The Wheel on Central Pier - Blackpool Discussion Forums

Towngirl · #1 07-02-10, 19:43

I have relatives over from Australia ...one of them, my niece, used to work at The Gazette and many moons ago I saw a lovely picture in the Gazette of The Tower and The Wheel and said so to her...she got me a print which I framed
I reminded her of this and she said they went along the prom the other day and The Wheel wasn't there.

I haven't been on the prom for a few weeks ......does anybody know what has happened to it?

Pete · #2 08-02-10, 21:00

I believe its it yearly maintenance check. As far as I know it is taken down each year and the parts are checked for cracks etc. Then its reassembled good as new.

Hopefully it will be back for half term but I doubt it.
Hopefully they will fix the lights for a little longer this year.

Towngirl · #3 09-02-10, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

I believe its it yearly maintenance check. As far as I know it is taken down each year and the parts are checked for cracks etc. Then its reassembled good as new.

Hopefully it will be back for half term but I doubt it.
Hopefully they will fix the lights for a little longer this year.

Thanks Pete.....

Wouldn't have thought it would be taken down every year ...but better safe than sorry!

Pete · #4 09-02-10, 14:54

I must admit I am not sure about every year as the years seem to fly by

There is a Health and Safety requirement concerning fairground rides and there annual inspections. I think the amount of testing does depend on what type of ride it is. The Crazy Frog ride that had an accident last year was inspected as required by H&S but the H&S manual didnt require the part that failed to be inspected!!!! The manual has now been updated I believe!!!!

To me the rides are something the H&S should be involved in. To me this is what H&S is all about not closing schools due to a little snow

.

stealth womble · #5 11-02-10, 12:01

Not entirely correct Pete, The Jump & Smile { Crazy Frog } incident was the result of a manufacturing defect. and was { and is } NDT'd at the start of every season including the arm where the break occurred. The machine should reopen this season with a brand new set of arms from safeco .. the wheel should be turning again just before easter { fingers crossed if Carl can be assed lol } with a new set of external LED bulbs { although dont be too disapointed if the capped lights end up back on the wheel lol }

Pete · #6 15-02-10, 21:44

Cheers for that stealthwomble, its always good to get more hands on info

I realise that the ride was subject to Non Destructive Testing each year but I seem to remember reading that the daily/weekly inspections couldn't have spotted any early signs of the impending failure as the point of failure was hidden behind a lighting board.
Its good that we have such strict H&S codes on the rides.

I hope the wheel is looking great when it goes back up. It must take a fair amount of effort to test each year.
You dont know what is happening at the end of South Pier do you?

stealth womble · #7 23-02-10, 08:31

There was extensive talk of a new log flume being housed there, but that seems to have been put on the back burner for the time being, south piers ghost train has been gutted and stripped over the winter, with an all new layout and new scary animatronic gags added, PJ has spent a fortune getting this ride to a all time high industry standard, should be fun when it reopens towards easter.

Central Pier's main Arcade is being extended internally, making the overall interior floorspace huge.