Grand National (roller coaster)
| Grand National | |
|---|---|
| Pleasure Beach Blackpool | |
| Coordinates | 53°47′31″N 3°03′11″W / 53.79194°N 3.05306°WCoordinates: 53°47′31″N 3°03′11″W / 53.79194°N 3.05306°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1935 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood – Racing |
| Designer | Charles Paige |
| Model | Racing |
| Track layout | Möbius Loop |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift |
| Height | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Drop | 54 ft (16 m) |
| Length | 3,302 ft (1,006 m) |
| Speed | 40 mph (64 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Max vertical angle | 39° |
| G-force | 3.2 |
| Height restriction | 46 in (117 cm) |
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Grand National at RCDB Pictures of Grand National at RCDB |
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The Grand National is a wooden roller coaster at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool. It was designed and constructed by Charles Paige in 1935 and is now one of only three surviving Möbius Loop roller coasters in the world and the only one in Eurasia. It is themed and named after the Grand National; with elements of the ride signposted to mimic features of the horse race. The trains climb the lift-hill and pass under the 'They're Off' sign and race through 'Becher's Brook', 'Valentine's' and 'Canal Turn' before returning to the 'Winning Post'. The ride stands at 62 feet high and has a track length of 3302 feet (6604 in total).
The ride was designated as a Grade II listed building on 19 April 2017.
Andy Hine, the chairman of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, was married on the ride in the early 1990s. A plaque with his name is installed on one of the trains.
On 20 May 2004, an electrical fault in the lighting system of the roof of the station caused a fire which destroyed the station and parts of two adjacent rides as well as the trains of the ride. The station was rebuilt and new trains installed and the ride re-opened on 28 October 2004 after repairs were completed.
At the start of 2010, Pleasure Beach staff said that due to an electrical fault the ride had, it would not run for some time. However it was running again in July 2010.
In 2014, 58-year-old Robert Sycamore broke his neck whilst riding.
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