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Blackpool pleasure beach

436 replies

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 21:25

I just visited Blackpool and I Had a nice time going around the beach and activities.

But honestly- Blackpool pleasure beach - what are they thinking! Some of the rides are so old and dangerous, I don't know how they are allowed at all.

It was the first time that I went .

I went on one ride, and it went extremely high. It was like an old fashioned rollrr coaster, but you were sitting on a horse. It's called steeple chase.

. There was the tiniest old fashioned seat belt on the horse, like a car seat belt. Except it was just a horizontal belt. The material of the belt looked old, worn and thin. And it didn't hold you on properly.

You had to grip with your hands onto the handle bars. This ride went extremely high and it was extremely fast and jerky, and i was nearly jerked out of the seat several times. If the ride jerked and you fell out of the seat , you would slip through the seat belt and you would fall a very long way down. I was holding on for dear life. I very nearly came off and fell once.

People were getting off the ride at the end and were crying and looking extremely stressed.

The guy running the ride laughed and said to us "you won't do that ride again in a hurry will you haha". Because he knew it was bad

I saw other rides in the park, where the metal holding the ride up looked completely rusted through.

I don't know how the park is allowed from a health and safety standpoint?

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KrisAkabusi · 12/10/2024 23:21

If it has been running since 1977 without an accident, it is not inherently unsafe. It will have passed, at a minimum, an annual inspection to license it to operate, and regular safety checks throughout the year. Considering the millions of people that have been on it since it opened, statistically you were in far more danger on your drive to Blackpool than on that ride.

Kitkat1523 · 12/10/2024 23:21

HundredMilesAnHour · 12/10/2024 21:35

Is that the one that used to be called The Grand National - (The Steeple Chase?)

No, Grand National is the two rollercoasters that 'race' each other. Steeple Chase is a row of 4 (?) fake horses (like big carousel horses) that you sit on and they 'race' each other.

I love both! I always thought the Steeple Chase was pretty tame. Certainly never seen anyone crying on or off it!

I loved the grand national!!

wonder if they still have the mouse ride at Blackpool? Not been in years but that was the only ride that terrified me…..felt like the whole structure was going to collapse any minute

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:16

IlovePond · 12/10/2024 23:13

They make me feel young by comparison @Roundthemoon 😹😹😹

Have you been in those planes. They were another ride that looked a bit dangerous

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Rantypanties · 12/10/2024 23:16

Because I looked and did not find your stated height

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IlovePond · 12/10/2024 23:13

They make me feel young by comparison @Roundthemoon 😹😹😹

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:11

IlovePond · 12/10/2024 23:06

I went on the Steeplechase as a small child when it first opened. I am terrified of heights and still remember that I didn’t feel terribly secure with that lap belt! Me and my brother screamed all the way round. (From the ground we hadn’t realised how high it went - relatively speaking.)

The Flying Machines have been there since 1904 and it’s the oldest amusement ride in working order in Europe apparently. I went on that when my kids were young - they weren’t scared, but I was, (heights again!) I do think it’s odd that they’ve not installed seatbelts!

The Wild Mouse ride opened in 1958 and closed in 2017. I went on it as a child, but wasn’t scared because it was enclosed. There were quite a few accidents as I recall, which is why most of these rides have been retired worldwide.

The most famous wooden rollercoaster in Blackpool is the Big Dipper, 1923, which is listed. My kids loved it, (I haven’t been on it), and people come from all over the world to ride it as it’s one of the world’s greatest/most famous wooden rollercoasters.

The other wooden coaster is the Grand National, 1935 - there’s only one other of its kind left in the world- again, coaster fans love it.

TBH, I don’t really like any fast/high rides myself and how ‘safe’ any of them anywhere are really, is up for debate, (look at the awful accidents that have happened at places like Thorpe Park, for example).

Having said that, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has always been a source of pride for people from Blackpool - it wouldn’t win any prizes for its landscaping- Disney it isn’t- but it has to meet the safety standards.

I have a soft spot for the Derby Racer - one of the few rides I wasn’t scared of as a child and am still annoyed that the owners destroyed the Noah’s Ark attraction,1922, and cannibalised it to use as the entrance/gift shop.

I used to have a picture of my Nana at the Pleasure Beach on one of the rides in the 1920s, whooping it up after she’d run off to the bright lights of Blackpool from Yorkshire. It will always have a place in my heart, but I do accept it’s not for everyone!

Edited

Thanks for the very well written post.

Very nice post and great memories!

Wow those flying machines have been there since 1904!

I thought they looked old. I didn't realise how old.

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PleaseAskSomeoneWhoGivesAFuck · 12/10/2024 23:11

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:00

Lol
Do you have shares in Blackpool pleasure beach or something? You've made a lot of posts saying the same thing

Also, you are ignoring my question as to why you think that such a massive and well-known theme park can operate without H & S certtificates.
So yes, I will argue against your factually incorrect assertions

BeardofHagrid · 12/10/2024 23:10

Just seeing the pics on Google is quite terrifying!

Rantypanties · 12/10/2024 23:09

I’ve just typed in ‘height of steeplechase ride Blackpool’ and none of the websites on the first page of Google have it listed

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:09

PleaseAskSomeoneWhoGivesAFuck · 12/10/2024 23:05

Link to report please

Are people not able to use Google anymore.

