fred Church |
|
|
Morecambe |
Frontierland |
Cyclone |
1939 |
2000 |
Charlie Paige / Harry Traver |
Relocated from the 1937 Paris Exhibition and remodelled. Latter became Texas Tornado, closed in 1999 |
|
Morecambe |
Frontierland |
Wild Mouse |
1960 |
2000 |
In House / Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Latter became Runaway Mine Train. Closed in 1999 and relocated to Pleasureland, Southport in 2000 |
|
Narberth |
Oakwood Leisure Park |
Megafobia |
1996 |
Date |
Custom Coasters Int |
|
|
Southend-on-Sea |
The Kursaal |
Cyclone |
1936 |
1974 |
Charlie Paige |
Relocated from Brussels Exhibition of 1935 |
|
Southport |
Pleasureland |
Cyclone |
1937 |
2006 |
Charlie Paige |
|
|
Southport |
Pleasureland |
King Solomons Mines |
2000 |
2006 |
In House / Blackpool
Pleasure Beach |
Rebuild of Runaway Mine
Train from Morecambe Frontierland |
|
Warrington |
Gullivers World |
Antelope |
1995 |
Date |
In House |
|
OTHER
HISTORIC COASTERS / COASTER TYPE RIDES
|
||||||
|
Location
(Town) |
Park |
Ride Name |
Year
Built |
Year
Removed |
Designer |
Additional
Info |
|
Blackpool |
Blackpool Pleasure Beach |
Virginia Reel |
1921 |
1982 |
William Sticker |
Wood |
| Blackpool | Blackpool Pleasure Beach | Water Chute (Vikingar) | 1979 | 2006 | Wooden Side Friction Water Coaster. Originally at Belle Vue Park 1957-1978 | |
|
Clacton-on-Sea |
Clacton Pier |
Steel Stella |
1937 |
1973 |
Double Grip Tubular Steel Amusement Devices Ltd / Lot Morgan |
One of 3 coasters made of steel well ahead of there time, the others being the Cyclone at South Shields and the 3rd was located in New Zealand. Was destroyed by fire |
|
Galstone, Ayrshire |
Loudoun Castle |
Wild Mouse |
1999 |
2001 |
|
Unknown aged touring wooden Wild Mouse owned by a German showman. Located at the park for two seasons |
|
Great Yarmouth |
Joyland Amusement Park |
Tyrolean Tubs |
1950 |
Date |
Horace Cole |
Last remaining known
variation on the Virginia Reel |
|
London |
White City, Japan-British Exhibition |
Wiggle Woggle |
1910 |
1910 |
|
|
|
London |
Crystal Palace, North Tower Gardens |
Topsy Turvy |
1902 |
1909 |
Mr Crist |
Wood. 1st looping coaster in the UK. Was latter installed at Eastam Pleasure Gardens, Wirral |
|
New Brighton |
|
Himalaya Railway |
1898 |
? |
|
Wood |
| Rhyl | Ocean Beach Amusement Park | Water Chute (Lumberjack Falls) | 1972 | Date | Wooden Side Friction Water Coaster. Originally at Kursaal Amusement Park 1958-1971 | |
|
South Shields |
Ocean Pleasure Beach |
Cyclone Ride |
1938 |
1940 |
Double Grip Tubular Steel Amusement Devices Ltd / Lot Morgan |
See Clacton-on-Sea entry above. Removed as steel was required for the war effort |
|
Sutton Coldfield |
Sutton Park |
Coronation Thriller |
1937 |
1946 |
Andrew Vettel for T M Harton Co |
Wood |
|
Whitley Bay |
Spanish City |
Virginia Reel |
1925 |
1950’s |
|
|