Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort opens investigation amid Big Dipper 'derailment' rumours on social media

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has responded after social media posts claimed its historic Big Dipper rollercoaster had ‘derailed’.

Videos shared online appeared to show broken wooden slats between the ride's two rails, prompting speculation among some social media users that the century-old rollercoaster had derailed.

However, the resort has confirmed that the incident in question involved the ride coming to a stop, requiring the passengers to be escorted from the attraction. Pleasure Beach Resort said that that all guests were safely removed from the ride and that no injuries were reported.

A spokesperson from Pleasure Beach Resort said: “The Big Dipper came to a stop Thursday July 23, around 2pm, at a very low point in the ride. Following this, a manual deboarding took place with guests guided safely by trained operators. All guests were checked by first aid trained staff, with no injuries reported.

“An internal investigation is taking place to determine the root cause.”

Historic

The Big Dipper is one of Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort's most recognisable attractions and has become synonymous with the resort over more than a century of operation. The wooden rollercoaster is now officially the oldest operating rollercoaster in the UK following the closure of the 100-year-old Scenic Railway at Dreamland in Margate.

Recognisable by its distinctive "onion" or "teardrop" toppers, the Big Dipper remains one of the country's best-known wooden rollercoasters and continues to attract generations of thrill-seekers.

The attraction was designed by renowned rollercoaster engineer John A. Miller and built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company at a reported cost of £22,000. It officially opened to the public on 23 August 1923 before being extended in 1934 by American engineer Charles Paige, who added further drops and the arches over the park's south entrance.

The track stretches for 3,295ft and features five drops, sweeping bends and banked turns, reaching speeds of up to 56km/h. Riders experience a maximum vertical angle of 46 degrees and forces of up to 3.7G during the three-minute ride, which can carry up to 672 passengers per hour when operating at full capacity.

In recognition of its historic importance, the Big Dipper was granted Grade II listed status by Historic England in 2017. It is also one of just 37 surviving pre-Second World War wooden rollercoasters in the world, with four of those located at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The resort says an internal investigation is now underway to determine what caused Thursday afternoon's stoppage.