Scenic Railway Destroyed

The Scenic Railway (1), (2) and (3) [front seat] at the Dreamland site in Margate has gone up in flames. Fire rips through rollercoaster (7th April, 2008) and resiting this Grade II listed structure (since 2002) will not now be necessary as there can be no sensible financial method of restoring the old, badly damaged and consequentially very dangerous wooden affair. The speculative plans for regenerating Margate that would involve moving the Scenic Railway to a place of prominence are also unnecessary.

However, plans are being considered that would have the ride repaired. Presumably, the insurance will cover this as long as arson is not proven. It would also (presumably) end up being moved on the cheap. Theoretically.

Assuming the ride is moved, the site can be developed as it is no longer constrained by the expensive Scenic Railway problem. It will have gone away. It just happens that it is convenient from every angle where money is involved. Spend nothing and 'make' a fortune.

This following extract came from Thanet Concrete Jungle (11th November, 2007)

"The only remaining vestige of Dreamland will be the very old and very wooden Scenic Railway

In the 1980s Dreamland was owned by the Bembom Brothers and the park operated under the name "Bembom Brothers Theme Park", later to be owned by Jimmy Godden and the land sold on in January 2003 to developers who have no plans to continue any sort of amusement establishment. The plan proceeds well and it's now been lying dormant for nearly four years. The time will soon come when the balance between waiting and land value increase is at its optimum for development. Public opinion will begin to lean on the development side since the regeneration/rejuvenation of the dead town will become the main issue on the agenda. Thanet District Council will be 'pressured' to act, but the plan will then simply be moved onto the next phase."