A Reflective Look at Dreamland

TRIP REPORT
20 Jul 2002 :: This was just about the craziest day of my entire first European trip (save the time when I was stuck in Paris ... Madrid ... Paris again). After roughly a 5 hour drive, we reached Dreamland in the

Dreamland Entrance

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

seaside town of Margate. An odd looking place which at first glance resembled a tiny concrete jungle. Travelers continuing onto the continent had only about 45 minutes or so at the park. Crowds were light (until the Americans arrived). I wasted NO time in scrambling onto the 1920 Scenic Railway as this was to be the creme de la creme of the day as well as one of 150 different roller coasters I was to ride last year. Later after we left, it was learned that a car had caught fire in one of the nearby parking lots.

DREAMLAND FUN PARK

Preparing Transfer Track

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

The 82 year old coaster station smelled of old wood which was nice. Peering down the long straightaway I noticed 15 benches of rolling stock coming toward me! I had never before witnessed an elevated seat and a brake lever onboard for the brakeman to gently trim the train as it rolls. It seemed that they were going to have to add a second train to the circuit. Staff members actually picked up planks in the floor and manually laid curved tiny transfer tracks in the floor and pushed the blue train onto the track.

Brakeman Seat & Lever

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

As the train pushes off and curves toward the first lift hill, we wave as the cars roll past picnic tables and park patrons. You are greeted by a series of giant wheels that look like pulleys stringing the cable along bringing you to the top. Slowly but gently the train rolls along the dips. Thrills & chills are not to be had on this ride, but rather mild & gentle airtime coupled with awesome views & feeling the wind in your face. Trusting the brakeman is essential due to the fact that there are no upstop wheels to prevent the train from ever leaving the track. He does a good job and perhaps a little too good as we barely have any speed on the turns.

The layout is simple; a double out-and-back in the form of elongated, concentric ovals. After cresting the lift hill we encounter a nice surprise, a double dip (track element consisting of two consecutive drops separated by a flat stretch of track, accentuating the effect). Reaching the other side, we make a not so brief curve

Double Lift Hills

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

and in turn receive a spectacular view of Looping Star for our efforts. We head back while passing what looks to be an old building in the center of the coaster. Turning a second time, yet another more elevated, inside layer of track awaits. In the latter half - another lift hill which is higher and another double dip! Finally a third double dip awaits as we head back toward the other end and turn under the structure to arrive in the station and be greeted by well wishers.

Exiting the railway lent a few moments for taking some outside shots of Looping Star and it was off to jump in line. As there was only one train left due to the fire when the ride was at Camelot, jumping on the ride was not as speedy as had hoped. This presented itself as a wonderful opportunity to snap the ride in motion.

Major First Drop

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

Eventually blue sky prevailed, however overcast was the order of the day while snapping photos. Ratcheted in just like Anton would have wanted me to be, we ascend the hill and race valiantly into the only loop. After descending 40 ft, we race into a couple of sweeping spirals before heading to the "other" side to dive right into a double helix. It felt a lot like Scorpion at Busch Gardens Tampa, USA and was a little more than a blur.

Next up was the recent Blue Coaster from L&T. While others went for the lesser attractions hoping that the line would die down for the "railway" ... it didn't. This one had a small 360° turn followed by a small bunny hop. Reminded me of the boxy Joust from Dutch Wonderland, USA. A quick turn, some snapshots and I was off to the 4 year old Wild Mouse. Having ridden a slew of wild mouse rides the week before, I was becoming an old hand if not a pro.

Wooden Spiral Slide

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

The old Helter Skelter wooden slide was a neat attraction in my opinion; I had never visited one of these before. After climbing a spiral staircase to reach the top, you could either slide down with or without a burlap bag. Pausing to snap a few pictures and down I went! After racing around for outside perspective shots of the Scenic Railway, it was truly a mad dash to find a toilet and purchase "the last Dreamland postcard". I'm not kidding, Tim Baldwin had just picked up a couple before me!

