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Dreamland Margate Scenic Railway retired

Peet

Peet

Giga Poster
This is not wholly surprising given the many operational issues it has had since its rebuild, but still very disappointing. The Scenic Railway will no longer be operated as a ride and will be retained purely as a structure:

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Dreamland Margate on Instagram: "Creative Call Out, A New Vision For The Scenic Railway - We Need Your Input! If you want to submit a Scenic Railway reimagining proposal, or if you wish to provide memories or thoughts, please follow the link in our

52 likes, 0 comments - dreamlandmargate on January 27, 2026: "Creative Call Out, A New Vision For The Scenic Railway - We Need Your Input! If you want to submit a Scenic Railway reimagining proposal, or if you wish to provide memories or thoughts, please follow the link in our bio.".
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The Scenic Railway

A new future for Dreamland’s much loved 100+ year old Scenic Railway is being imagined, as its current purpose as a rollercoaster has come to an end.

The Scenic Railway has completed its journey as a roller coaster and will now take well-earned retirement from operation as a ride.

This is not the end but a new beginning. We are committed to developing a new long-term vision that will not only showcase this remarkable Grade II* listed structure but reimagine its purpose, so it can continue to be enjoyed by future generations in a fresh and meaningful way.

This summer we will be hosting a pop-up exhibit celebrating the history of The Scenic Railway. In the longer term, it will be re-invented for people to enjoy in a different way.

If you are a creative thinker with a practical approach, or a dreamer with a thoughtful and achievable vision, we would love to hear from you. Your ideas will help shape what comes next for this Margate icon.
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From : https://www.dreamland.co.uk/the-future-of-the-scenic-railway

I (creatively) suggest they RMC-it. :(
 
Hixee said:
Surprising to me. Not that I've kept up with it at all, but I hadn't realised it was struggling. I really enjoyed my ride on it back in 2022.
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It was delayed opening in 2015 for about 6 months, then a few years later it stood SBNO for a long time (I think more than a year) due to some issue with the lift hill cable. Then of course the derailment in 2024 from which it hasn't reopened. Even in between these major problems it wasn't reliable in my experience - I visited 5 times since the reopening and it was closed on 3 of those occasions (and half the day on one of the other occasions). The original ran pretty reliably for 86 years.

It was a very fun ride even for a seasoned thrillseeker - accessible for the whole family and really enjoyable for all. A very sad loss, although in all honesty the historic value was lost in the 2008 fire.

In the last decade we've now lost the Wild Mouse, The Ultimate, Megafobia and The Scenic Railway - four of the most unique rides the UK had to offer.
 
It was one of the best woodies in England, in my opinion, but they seem to have struggled to make the amusement park thrive in general (some of the rides went to Great Yarmouth etc).

I must admit I don't visit the place as much as I used to, but it was so good when it was Bembom Bros, and also in the early 2000s when it had the Silver Arrow.
 
They are making more than enough money generated from all the concerts they are doing there these days to get this operational again.

Saying it’s only the beginning of its life it’s just ended as a rollercoaster is a complete cop out, they just don’t want to spend the money to repair it. A real shame.
 
This sucks, I was really hoping to get this one some day. Was just waiting for the reopening date. I already missed out on Ultimate and only did the original Megafobia, we're losing so much unique stuff in the UK.
 
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A lot of public money was spent on the park, and part of the justification was the listed historically important roller coaster. It seems when the council sold to Live Nation, they failed to ensure proper safeguards for the coaster. Live Nation are avoiding the expense, but they risk losing the essence of the place in my opinion. Can't blame a business for making money, can blame Kent Council for not protecting it.
 
Live Nation, eh? That doesn't surprise me. There's a documentary on Netflix about a concert run by Live Nation that went horribly wrong, they do seem to put money over safety.
 
Wait the place is owned by Live Nation?? Oh. Okay. Doesn't surprise me then at all lmfao. But yeah, this is sad, even if the current structure isn't as historic.
 
Live Nation bought it in 2023 and unfortunately Dreamland is now nothing more than an outdoor concert venue.
 
This is so disappointing. The derailment happened about a week before a trip we had booked to Margate with this coaster as the main reason. Still went, but the (tiny) park had no other attractions of much interest to adults.

This one seemed to be less well-regarded than the one at Yarmouth, which I personally thought was pretty weak in terms of ride experience (maybe depends on which brakeman you get?) - but from a heritage perspective it's definitely really sad to lose it. Especially as the damage didn't really look like the kind of thing it couldn't have come back from.
 
