Scenic Railway (Dreamland)

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Coordinates: 51°23′7″N 1°22′39″E / 51.38528, 1.3775

Scenic Railway
The Scenic Railway
Location	Dreamland Margate
Type	Wood
Status	SBNO
Opened	7/3/1920
Inversions	0
Scenic Railway at RCDB Pictures of Scenic Railway at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

The Scenic Railway was the United Kingdom's oldest surviving roller coaster,^[1] and the second oldest in the world.^[2] It was one of the attractions at the former theme park Dreamland in Kent. The ride was built in 1920,^[1] and still had a brakeman who controlled the speed via a large lever operated from his elevated seat.^[2]

As of 2002 the ride was Grade II listed - the first, and only, amusement park attraction to achieve this status.^[3]

Dreamland closed in 2003,^[4] although the ride remained open until 2005.

The Scenic Railway was severely damaged by a fire on 7th April 2008, which police believe was started deliberately.^[5] Over one third of the ride, including the lift hill and the cars, were completely destroyed.^[6]

In a press release issued the day after the fire, the local council indicated that the owners of the Dreamland site will be required to rebuild The Scenic Railway^[7].

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• There is also a similar roller coaster (including a brakeman) with the same name at Luna Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia which is also Heritage listed.
• The Kenny Everett Television Show featured the ride in a sketch.
• Characters from the "Only Fools and Horses" 1989 BBC TV Christmas special The Jolly Boys' Outing rode the Scenic Railway.

[edit] References