ROTUNDA AMUSEMENT PARK
Safe and sound on the coach, we departed for Rotunda Park in Folkestone, also owned by Jim Godden for more than 25 years. A nice lady

Most of the Runaway Coaster Circuit

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

greeted us and being on the outstanding orange coach meant that we were among the first to arrive. Here we found an old side-friction coaster, where there are side friction wheels that roll along running boards keeping each car in check. I elected for video instead of digital stills on the Runaway Coaster. After this it was a quick jaunt over to the spinning Magic Mouse ... or so we thought. Because of a control software revision that had not yet arrived, one car was launched through the circuit at a time. This meant that sadly not all my compatriots would get to ride both rides. There was a small dark ride with a rather big exposed dip which

Runaway's Lift Hill

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

I did ride. Then I ventured down the pebble beach to dip into the English Channel, and made a quick phone call home to convey the next time you hear my voice I would indeed be a frenchman as we were catching a P&O Stena hovercraft from Dover to Calais.

Now Rotunda Park's fate has been sealed as it is very nearing to be closed for good and most of the memories bulldozed away in an effort to re-zone and re-develop the land more profitably by Trent Developments Ltd. The Runaway Coaster is portable and is only the second of two side-friction coasters left in the world today. The Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain (RCCGB) is currently looking for a buyer.

SAVING DREAMLAND
Dreamland originally opened in 1920 on what was then the site of George Sanger's old Margate Zoo and Gardens. It was owned and operated by promoter C.C. Bartram and businessman John Henry Iles. Iles actually owned the European rights to the scenic railway and eventually went bankrupt in 1938 providing his son, Eric Iles, with the opportunity to assume the reigns. The Second World War put an end to this as Margate is on the southern English coast and thus hunkered down for an invasion which never took place. The Battle of Britain became the Battle of London. Hitler's Luftwaffe decided to bomb by night, but the British resolve stood fast and tenses were eased in Margate.

Bill Butlin, "Holiday Camp" mogul, infused some much needed capital and reopened the park 6 June 1946 including a carousel belonging to the old Gray fairs of the 1930s where it remained until the 1970s. It was during the 1950s and 60s that Dreamland enjoyed its hey days until Brighton Pier and

Wild Mouse & Log Flume

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

inland parks started to gain market share & popularity.

The park was taken over by the Bembom Brothers from 1982 to 1995, and briefly named it the "Bembom Brothers White Knuckle Theme Park". Jim Godden finally took over the park from the brothers in 1995 and the name reverted back to the original "Dreamland". Godden managed to secure an £800,000 (Approx $1,265,600 USD) grant from the European Union to make cosmetic and restorative improvements. Many rides such as the Big Wheel, Looping Star roller coaster, and old Water Chute were removed along with sadly many of the trees on the property. Dreamland reopened again to the public 30 March 1996. Still the park went downhill year and year despite adding used roller coaster, junior steel coaster, dark ride, wild mouse, and a log flume culminating in may very well be the last year for the largest amusement park in Kent - Dreamland.

Rotunda Entrance Sign

© Coastin' Carl D Ragan

Jim Godden has also sold Dreamland to Stadium Developments Ltd out of Yorkshire. Because of this Nick Laister has started a campaign not only to save the park but to save the United Kingdom's oldest roller coaster. He along with the help of Dave Page and many others also was instrumental in getting "listed" status for the ride and is somewhat protected. What this means is that the land is supposed to be offered and bid upon by the open market and this has not happened. The people of Margate, townsfolk, city planners, Thanet council members, and commission all need to make their case. Regardless of whether the motives be political, profit bearing, or historical, in the end Dreamland and its historical roller coaster will live on in our collective memories and with reflective look backs such as this one.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have compiled a bevy of outside resources you may find interesting. For up-to-date happenings regarding the "Save Dreamland Campaign" you can visit www.savedreamland.co.uk. If you feel the need to write your comments down, drop a note in the mail to:

Planning Services (Re: Dreamland)
Thanet District Council
PO Box 9
Cecil Street
Margate
Kent
CT9 1XZ

Thank you for visiting.

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