News: August 2004

In  January 2003 the owner of Dreamland, Jimmy Godden, announced the closure of Dreamland. The park is to be redeveloped as "leisure boxes, some retail and a supermarket". Joyland Books will provide updates on the campaign to save Dreamland and its internationally-important Scenic Railway ride.

Click here for the latest news

Thursday, 19 August 2004 [UPDATED 1 September 2004]

Come and celebrate the last days of Dreamland…well, the last for 2004 anyway!

The Save Dreamland Campaign is hosting a special evening to mark the final weekend of the season for everyone’s favourite at-risk amusement park. 'Dreamland says Goodnight’ is our big event on Saturday 4th September. Come along, have some fun, share your memories – and your grand plans for the park’s future! – and meet fellow campaigners.

The one-and-only Scenic Railway will be running on the evening of Saturday 4 September, from 7pm to midnight – giving you the rare chance to ride in the dark and appreciate the beauty of the Scenic by night, all lit up and evoking memories of the Magic Gardens.

UPDATE: Tickets are £10 each and that buys you unlimited rides on the Scenic Railway between 7pm and midnight and also entitles you to a voucher for free food and drink (one free burger, hot dog or vegetarian option plus one free hot or cold drink). Your ticket also means you can fast-track the queues! Remember, this could be your last chance to ride this Grade II listed roller coaster!

As a special bonus, Nick Evans, author of ‘Dreamland Remembered’, will be on hand signing and selling the last few remaining copies of his phenomenally successful book, as well as selling Dreamland postcard sets and mugs. We also have a couple of other surprises up our sleeves – but you have to come along to find out what they are!

If you would like to attend, please assemble at the Scenic Railway station from 7pm, where tickets will be on sale. It is open to all, so bring your family and friends and show decision-makers that we care about the future of Dreamland and its Scenic Railway. For those who don’t want to take advantage of the special £10 ‘rides and food’ offer, single ride tickets are also available at £1. You won’t ride a wooden roller coaster in this country for less!

See you there!

Friday, 13 August 2004

Buy your own piece of Dreamland history. Billie, the old Dreamland locomotive, is currently being advertised for sale. The rare Barnes Atlantic 15" Gauge loco is being sold by Canterbury-based Preston Services (www.prestonservices.co.uk) for £40,000. Built by A Barnes of Rhyl to a Henry Greenly design, it was new to the Dreamland Railway in 1920, therefore it was, along with the Scenic Railway, an original feature of the park. It is described as being "complete and in fair condition" and also comes with a quantity of 15" gauge rolling stock (although these cost extra).

Read more about the history of Dreamland in the highly recommended book, Dreamland Remembered, available from Joyland Books.