Press release from the Dreamland Heritage Trust below - expressing disappointment but there's no indication that there is anything that can be done to fight to keep the ride operating:

Press Release 27th January 2026

Statement from The Dreamland Heritage Trust on the Retirement of the Scenic Railway

It is with great sadness that The Dreamland Heritage Trust notes the decision by Dreamland’s operator Sands Heritage Ltd, now majority-owned by Live Nation Entertainment, to retire the Scenic Railway from operation as a ride.

Dreamland Heritage Trust, formerly The Dreamland Trust, was established following the Save Dreamland Campaign and played a central role in negotiating and securing major capital funding for the full restoration, continued repair, and operation of the Scenic Railway. This funding included grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sea Change, and the Coastal Communities Fund, and was explicitly intended to support the Scenic Railway’s ongoing operation for a period lasting until 2037.

Whilst we recognise the technical complexities and economic challenges associated with maintaining and operating such a unique and historic attraction. However, it was our understanding, and the basis on which this funding was secured, that the resources provided were sufficient to ensure the continued existence and operation of the Scenic Railway throughout this agreed period.

The Dreamland Heritage Trust (DHT) is therefore particularly disappointed that, despite repeated attempts to engage, the current owners of Dreamland, did not involve the DHT in discussions regarding the future of the Scenic Railway. As the oldest roller coaster in the UK and one of only a small number of wooden roller coasters remaining worldwide, the Scenic Railway holds heritage significance of national and international importance. This status is formally recognised through its Grade II* listing, denoting a structure of exceptional historic interest.

DHT remains committed to promoting and safeguarding the unique heritage of Dreamland. Through our extensive archive and ongoing work, we will continue to share the story and significance of the Scenic Railway and Dreamland Park with the public.

In this context, we welcome Sands Heritage/Live Nation's announcement of a pop-up exhibition celebrating the history of the Scenic Railway and note positively their stated intention to host a public engagement event inviting ideas for its future. Meaningful consultation will be essential in shaping any long-term vision for this landmark structure.

Given the Scenic Railway’s prominent position within Dreamland, we hope these commitments will ensure it retains a central and active role within the park, avoiding the fate of other historic Dreamland buildings, such as the former cinema. Which is currently closed to the public, and the Buffet Building, which continues to deteriorate and instead allowing the Scenic Railway to remain a visible and valued part of Dreamland’s living heritage.

The Dreamland Heritage Trust stands ready to contribute constructively to discussions about the Scenic Railway’s future and reiterates its commitment to ensuring that this irreplaceable icon is preserved, respected, and meaningfully enjoyed by future generations.
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Edit: more info in the article below. The owners are saying that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) led an investigation into the 2024 incident and has advised them that to operate the ride they need to perform certain daily inspections, which the owners claim will take five hours per day, hence the decision to close the ride:
theisleofthanetnews.com

Dreamland to put historic Scenic Railway into ‘retirement’

The Grade II* listed Scenic Railway is no longer ‘viable’ to be operated as a ride, Dreamland bosses have told Thanet council. The ride, which marks its 106th anniversary this year, was put out of…
theisleofthanetnews.com theisleofthanetnews.com
 
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Peet said:
Edit: more info in the article below. The owners are saying that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) led an investigation into the 2024 incident and has advised them that to operate the ride they need to perform certain daily inspections, which the owners claim will take five hours per day, hence the decision to close the ride:
theisleofthanetnews.com

Dreamland to put historic Scenic Railway into ‘retirement’

The Grade II* listed Scenic Railway is no longer ‘viable’ to be operated as a ride, Dreamland bosses have told Thanet council. The ride, which marks its 106th anniversary this year, was put out of…
theisleofthanetnews.com theisleofthanetnews.com
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Sounds like a convenient excuse. :D
 
Sad loss. Always easy to say once it's too late, but this was very much in a state of "as soon as it reopens I'm there" for me. Though my (adult) credding career only started less than a year before the derailment, it's still disappointing to have let such a significant piece of local history fall through my fingers.

Of course its length of service is to be admired and nothing lasts forever, but I've only known it during its Trigger's Broom phase and it's hard to believe that both the proverbial head and handle were almost entirely replaced barely a decade ago and it's already somehow beyond saving. Can only assume it was seen as a liability compared to the simple, low-maintenance concert venue the park's now known for.
 
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