Puisia vuoristoratoja maailmalla / Wooden Rollercoasters on the world

Harvinaisia ovat puiset Vuoristoradat, joissa on vielä jarrumies mukana. It is wery rare now days, the wooden Rollercoaster driven by the brakeman.

Great Yarmouth Pleasure beach

Established: 1932
Address: Sea Front, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Tel: 01493 844585
Website: www.pleasure-beach.co.uk

Rollercoaster

Type: Wood, Double Out & Back,
Features: Partially Enclosed, Brakeman, Bench Seats
Manufacturer: Erich Heidrich
Opened: 1932
Inversions: 0
Ride Time: 2m 30s
Max Speed: 45 mph/ 73 kph
Highest Drop: 50 ft/ 15m

This is main attraction of the park, and one of only two roller coasters. A wonderful example of the golden age of roller coasters from the 1920's and 1930's, the ride oozes nostalgia from the wooden plank floor of the station, through the large 10-person cars, complete with headlights; (three cars make up the train), to the almost unique respect of having a brakeman riding the train as it travels the circuit. He rides on a single seat mounted above the coupling between the first and second cars, and is responsible for braking the train when it is traversing the circuit and on its return to the station. This means that every ride is slightly different, depending on how fast the brakeman lets the train travel!

The ride was designed and built by Erich Heidrich of Hamburg, who was also responsible for the ride's rebuild at the Pleasure Beach. He stayed to manage the it until the outbreak of World War Two.

Margate's Dreamland Amusement Park

Address: Marine Terrace, Margate England 
Phone number: 01843 227011 Local, 01843 298667 FAX 
Scenic Railway: Built 1920

When you look around at some of the 'thrill' sports, like parachuting, bungee jumping and climbing tall buildings without ropes then you may think that working in a fairground is tame by comparison. But imagine what it's like riding a roller coaster all day long and it's you who controls it! DAVE PAGE sat behind the brakeman on Dreamland's Scenic.

We all know what it's like when asked what we do for a living. There are those of us who get really enthusiastic in telling all about their occupations and there are those who would rather drop the subject straight away. But imagine what it must be like to tell someone that you drive a roller coaster for a living, that would certainly get everyone's attention at a dinner party!

Margate's Dreamland actually employs people to do just that on their Scenic Railway, or rather it pays people to ride with the old coaster to stop it flying off into the North Sea - talk about a career with lots of ups and downs! But joking apart, it's also a job that carries great responsibility and requires skill. The train is pulled up the lift hills by a cable instead of a chain and the brakeman sits on an elevated seat between cars one and two. He uses a giant lever to grab the cable and slow the cars down when needed. There is absolutely nothing automatic on the Scenic!

LUNA PARK MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

LUNA PARK, located in the bayside suburb of St. Kilda on the outskirts of Melbourne was first opened in 1912. The Scenic Railway roller coaster, still in full operation to this day, is classified as the oldest operating roller coaster in the world. Since opening, the park has been a famous Melbourne Icon. There are not many Victorians or Melbournians who can say that they have never visited the park. Mr Moonface on the entrance, to me, has always looked wicked and frightening but the park has a history of another scary regular who once lurked about inside.

Demographics 
Park: Luna Park 
Type: Wooden 
Status: Operating since 1912 

glossary

Brakeman

A staff member, who rides on a coaster with the rides, who controls a train mounted brake. His job is to keep the speed reasonable. Most often found on Scenic Railways.

Brakes

Device used to slow or stop the train. These are places at strategic places along the track to keep the train within reasonable speed (as in the rides specs. , or within park tolerances, which are often not the same as the enthusiasts tolerance) Brakes are almost always located on the track instead of the train. Brakes come in many different varieties:

Check Brake

A brake that is generally not active, but is part of the Block Safety system, if a train attempts to pass these brakes, before the next checkpoint is cleared, the check brake will stop the train in order to prevent a collision.

Fin Brake

Newer form of coaster brake. Consists of mounting a 'fin' on the underside of each car. These fins pass through a set of calipers that can squeeze shut, thus stopping the train. These brakes are very effective and can cause harsh stops.

Scarf Brake

Used to slow the train down. These are usually pre-set and are consistent. A scarf brake can only slow the train down however, they can't stop one.

Skid Brake

Older form of coaster brake, consists of two long, thin parallel platforms that raise the train up, so it's wheels aren't touching the track. Train slows/stops due to friction. This form of brake is ineffective if wet.

Trim Brake

A brake used to slow the train down. These brakes are variable, and can adjust to keep the train within certain speed limits. A trim brake can also stop a train if needed.

Scenic Railways:

Keeping with the original purpose of the ride, sightseeing, and the low speeds soon people got tired of just seeing people, so the rides were built with dioramas on the sides, to make people think they were traveling through exotic lands. Some even used crude automata. For these rides, the seats were turned to face forward. A noticeable feature on this ride is that the brake is built into the train and not the track, and a skilled brakeman rides with the riders, and controls speed as well as stops the train. This line of rides, grew to be the Dark Rides.