Remembering The Blackpool Pleasure Beach Monorail

In 1966 Blackpool Pleasure Beach opened the second commercial monorail in the United Kingdom. This impressive attraction took guests all across the park and offered amazing views across the Pleasure Beach and Blackpool Sea Front. In this video I take a look back on the history of this Blackpool Pleasure Beach attraction along with sharing my favourite moments and memories from one of my most missed rides at the park!
This video is part of our Remembering Rides series here on Theme Park Worldwide. In this series of videos I'll be talking all about a variety of rides, attractions and theme parks that are no longer with us. I'll also be looking into the history of these attractions along with sharing my favourite memories!
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[@prettypinkwitchlaura9213]

I always feel like rides like this are criminally underrated. I love being able to just sit down and have a relaxing ride around the parks.... it’s why I love the PB Express so much. I miss BPBs monorail loads.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

These type of rides are very important to deliver the full package of a park

[@tarahansell2904]

Used to absolutely love the monorail when I was a kid! Mum was never big on rides so it was one of the few she'd come on with me

[@MattTalkTech]

I loved the monorail as well, a lot of good memories!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was fantastic. I was gutted when it closed!

[@SimonAndJulie]

Love the monorail, still get a little tear seeing parts of the rail just left to rot. And yes the monorail did interact with the fun house. It went through the building behind the large wooden slide in the middle, and I believe there was a station in there too. I remember my mum telling me in 1991 that there was a fire at the gun house, I was 8 and cried for days. Great info and insight as always, 🤞the season starts and we have fun. 👍

[@mixer198]

the original station was a bove the gents toilet block then they moved the track arounf d the casino which had a tempary station thses can be seen on old arcived footsage of the pleasure beach

[@SimonAndJulie]

Interesting i’am going off my 6-7 year old memory, so may not remember it probably. Think I may have to find them videos 👍

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Fantastic memories!

[@bopedersen3996]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide so true, I remember the monorail passing through the buildings where the casino was, as it ran alongside carpeted flooring, then through the funhouse, I was very young when I went on that though, must have been late 70's :)

[@shep1812]

Brian H is correct. Before being routed around the Casino, it used to go the other side of Noah's Ark, turn left in front of the Reel (now Globe Theatre) and then turn right into the rectangular building that adjoins the Globe, above the toilets. We had to climb steps to get into the station. That was North Station. The one in front of Gold Mine was Central. I could be wrong but I think South was added later.

[@GbHandlebar]

Yes, I remember going through the fun house whilst riding it.

[@mandkallen]

Great video I went on the monorail back in the early 80s or late 70s and remember it going through the fun house I need a day at the pleasure beach. It’s been about 12 years since I last went

[@mlk_venom_craze4587]

always loved the pleasure beach everytime i went in 21 now and still love it and only just got back from a trip there and loved every second of it and my family have actually managed to purchase one of the old monorail carriages ☺️

[@Manumark7]

Always remember it going through the fun house, back in the 70s n 80s.

[@paulhardman8557]

I remember this in the 90s waving to the people on the monorail just before I went down the big slide And just before the fun house burned down

[@blank-dr2kx]

I loved that man holding up the rail. Iconic

[@np1584]

Used to go to Blackpool Pleasure Beach every year or 2 while it was the Scottish summer holidays (we had 2 weeks before it got heaving in the park) and being on the monorail. Freaked out as a 5 year old when it went through the fun house as this was my first monorail experience. Wish they brought it back, such a loss!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was such a great ride!

[@number6ix929]

I miss the monorail, it was great to have a sit down and a ride around the Pleasure Beach during a long day of riding everything else there. A nice little rest and good views. Genuinely sad it was removed :(

[@RogEdwardsTV]

In the 1970s my Mum used to collect me from school and we’d park up on the promenade and guess which monorail train it would be that day. There was no Ocean Boulevard in those days so parking there gave you great views of the Big Dipper, Log Flume and Monorail. The fully enclosed train was Orange, the two semi-enclosed were green and the fully open one was grey. We used to guess whether it would be the Green, Orange or Grey! 😂 I remember the second station was near the Casino but the track didn’t loop round the building in those days. And the monorail went through the funhouse so you got to see people having fun in there as you passed through.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Love this! Thanks for sharing all of this!

[@leesmart2157]

Loved it. This with the river caves as a family we always had the most fun as we could all be together in the same carriage/boat laughing and joking with each other

[@Fenrir6543]

This takes me back..! Great to hear a lot of information about it! The fact that you can still see exactly where it went around the park says something about how Blackpool has a very long history.. and maintains it!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for watching!

[@Disneythroughourveins]

we used to really enjoy the monorail x thanks for sharing - we enjoyed watching x

[@silverdaleks1]

I do miss this monorail :( I remember going on it for the first time when i first went to the Pleasure Beach in 2008

[@ianhill20101]

Lucky timing seen the monorail, the express train and the big one whoosh through on that corner drop, the train peeped too, memories.

