Big Dipper (Luna Park Sydney)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Big Dipper was a wooden roller coaster operating at Luna Park Sydney from 1935 until 1979. It was demolished in 1981.
| Big Dipper | |
| Location | Luna Park Sydney |
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| Type | Wood |
| Status | Demolished in 1981 |
| Opened | 1935 |
| Height | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Length | 2,623 ft (799 m) |
| Inversions | None |
| Duration | 3 min (approx) |
| Big Dipper at RCDB Pictures of Big Dipper at RCDB |
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First constructed in 1930 to an American design, the wooden Big Dipper roller coaster was a mainstay of Luna Park Glenelg during its four years of operation. The ride was dismantled and shipped to Sydney when the Glenelg park went into voluntary liquidation in 1934, where it became the biggest attraction of the newly-opened Luna Park Milson's Point.
The ride was 800 metres long, lasted three minutes, could reach speeds of 84 km/h, and when all three roller coaster trains were operating, could carry 72 people.
The Big Dipper remained popular throughout its operating life. The coaster was demolished and burnt, along with most of the 'old' Luna Park, when Australian Amusements Associates took over the site on June 3, 1981. Two of the nine roller coaster cars were purchased at the auction before the demolition; one is on display within Luna Park today, while the other is part of the Powerhouse Museum collection.[1]
[edit] Incidents
On 26 April 1946, a 33-year-old man from New Caledonia was killed on the ride.[2] He disobeyed safety instructions by sitting on the edge of a train car, and was thrown from the ride on one of the corners and into a support pole.[2]
On April 16, 1979, 13 people were injured on the Big Dipper.[3] A steel runner had come loose, halting one of the three rollercoaster trains.[3] The following train rammed the stationary one, causing the injuries.[3]
[edit] Successor
In 1994, a steel roller coaster was installed at Luna Park, and was given the Big Dipper name. Legal action against the new roller coaster led to significant restrictions in its operational availability, contributed to the 1996 closure of Luna Park, and was sold to Dreamworld in 2001, where it currently operates as Cyclone.
[edit] References
- Marshall, Sam (2005). Luna Park - Just for fun, 2nd edition, Sydney, Australia: Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd. ISBN 0-646-44807-2.
- Historical information boards located at Luna Park Sydney
- ^ 99/3/1 Carriage, roller coaster, Big Dipper.... Powerhouse Museum Collection Search. Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
- ^ a b Marshall (2005). Pg. 82
- ^ a b c Marshall (2005). Pgs. 108-109
