Big Dipper

Big Dipper is a wooden roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in North West England. It stands in the park’s south-western corner and is the oldest operating coaster in the United Kingdom. The ride was built in 1923 and extended in 1936 with new arches and drops. Its station was designed by British architect Joseph Emberton. In 2010 the ride was refurbished after an incident, adding a water fountain and new trains. Handrails were replaced in 2014 to improve safety. The coaster was designed by John A. Miller and built by William H. Strickler. It features two trains seating 24 riders each, with lap bars on every row. The track runs 1,005.8 metres long with a 19.8-metre lift hill and a first drop of 15 metres. It reaches speeds of 64 km/h and subjects riders to 3.7 Gs. Big Dipper was the first English coaster to use upstop wheels for steeper thrills. Visitors find the ride’s station with its decorative fountain and commemorative plaque. The trains travel north to south along the 1,005.8-metre track. The ride lasts about two and a half minutes. A world record attempt by Richard Rodriguez once took place here. The coaster has also appeared in songs and television episodes.