The Grand National

The Grand National is a timber-framed rollercoaster built in 1935 by Charles Paige and Harry G Traver. The station was rebuilt in 1990 to designs by Joseph Emberton and has undergone later modifications. It is constructed primarily of timber with steel reinforcements, with the station featuring concrete and glass elements.

The ride is situated on the east side of the northern half of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, with the station positioned close to the visitor entrance. The plan is broadly L-shaped, running east-west at its western end and north-south at its eastern end.

The main track sits atop two parallel vertical grids of timber, whose varying heights cause the track to rise and fall. These grids are connected and braced by horizontal timbers at regular intervals, with diagonal timbers running from each corner to its opposite. Additional diagonal bracing is found on the face of each grid, and raking shores provide support at high level. The rails comprise layered timber boards with wider top layers to retain the under-friction wheels. A shallow metal strip is fixed along the top of the boards for the running wheels, with similar strips running along the inner face for side friction wheels and along the soffit of the top boards in areas where negative-G is achieved.

From the station, short curves loop and descend to the north and south before heading east, with the south loop crossing under the northern inward route, to reach the lift hill. The lift hill rises from west to east to a height of 62 feet above ground. The lifting mechanism comprises a looped chain running up the centre of each track, operating on geared sprockets driven by an electric motor.

From the top of the lift hill, the track turns north and descends through a double dip followed by a steep rise. It then makes a high-level 195-degree right turn at the park boundary with Bond Street before heading back towards the lift hill through two drops with a crest between. The track then turns away again through a left-hand 195-degree aeroplane bend towards the north-west corner, dipping twice below ground level and rising again. It runs through the superstructure below the higher-level track with a 195-degree right turn, then exits to run alongside Bond Street parallel with the first descent, passing through three dips separated by crests. Re-entering the superstructure below the aeroplane bend, it turns 90 degrees to the right before exiting and descending parallel with the lift hill through bunny hops, passing beneath an access bridge, rising again and splitting into the station after 3,400 feet. A complete circuit comprising two rides would measure double this distance.

The station comprises a central timber platform with a glazed timber control-house at its east end and accessed by steps at the west end. Stainless steel railings control the queue, with cast-iron gates allowing access to the tracks on either side. Outside each running track is a transfer track which can be moved into line with the running tracks to allow additional trains to be added to the ride, with sections of the running tracks capable of being pushed under the platforms. Exit steps descend through the centre of the platform and emerge at the south-west corner. The 1990 station superstructure is designed in the Art Deco style and consists of a concrete spine, planar roofs and a slender tower, supported by steel columns.