[@jessfranco69]

The monorail used to go right into the funhouse - it ran along the top of the back wall so you could see everything going on in there! (The funhouse was open plan, like a huge hall with a cental slide right in the middle).

[@josh_bfc_2769]

I remember the fun house. And come to think of it now yes the train at the back of it. Had some great times in there on that spinning part of the floor trying to hold on👍👍

[@billy007rodaway]

As a local lad in the late 70s maybe early 80s we would buy a ticket for the monorail because it was cheap, then allegedly we would jump out at the funhouse. All good fun. And around 84/85 I was working at a scaffolding company as a labourer and we scaffold the giant holding up the rail. Thanks for the upload good memories.

[@wizzwamf]

yes i remember that now ,,, the huge clown faces tilting left and right and the window with the little twirling dolls very small world , and of course the laughing clown

[@minimaxi802]

@@billy007rodaway Loved the Fun House in my smelly grey socks, was the best fun in Blackpool.

[@johnphazzleton]

Omg this is such a great video Shawn. Brings back so many happy memories of being a kid. 9:40 yes the monorail went through and inside the back of the fun house and you could look down and see and hear people in there. After fun house went, the maintenance bay was more visible when riding past. Such a great ride at BP and definitely missed ! Thankyou so much for this wonderful full ride through !

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

In the Fun House you were in your stockingfeet, only went there four times. I remember the monorail going through the back behind the giant slide. Don't know why it was not rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire in the 1990s.

[@turnipsreturn716]

Yes! I remember exactly what you said one very hot blue sky day and the sea breeze hitting us, thanks for the memories!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was wonderful! Thanks for watching!

[@adventureswithgary9444]

The monorail used to have stations at the Casino building and also in the Main Carpark above the toilets and this station later became the Hardluck Bears Show.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Electro096]

Best Memory of the Monorail was traveling alongside the Pepsimax Big one back in the day and i remember the THE big one trains coming flying past on the first hill, I knew it was coming but it still managed to scare the daylights out of me. The Pleasure Beach blackpool Monorail shall never be forgotten.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for sharing your memories!

[@wizzwamf]

funshine land was first in the late 70s with mr funshine playing an organ in one of the rides i can still here him playing abbas dancing queen on the fake wurlitzer before beaver creak and nikolodeon land didnt the monorail go through an arcade near the noahs ark sheer joy and such a shame its gone

[@leonhutchinson8264]

i have great memories of the monorail especially riding on wow weekends in feb my god was it cold on the seafront section blowing off the sea you couldn't wait to get round the casino building for some shelter.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was indeed!

[@stuartchilton7786]

Showing my age a bit but I remember the original north station was the building behind the casino which got turned into the hardluck bear show. You left there and never went onto the carpark but round and through the fun house, the return passed closer to noahs ark and the reel . They moved the station to the casino building first floor and was not the same. I've never been able to find a photo of the original station. Agree with you Shawn the interactions between the other rides and monorail were fantastic especially the fun house.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@minimaxi802]

The Fun House, my favourite amusement in Blackpool. If only it was still here today and have several hours of brown or grey stockingfeet fun like I did in the 1980s.

[@kazzam8514]

I remember it well and when it was sponsored by M&M’s. I also remember when the park had the cable car that took you from one side of the park to the other. That was great too. I have photos of that..with Valhalla being built in the background.

[@Uniqetz]

Have you seen the couple episode documentary all about pleasure beach? It aired a few years after Big One Opens. JOHN, THATS A NEW MACHINE! ITS NOT THAT RACETRACK WHATEVER YOU CALL IT!"

[@GeorgiaEtchells]

Really enjoyed this video! Please do more of these ‘remembering’ vids, super interesting! 😊

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you. They’ll be more on the way!

[@beccarosetiley7298]

I really miss the monorail too! 🚂 so many good memories. Loving the remembering videos 🙂

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was great! Thanks for watching Becca!

[@christopherbrawley6945]

My friend I live by curiously through you at going to all these amusement parks that I don't or can't get a chance to go to thank you for this

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you for watching!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Great video Shaun , it takes me right back this we loved the monorail. Such a shame it’s gone . Thanks for filming it too . Maybe upload the full ride , I’d love to see that 🧱👍🏼👌🏼

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks did watching! The full on ride video can also be seen on the channel!

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide cool thanks 🧱👍🏽

[@xChuChux911Chu]

I remember riding the monorail back in the late 70's/early 80's and waving at the people as it went thru the back of the funhouse, and basically waving nonstop at everyone as we went round the park lol.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Love this!

[@High-Rise]

5:59 I swear that's my brother and me in that red car

[@jamiegemmell8185]

Loved it also loved the crazy golf course next to the avalanche if anyone remembers that...

