originally posted on 9/30/2022 1:35:00 AM
Photo: Steve Gzesh. View full-sized image.
Tucked away in British Columbia, Playland at the Pacific
National Exhibition (PNE) is an amusement park for the summertime, while the
PNE hosts an annual 15-day summer fair and the PNE Fair from late August to
early September. Enthusiasts who have ventured to Vancouver to enjoy a day at
Playland know the park has a remarkable gem.
Photo: Courtesy of PNE. View full-sized image.
Photo: Mac Rush. View full-sized image.
Known simply as Coaster to many (or sometimes Playland
Wooden Coaster), the wooden marvel — while somewhat off the beaten track —
has been met with world renown from those who have experienced it.
It is the only remaining coaster (of three) from designer
Carl Phare. It was built in 1958, just four years before Phare passed away.
Recently, the coaster has undergone an extensive
refurbishment, which is always a good thing for fans of wooden roller coasters.
Photos: Courtesy of PNE. View full-sized image.
View full-sized image.
According to spokesperson Laura Ballance: “We knew that this
project would be a significant one to undertake and doing it during the slower
period during the COVID pandemic made sense.”
Coaster was closed for all of 2021 but reopened later
this summer.
“It took 18 months total,” said Ballance. “It was a
significant undertaking. In excess of 12,000 board feet of lumber was replaced,
so we did know that it would take time to complete. The real complexity of this
project was that it took a lot of analysis, engineering and technical expertise
to marry the science of using new wood in the place of older wood. We needed a
highly specialized engineering firm to do those calculations, and that took
time. To align with new safety standards, we also installed a new lap belt
system. This took time as we spent considerable effort to ensure that we had
modern safety technology while preserving the rider experience Coaster
is world famous for.”
This view from the second drop shows the layout coiled within itself.
Photo: Steve Gzesh. View full-sized image.
Photo: Steve Gzesh. View full-sized image.
To look at statistics, one isn’t overwhelmed with a sense of
“wow.” The ride stands at 75 feet tall and has a speed of 45 mph. Track length
is 2,840 feet. None of that, however, conveys the exhilarating fun of this
magnificent ride. Coaster exemplifies an out-of-control feel with its
solid drops, airtime and ever-tightening turns.
Photo: Courtesy of PNE. View full-sized image.
“Guests are loving it, although the addition of the lap
belts is an adjustment for some,” said Ballance. “It is our most popular ride
and a part of the fabric of the collective memory of our Province, so it was
very much missed, and we are happy that it is reopened and ready to thrill the
next generation of riders, and many more beyond that!”
PNE, a nonprofit organization, turned to Martin &
Vleminckx for the restoration. The refurbishment was not initiated because of
any safety issues but rather an upgrade to keep it running for another 60
years.
In the earlier years of ACE, there were fears that Coaster
could potentially be in danger of being removed in the later years of the 20th
century. Fortunately, those concerns have been put to rest. The PNE and
Playland are fully committed to the ride’s preservation. The attraction was
designated as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark in 2009.
Photo: Steve Gzesh. View full-sized image.
“Coaster is absolutely part of the Pacific National
Exhibition/Playland’s long-term planning for the site, and we believe that this
restoration ensures that Coaster will have the ability to operate for
many decades into the future at least,” said Ballance. “The entire team at
Playland is so proud of this ride and the work that was done to ensure it has a
long and illustrious future, and we hope the membership of ACE will consider an
official visit to the park soon!”
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
#ACENews