Sandstorm is Britain's first ever park
meteorite ride, installed at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1969 as the Astro Swirl. In 2000, it was renamed 'Millennium Bug', and is
pictured above in September 2002 in this latter guise. (Photograph:
Nick Laister).
The ride standing in the abandoned
Pleasureland in May 2007. (Photograph: Nick Laister).
Another view of the ride in May 2007.
(Photograph: Nick Laister).
Inside the ride in May 2007.
(Photograph: Nick Laister).
Another view of the ride in May 2007,
shortly before being packed away. The ride has deteriorated somewhat
since being moved into the open air at Southport, having operated
under cover for 34 years, however it is mechanically sound.
(Photograph: Nick Laister)
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History:
The National Fairground Archive
describes the meteorite ride as follows: "A simple
concept utilising centrifugal force. The wheel has
cage compartments on the circumference, and force
pins the riders against this (similar to a Rotor).
The axis inclines towards vertical and the riders
experience the centrifugal force combined with the
pull away/towards the cage through gravity as the
machine rotates." The
Meteorite previously operated at Blackpool Pleasure
Beach from 1969 to 2003 (called Astro Swirl and
later Millennium Bug, operating inside a dome
structure), where it was the first meteorite ride to
operate in a British amusement park. It then moved to Pleasureland
(Southport),
where it operated from 2004 until the park closed in
2006. It was built by Hrubetz
Dimensions: Height 42
ft, operating space 40 ft square, diameter of wheel
29 ft.
Importance: A similar
ride operated at Dreamland for a number of years.
This example has genuine historical significance,
being the first Meteorite to operate in an amusement
park in the UK (and only the second such ride to
ever operate in the country).
Latest: Now in
storage for use in the Heritage Park.
If you have any further
information on the history of this ride, please
email
nick@savedreamland.co.uk. |
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Click on the photographs for larger
versions. |
