The Tragedy at Battersea Park - BIG DIPPER Accident!! (1972) COASTERMANIA

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• published: 08 Jan 2016
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Short from COASTERMANIA - 1996 Documentary (V.H.S) Late in the afternoon of 30 May 1972, tragedy struck. 31 people had boarded a three-car wooden train. As it reached the top of the first incline, some 15 metres above the park, it was prematurely detached from the drive chain. Despite the best efforts of the brake man, the train slipped backwards under its own momentum on a 1 in 3 gradient. At the bottom, it hit a tight turn and derailed. The lower carriage was crumpled by those behind. Two teenage boys and an eight-year-old girl died at the scene, and two other children died later. One of the survivors recounts her experience here. The disaster led to a review of fairground safety, and several charges of manslaughter. Prosecutors described the ride as a 'death trap', citing dozens of flaws and safety concerns. Despite the accusations, the park's general manager and the ride's engineer were both cleared of the charges in November 1973. It wasn't the first mishap on the ride. In May 1951 an empty car derailed, knocking over a parapet. Nobody was hurt on that occasion, although several passengers were marooned for 20 minutes. A similar incident to the fatal crash seems to have occurred in 1968, when a woman broke her arm. In May 1970, £400,000 worth of damage was inflicted on the ride following a suspected arson attack. It was closed for two months. The Big Dipper was permanently closed and dismantled soon after the accident. It was replaced by a more modern steel roller coaster known as The Cyclone. But the iconic dipper's retirement led to a swift decline. Coupled with development wrangles, the fair's fortunes dwindled until it finally closed in 1974. Temporary fairgrounds would occasionally set up in the park throughout the 1970's, but a permanent attraction like that established in 1951 would never again take root. Note: we appreciate that for the families of those involved this is certainly not a 'forgotten tragedy'. We include it in this series, however, as we feel it deserves to be more widely remembered.