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Fantastic old coaster footage/pics

furie

SBOPD
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ashtonrick said:
Some fantastic rare photos on the following site also of coasters I've never seen pics of such as those at the British Exhibitions in Wembley, Liverpool & Glasgow; Morecambe, Spanish City and Rhyl's Figure 8s; and tons of other stuff.

OMG! Where to even start. I've seen a lot of those before in my researches, but there are some that really have sparked comments I have to put down.

Before I start, it's worth studying these old photos if you're interested and see the common things in certain time periods. The sheer number of Figure 8's, the Jack and Jill slides, Flying Machines and the wonderful array of themed Scenic Railways.

ashtonrick said:
And Furie - there is a pic of another coaster on the site below in Littlehampton bigger than the Wild Mouse called the 'Giant Dipper' - although RCDB lists it as 'Big Dipper'.

That's another of those Figure 8's. I keep looking at photos of them and I can't work out if they are all three tier, or if there were sometimes two tier. I tried making one on RCT and the three tier was cumbersome and never quite looked right, but the two tier didn't work :lol:

Anyway, the fun...

Folkestone - Switchback Railway by trainsandstuff, on Flickr

I love this photo and it inspired me to recreate it. I love the way it shows the ride just on the sandy beach. I love the massive, slightly over the top station. I love the perspective of the Switchback heading off into the distance. I just love the snapshot of time - the dawn of roller coaster history. I love imagining these spattered across famous beaches across the country. I just think it's a perfect capture of that period of time.

My version:
switchback1888.jpg


See, I love that time period and this photo really confuses me:
Blackpool Pleasure Beach - River Caves by trainsandstuff, on Flickr

I know that the River Caves changed, but this just isn't Blackpool at all. If you look at old photos with the Flying Machines in place, even when it's sitting on a beach with the wooden board walks, you can kind of equate it to where it is now. Same with Big Dipper in its original design sitting against the sea.

This photo even makes sense:
Blackpool Pleasure Beach by trainsandstuff, on Flickr

This is taken from the right of Noah's Ark I think, where the arcade sits now. The Scenic and Rainbow wheel are roughly where Grand Nation/Wild Mouse are now.

The modern River Caves are behind the Rainbow Wheel (you can see the fantastic mountainous fascia), but I don't think it correlates with the layout that is hinted at in the first photo. It's really odd. To the left in that first photo though I think is the Bicycle Railway. It was already getting busy down there.

The second image shows the start of the "corridor" at the now shore edge of the park. I can't find the image any more, but I once dug out a superb, horrific, photo of that in the 20's/30's. It was all massive moulded figures looming over the walkways, gypsy stalls and billions of people all crammed in.

Both photos show such a great view of a Blackpool we could almost recognise...

This photo though I do recognise:
Blackpool Pleasure Beach by trainsandstuff, on Flickr

This is almost the view I most remember from my childhood. The giant clown holding the wheel/s, the open expanse at the entrance. Pretty sure I even remember the Whip when it was there! Takes me back the animatronic bear show and the way the monorail used to go through a crap hanging "small world" type of ride in the Casino building :lol:

Next is a good memory:
Butlins Pwllheli - Starcoast World by trainsandstuff, on Flickr

I went to Butlins Pwllheli around 1981 and remember the fair, but no coasters. Great holiday, one of those that lives with you.

Several years later we camped near Pwllheli and visited Star Coast World (as it was suddenly known) and spent all day on the fair and in the "new" water park (it was brand new back then). I rode the Boomerang several times - I thought it was the best thing ever. How we learn as we get older ;)

Anyway, it's why I have a soft spot for Boomerangs. there was very little in the way of inverting coasters back then (I'd been on Corkscrew, Revolution and Looping Star by that time), but the thrill of the Boomerang drop, the confusing cobra roll and then that anticipation before going backwards was fab.

I clearly remember it being the first coaster where I actively sought out different seats to see what a different experience the ride could offer across the train. It's also clear what a difference it makes too :)

Finally, another keen memory of mine. This is "my" Alton Towers:
Alton Towers (old postcard) by trainsandstuff, on Flickr

We used to spend all day at that part of the park. Not because it was the best part, but because of the queues!

Look at that line! It's either for the Pirate Ship, or the Cine 2000. I think it's for the Pirate Ship though. You would lose hours in queues and get maybe four rides done in a day - which would be just that corner of the park. You were treated like cattle and all for just 50p a day (or whatever it was, pretty sure it was 50p)!!! I've never understood how they survived and built. Why did people return? It's a mastery of marketing.
 

Hyde

Matt SR
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ashtonrick said:
Another coaster from an ex-Butlins park below - this time what looks like a figure 8 style ride in Felixstowe:
http://rcdb.com/8643.htm

10906005_10205390454381257_5827240213440688324_n.jpg


And the Wild Mouse from Pwllheli:
http://rcdb.com/2898.htm

15259606981_aa0faf602b_b.jpg
Love the double Ferris Wheel photo. Wild to think those were such popular attractions.

Recently came across some fun older Cedar Point photos:

Photo of Western Cruises (Later Paddle Wheel Excursions) from 1984. This photo was taken from the Frontier Lift, which used to be a second chairlift ride that operated out of Iron Dragon's station and connected to the restrooms build in between Skyhawk and Cedar Creek Mine Ride.

