Blackpool Pleasure Beach Ocean Boulevard, South Sore, Blackpool, Lancashire, UK
![[Photo of Big-One]](thebig1.jpg)
This ride ride opened with a lot of biggest, fastest hype (both have since been disputed). Consequently we went to BPB in June 1994 with great expectations. It looked impressive but except for the initial drop, failed to deliver. Ruth went back on the ride in October 1996 and is pleased the ride seems to have been made faster.
The picture shows the drag lift entering half way up the left
side of the frame and travelling away from the camera position.
The track then turns ninety degrees towards the observer while
it also drops at an alarming rate. The second photo here is a view straight down at the ground from
near the top of the first-drop. You can tell the view is straight down beacuse you can
see the perspective of the support leg. It is also clear how steep the first drop actually
is!
Unfortunately the trough of the first-drop may as well be the
end of the ride. All that follows is a bit of twisting and turning
and some gentle undulating before returning to the station.
The Desperado (a very similar coaster) in Nevada, USA, is, I think,
a better coaster. Its first drop sweeps right down to ground level
and through a small man-made hill; much more thrilling than the
one here.
![[VideoSnap of Big1]](thebig1a.jpg)
The designer of The Big One and Desperado has
not ridden on either coaster: He says his life-time of designing
coasters allows him to work completely from plans and computer
simulation. I think both rides are disappointing and would like
to see someone with more of a passion for the ride, rather
than the height and speed, given a chance.
The first photo goes a small way to show how over-crowded this park
is. It does, however, often win the Roller Coaster Club of
Great Britain members' vote for favourite park.
The park boasts numerous wooden frame roller-coasters: The
Big Dipper is clearly visible in the foreground of this picture.
Another notable coaster is the Grand National, of the type
where two trains race each other.
See also:
o Unofficial BPB Web Site by enthusiast Robert J Baker. http://ds.dial.pipex.com/ecc/club/members/bpb/