If you Google "child death blackpool pleasure beach" it will bring you up all of the news articles about that death

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PleaseAskSomeoneWhoGivesAFuck · 12/10/2024 23:08

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:00

Lol
Do you have shares in Blackpool pleasure beach or something? You've made a lot of posts saying the same thing

Because you are spouting bollocks.
No, I do not work for them. Just rational

SabreIsMyFave · 12/10/2024 23:08

@IlovePond Thank you for that. Nice post. Smile

SabreIsMyFave · 12/10/2024 23:07

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:04

It is classed as a rollercoaster!

Look up "steeplechase blackpool pleasure beach" online

The first thing that comes up online is

"The steeplechase is a three tracked rollercoaster"

You don't seem to know much about it!

Edited

Yep. Steeplechase is defo a Rollercoaster!

IlovePond · 12/10/2024 23:06

I went on the Steeplechase as a small child when it first opened. I am terrified of heights and still remember that I didn’t feel terribly secure with that lap belt! Me and my brother screamed all the way round. (From the ground we hadn’t realised how high it went - relatively speaking.)

The Flying Machines have been there since 1904 and it’s the oldest amusement ride in working order in Europe apparently. I went on that when my kids were young - they weren’t scared, but I was, (heights again!) I do think it’s odd that they’ve not installed seatbelts!

The Wild Mouse ride opened in 1958 and closed in 2017. I went on it as a child, but wasn’t scared because it was enclosed. There were quite a few accidents as I recall, which is why most of these rides have been retired worldwide.

The most famous wooden rollercoaster in Blackpool is the Big Dipper, 1923, which is listed. My kids loved it, (I haven’t been on it), and people come from all over the world to ride it as it’s one of the world’s greatest/most famous wooden rollercoasters.

The other wooden coaster is the Grand National, 1935 - there’s only one other of its kind left in the world- again, coaster fans love it.

TBH, I don’t really like any fast/high rides myself and how ‘safe’ any of them anywhere are really, is up for debate, (look at the awful accidents that have happened at places like Thorpe Park, for example).

Having said that, Blackpool Pleasure Beach has always been a source of pride for people from Blackpool - it wouldn’t win any prizes for its landscaping- Disney it isn’t- but it has to meet the safety standards.

I have a soft spot for the Derby Racer - one of the few rides I wasn’t scared of as a child and am still annoyed that the owners destroyed the Noah’s Ark attraction,1922, and cannibalised it to use as the entrance/gift shop.

I used to have a picture of my Nana at the Pleasure Beach on one of the rides in the 1920s, whooping it up after she’d run off to the bright lights of Blackpool from Yorkshire. It will always have a place in my heart, but I do accept it’s not for everyone!

PleaseAskSomeoneWhoGivesAFuck · 12/10/2024 23:05

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 22:50

Didn't a child fall from a ride at Blackpool pleasure beach and die?

Link to report please

SabreIsMyFave · 12/10/2024 23:05

HundredMilesAnHour · 12/10/2024 22:00

The Wild Mouse at Blackpool was dismantled 6-7 years ago.

Good. About time! 😆

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:05

Rantypanties · 12/10/2024 23:03

Can you link to your source for the ride height please?

Do a quick search on it like I did, using the Internet, and you'll find it

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Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:04

PleaseAskSomeoneWhoGivesAFuck · 12/10/2024 23:03

It is not classed as a rollercoaster
For context, I have lived just down the road from Blackpool for 6 decades. I visit the pleasue Beach at least once a year. I have seen rides come and go (the mouse/wild mouse being an example)
As I said begfore, do you really think something that big can operate without a health and safety certificate?

It is classed as a rollercoaster!

Look up "steeplechase blackpool pleasure beach" online

The first thing that comes up online is

"The steeplechase is a three tracked rollercoaster"

You don't seem to know much about it!

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Rantypanties · 12/10/2024 23:03

Can you link to your source for the ride height please?

PleaseAskSomeoneWhoGivesAFuck · 12/10/2024 23:03

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 22:49

Some people have a bad memory. It's a steeplechase rollercoaster. Of course it goes high.

Look at the video on YouTube. In the second part of the video, steeplechase is very high.

If you fell from that height you would break bones.

It is not classed as a rollercoaster
For context, I have lived just down the road from Blackpool for 6 decades. I visit the pleasue Beach at least once a year. I have seen rides come and go (the mouse/wild mouse being an example)
As I said begfore, do you really think something that big can operate without a health and safety certificate?

MysteriousInspector · 12/10/2024 23:02

From looking at YouTube, the track undulates to give the feeling of jumping over fences, a bit like going over a humpbacked bridge. Which means it will feel different from an ordinary roller coaster.

Disclaimer; I have only been on a very tame rollercoaster suitable for kids, which confirmed my decision never to go on any of them.

The seat belt issue does sound like it needs addressing though.

Rantypanties · 12/10/2024 23:02

It’s advertised on the website as a white knuckle ride. What were you expecting?

Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:02

Merrilydancing · 12/10/2024 22:56

The steeplechase is legendary! I remember going on it as a child and being terrified as I’m pretty sure there wasn’t even the flimsy seatbelt in those days.

After remembering the terror, I obviously took my big thrill ride loving children on it and they were equally terrified. Job done as the baton has been passed onto the next generation!

Omg I'm trying to imagine it without even the flimsy seatbelt! You were brave!

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Roundthemoon · 12/10/2024 23:01

MargaretThursday · 12/10/2024 22:56

I remember people saying similar about 40 years ago.

I don't think anyone has been injured on it though. However there was a girl a couple of years above me at primary school who broke her leg on the Alice in Wonderland ride there.

Not sure what that says.

She broke her leg on the Alice in wonderland ride?

Ouch.

That ride is still there too

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