1924343_10154909233575150_1796557511971944584_n.jpg


Blue Streak hasn't seen this kind of wait in a while. Taken from the Causeway Chair Lift - note Calypso's original location before it was relocated further back next to Blue Streak (and now resides next to Wicked Twister as "Tiki Twirl"), the good old Pirate Ride, and Turnpike Cars, which were relocated to make room for Raptor (recently removed for Valravn).

10557044_10203340989297939_8488517878566999690_o.jpg


And Blue Streak before it's paint job and individual ratcheting lapbars.

10010695_10202808351822335_2960438703580116880_o.jpg
 

GuyWithAStick

Captain Basic
^I don't know why, but that train in the last picture looks really Photoshopped. Probably with the picture's age, and the color contrast or something, but just wanted to point that out.

It's so weird to see Blue Streak with that kind of line. Same with the rides in their locations.

Great pictures to all that recently posted!
 

SilverArrow

Certified Ride Geek
furie said:
Finally, another keen memory of mine. This is "my" Alton Towers:
Alton Towers (old postcard) by trainsandstuff, on Flickr

We used to spend all day at that part of the park. Not because it was the best part, but because of the queues!

Look at that line! It's either for the Pirate Ship, or the Cine 2000. I think it's for the Pirate Ship though. You would lose hours in queues and get maybe four rides done in a day - which would be just that corner of the park. You were treated like cattle and all for just 50p a day (or whatever it was, pretty sure it was 50p)!!! I've never understood how they survived and built. Why did people return? It's a mastery of marketing.

That is a massive queue! Looks like they've got the crest/park logo mounted on the pirate ship frame!

Love all this kind of stuff. So much to dissect here!
 

davidm

Strata Poster
furie said:
This is "my" Alton Towers....
Mine too.

I would have been standing in that Q for a long time too - I remember huge Qs for the Cine2000 too. Strangely I also have vivid memories of that game-machine that you can just see the top of near the entrance gates for the Cine2000/PirateShip Q-lines - about an inch to the right of the "Cine 2000" in the picture - it was one one of those water cannon thingies where you shoot water into a simple maze-thing. And the dinsoaurs-not-quite-alive attraction behind the fence on the extreme right ; pre-Black Hole days!

</old>
 

Chris Brown

Mr CoasterForce 2016
Was browsing a site dedicated to Portsmouths history in the hope of shedding some light on a refurb project I'm working on and stumbled across this picture. It shows the original Clarence Pier with a wooden wild mouse on it. It is is listed on RCDB but there are no pictures for it.

 

ashtonrick

Roller Poster
Nice find Chris! Just found this also of Folkestone's Switchback - it also includes a POV which I have never seen before for a Switchback Railway! Offride starts about 0:36 with the POV straight after:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d77ML3aPbtM[/youtube]
 

GuyWithAStick

Captain Basic
^Nice! I've always wanted to see a POV of an original Switchback. I knew it was out there somewhere. Thanks for sharing!
 

roomraider

Best Topic Starter
TilenB said:
^ I'm not sure if that's the same physical ride (e.g. perhaps more than one unit has been made), but a coaster like this has operated in Sportland Pier, New Jersey in the 60s. Rcdb claims it travelled Germany before that, so the photo you've found is perhaps from one of the fairs?

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 587&type=3

http://rcdb.com/9089.htm

I wondered if it was one of those early Macks but didnt look for pics of them. Good spot.

I also came across this which might also be an early Mack coaster.
7416752_w720h480q75s1v65515_EQ4QALIG_C.jpg

but the main article is behind a pay wall.
 

GuyWithAStick

Captain Basic
It's pretty late, but I got a really neat book of Riverview Park for Christmas. It shows tons of old pictures of the rides and park, including Chute the Chutes, the Bobs, the Tickler, Velvet Coaster, etc. Very good book, tons of pictures, and highly recommend it.
 

GuyWithAStick

Captain Basic
Sorry to double post, but I stumbled upon a video of Old Chicago, an indoor park from the late 70s.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0InNa4G79_w[/youtube]

There isn't much, but it's nice to see proof of its existence.
 

furie

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GuyWithAStick said:
It's pretty late, but I got a really neat book of Riverview Park for Christmas. It shows tons of old pictures of the rides and park, including Chute the Chutes, the Bobs, the Tickler, Velvet Coaster, etc. Very good book, tons of pictures, and highly recommend it.

Was it one of the Fred Church Bobs?

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
 

GuyWithAStick

Captain Basic
No, Riverview's Bobs was different. I actually found a POV of Riverview's Bobs:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0P6_FAS6TM[/youtube]

The Bobs you're looking for are here, with a(very shaky) POV at about 4:15:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJBdWyjscdk[/youtube]
 

furie

SBOPD
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Cool. The Riverview Bobs looks as good. It's the wonderful twisting airtime, I love them.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
 

MarsdenDean

Roller Poster
Skytrak total at granada studios Manchester.

Can't find a video but found some photos. Cant post them as I'm on my phone but it was briefly the world's first flying roller coaster . . .
 

rob666

Hyper Poster
Briefly is the word regarding Skytrack...
I watched it being built,
then it failed to open,
then it was altered and opened,
but by the time I visited a few weeks later it had shut for good.
Had a capacity of about 100 per hour if all was running ok,
which it never was!
 
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