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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

 

 

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