General Chat / Big Dipper Crash

Yesterday a train of the Big Dipper became jammed at the top of one of the numerous airtime hills of the 86 year old ride. Another ride train then crashed into the back of it injuring 21 people, spinal and neck injury's were reported. Some passengers were stuck on the ride, injured for up to two hours while firemen rescued them.

The full story is here : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8196617.stm

If you are wondering this is the Big Dipper at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach, UK. The ride was designed by Miller and built by William Stickler in 1923, the ride was extended in 1936 by Charlie Paige and Joe Emberton. It is currently one of five woodies at the park and with Rollercoaster (1933) being semi-retired this year is it time for the Dipper?

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Is it just me or are the numbers signifantly up this year as far as amusement park malfunctions, accidents, injuries, deaths etc. It seems like we hear a new story about something bad happening regularly

Wow... This accident involved more people that I can remember being involved in an accident at a park, at one time. Hopefully the ride will survive this.

Another ride train then crashed into the back of it injuring 21 people, spinal and neck injury's were reported.

Those spinal and neck injuries were probably already there before the accident Big Dipper is incredibly rough.

Wow... This accident involved more people that I can remember being involved in an accident at a park, at one time. Hopefully the ride will survive this.

i feel like there were more in one story a few years ago when Superman at SFNE crashed into another train in the station when the brakes failed. this is sad too, though.

Ah, but did the train explode? That's something I never understood about RCT. Coaster trains don't explode!

It is a shame, though, to see such a historic attraction crash.