Pleasure beach express has been operating at the park since 1933. Its made up of a collection of three 21 inch gauge trains and a number of carriages.
Originally installed in 1933 the main station was demolished by fire in 1934 and rebuilt under the architectural supervision of Joseph Emberton who went on to redesign most of the pleasure beach during the 30’s. The new station opened in 1935 and was later rebuilt to a victorian style in 1970.
Two of the diesel powered trains Mary Louise a 462 Pacific type express and Carol Jean a 464 Baltic type engines were built at Hudswell works in Leeds, The third train Princess Royal was later renamed Geoffrey Thompson OBE, the parks then owner of the park. Another train Barbie acts as a track maintainance vehicle and can be often seen parked up outside the workshops.
The Train has two stations the main station where the trains are kept with a maintenance facility and workshops and the second station Star Holt named after the public house on the south side of Pleasure Beach Blackpool. Star Holt isn’t used very much since the south park entrance closed but you can still instruct the driver to drop you off or board at this once popular stop.
If anyone knows anymore information about the Pleasure beach express please get in touch Id love to know some more about it, as you can tell my knowledge on the subject of trains is very limited.
Heres a collection of photographs ive taken over the last few years of visiting Pleasure Beach.
The stations.
Firstly the main station opposite Beaver Creek.
Bridge over the minature railway.
Victorian designed station, this photograph was taken from the rear of the train, im not sure on actually capacity but it must be getting on for 100 guests.
Footbridge, walk down the steps to enter the station
The same footbridge shot from the rear, showing the connection to the station.
View from inside the station, Space invader 2 roller coaster and Beaver Creek in the background.
Original engine fitted to the Princess royal train.
This display shows the route of Pleasure Beach express as well as a number of photographs taken along the route.
This sign is above the display above.
2nd Station Star Halt.
Complete with adverts from the period.
Taken from inside the train showing the back wall of Star Halt.
All aboard the train ready to depart.
Lets take a trip on Pleasure Beach Express, any purists reading this the photographs may not be in complete order so please dont tell me their not 😉
On the way back into the station you go passed a small model village.
Another shot of the model village, Revolution (orange track) and Avalanche in the distance.
From inside one of the tunnels, this one is just before coming back onto the final straight back into the station.
Various wildlife along the route.
Jim’s quick sand named after former park manager Jim Rowlands.
Skull Island.
One of the many skulls hanging down.
Wildlife
Totem Pole
A number of whistle signs along the route.
Looking ahead to skull island and the hanging skulls.
To the right the big blue hotel, wooden coaster big dipper and the Pepsi Max Big One.
Another Tunnel.
Zebra’s scattered along the way
The skull again this time with clear water
Big Dipper again
More wildlife.
Engine number 4473 – Carol Jean
Minature signal box near the main station.
Pepsi Max big one, photo spot.
This sign is above the workshops.
Underneath the Pepsi Max Big one station.
A behind the scenes look at Pleasure Beach Express.
Thanks for Club Pleasure Beach and the management of Pleasure Beach Blackpool for arranging this tour.
Barbie
Carol Jean.
Thanks for reading, if you have any questions or would like to use any photographs from this gallery please get in touch, don’t just steal the photographs im more than happy to share and i dont want to start pasting huge copyright notices across them as it spoils it for everyone then.
Thanks again for reading.