Big Dipper (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)

Big Dipper is a wooden out and back roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, England. Originally built in 1923, it was extended in 1936 and was designated as a Grade II listed building on 19 April 2017.[1] It operates with two trains, each containing three four-bench cars, seating two people per bench.[2]

Big Dipper
The Big Dipper
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
LocationBlackpool Pleasure Beach
Coordinates53°47′21″N 3°03′25″W
StatusOperating
Opening date23 August 1923
Cost£25,000 (1922)
General statistics
TypeWood – Out and back
ManufacturerWilliam Strickler
DesignerJohn A. Miller
ModelWooden Out and back coaster
Track layoutOut and back
Lift/launch systemChain
Height65 ft (20 m)
Drop50 ft (15 m)
Length3,300 ft (1,000 m)
Speed40 mph (64 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration2:28
Max vertical angle46°
G-force3.7
Height restriction46 in (117 cm)
Trains2 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Big Dipper at RCDB
Pictures of Big Dipper at RCDB

History

Construction and expansion

The coaster was first built in 1923 by John Miller. It was extended in 1936 by the American engineer Charles Paige, whose work at the Pleasure Beach is all that survives from 13 wooden coasters he is known to have built, adding arches over the south entrance of the park and additional drops. The British architect Joseph Emberton designed the ride station.[2][3]

Refurbishment

On 13 February 2010, the Big Dipper reopened after months of refurbishment following the August 2009 accident.[4] The 1935 station was upgraded in a sympathetic manner; the track was refurbished; a new fountain was added; and the trains were repaired and repainted dark blue with new exterior panels with an arrow design similar to the 1990s design. The grab rails were replaced in 2014.

Incidents
Main article: Incidents at European amusement parks

On 26 June 1975, part of the main lift hill and first drop were severely damaged by fire.[5]

On 11 August 2009, two trains carrying a total of 32 guests collided. 21 riders required hospital treatment for injuries ranging from whiplash and broken noses to cuts and bruises.[6][7]

On 5 June 2010, part of a train derailed. There were no injuries and the ride resumed operations a short time later.[8][9]

Records

In August 1998, Richard Rodriguez set a world record by riding the Big Dipper for over 1000 hours. There is a plaque commemorating this event in the ride's station. Although he doubled this mark two years later to 2000 hours,[10] Guinness World Records nullified the achievements by altering the rules in 2007, and Rodriguez's new record was set on the Big One and the Big Dipper and stands at 405 hours 40 minutes.[11]

The Big Dipper is referenced in the Jethro Tull song "Big Dipper", from their 1976 album Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!. In the 1994 television series Knowing Me Knowing You with Alan Partridge, Joe Beazley (played by John Thomson) talks about Blackpool Pleasure Beach, saying the big dipper is "the biggest rollercoaster in the world" and that "[w]e were going about 200 miles an hour." Both claims are incorrect, as the tallest point is 20 metres, and the maximum speed is 40mph.

  • View of part of the Big Dipper with Infusion behind it and the Big One in the background.
  • The 'Big Dipper' sign.
  • The first drop.

See also

References
  1. Historic England, "The Big Dipper (1436080)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 21 April 2017
  2. "Big Dipper (RCDB)". RCDB. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  3. Brodie, Allan; Bowdler, Roger (2017). "The designation of amusement parks and fairground rides in England". In Wood, Jason (ed.). The Amusement Park: History, Culture and the Heritage of Pleasure. New York: Routledge. p. 259. ISBN 9781472423726.
  4. "The Big Dipper". Blackpool: Pleasure Beach Resort.com. 6 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  5. "FIRE ON BIG DIPPER AT AMUSEMENT PARK IN BLACKPOOL". YouTube (video, 1 min). AP Archive. 23 July 2015 [26 June 1975].
  6. Malvern, Jack (11 August 2009). "Big Dipper accident leaves thrill-seekers injured". The Times. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  7. Wainwright, Martin (12 August 2009). "Police investigate Blackpool Big Dipper crash". The Guardian.
  8. "Reported incident on Big Dipper rollercoaster". Blackpool Aloud. 5 June 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  9. "Big Dipper derailed". CoasterForce. 5 June 2010. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  10. "Record breaking teacher on a roll". BBC News. 7 September 2000. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  11. "Longest marathon on a roller coaster". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
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