[@sonyam1916]

I also loved the Monorail and I always remember going on it lots as a kid with my dad. I still chuckle to myself remembering dad saying we always needed to sit at the back of the train to get a longer ride haha

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was such a great ride

[@norfolkpyro5510]

Too young to remember it but as I’ve said before I love monorails so would love to see one back

[@griff5476]

I'm sure back in the 80s it used to go through the fun house. Was great as a kid. Fond memories of Blackpool pleasure beach. My kids and I love it to this day

[@benwilson2225]

I like this remembering theme of vlogg 👍. Nostalgia 😊. Maybe a Loggers Leap one if there's enough interest? My memories of that in the early 90s are some of my happiest memories ever 😊👍.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for your suggestion

[@garya71]

I loved the monorail and yes, it went through the funhouse and you could look down and see everyone on the slides and things

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was a fantastic ride. Really miss it!

[@thecoasterscorpion]

Since I’m a USA resident, I never got a chance to ride it back in 2012, since I was really young back then, heard it brought some memories!

[@mesmoland]

The boring bit was very different going back a few years.As you went round the casino building you could see various flat rides that changed quite a bit over the years, that first car park had the rainbow in then you would go right over the water drop of the water chute then into the funhouse.You were right at the top back of the funhouse just behind the big drop slide.I miss it alot too :(

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was certainly a great ride to just have a relax on for a while!

[@nigmorris1]

Loved the Monorail, there was also a station in the Wonderful World building. Used to love going through the back of the Fun House.

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

You had to take your shoes off in the Fun House, sadly destroyed by fire and not rebuilt.

[@Adar512]

While y'all sitting at home, allow me to tell you about some of the parks me and my friend encountered in our Eastren Europe park trip, this time, we headed from Poland to Slovakia: 'Tatrabob Tatranska Lomnica': At the Solvakian Tatrabob Tatranska Lomnica we find the alpine coaster Tatrabob . This is a very special alpine coaster because it was not built by Wiegand for a change , but by the French company Techfun . It was a lot of fun to do a completely different type of alpine coaster and there were quite some nice parts in the course where the airtime jump was the most memorable. The trail has a length of 650 meters and was built in 2004. 'Fun Park Žiarce': At Fun Park Žiarce we find a monorail alpine coaster. It has the name Bobová dráha and was built in 2007 by the Austrian manufacturer Brandauer . The course had a considerable length of 930 meters and we really enjoyed being able to do another Brandauer after a long time . These give a completely different ride than a classic alpine coaster from Wiegand. Water Park bonus - 'Tatralandia': Tatralandia is a large water park in Slovakia. It has a very large outdoor area with multiple slide towers, but there is also an indoor area with a slide tower. You can also enjoy the wellness facilities, the restaurant or the cocktail bar in the indoor area. A lot of slides are built around the hill on which the water park is built. So they make full use of the site. There are several large slides such as a half pipe and a large tire slide with some sort of ramp. There was also a bath with very warm water of around 40 degrees.

[@paulhardman8557]

The monorail went through the fun house passing over the massive slide were people could see people going down the slide brilliant

[@ZEK.0]

They should rebuild it, such a good addition to the skyline :/. Would love to see it pass through the rides

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was such a great ride

[@laurenfisher8332]

I miss these so much I loved it every time I went to Blackpool iv even bin on the Pepsi max monorail version

[@bignath250688]

I only went on it once and I liked it alot. I'll definitely miss it.

[@timdickson3351]

I haven't been to the PB since they changed the ticketing system over to the current wristband system. Didn't know the monorail had gone! It was part of my childhood living in Blackpool and I remember all 4 of the trains. A trip to the PB wasn't complete without a full circuit.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was a great ride!

[@crashcoaster3852]

I clicked on this thinking it was a video about the Big One ha ha!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Love this! The actual monorail this time!

[@eddienhp]

I loved the monorail at Blackpool Pleasure Beach! It's a very popular ride!

[@williamstedman2227]

There used to be a station on the first floor of the rotunda making three stations in the late 60s/ early 70s

[@attractionshubno1]

Another great video as always Shawn mate 👍🏻

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you

[@attractionshubno1]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide you’re welcome 😊 mate anytime

[@jaywadd316]

cableway was higher then the monorail so imagine the veiw you could have got now for it and yeah the monorail track housed some bits for the park if im not mistaken

[@Cal2929]

Slighly gutted it closed. I haven't been since 2011 and its shocking how a few old favourites have moved on.

[@masterknife8423]

Never got to go on this ride it closed long before I became a fan of BPB. But I will admit those funny statues holding up the monorail track was definitely pretty cool

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was indeed!

[@stevethecoasterfan]

Use to be 3 stations, the 2 you mentioned and 1 at the casino building

[@timmclaughlin601]

When Shawn mentioned the first 2 stations I was convinced that there was another in the casino building. I am sure that as a kid (1970's) we used to get on and off at the casino station. Does any body else remember there being this 3rd station?

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I never got to use this one unfortunately!

[@stevethecoasterfan]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide it got removed years if not at least a decade before the one above the old coasters restaurant

[@stevewalters4845]

I’ve got some film of it from when I was a kid in 1979,they where still building the revolution

[@tobeycat2007]

Good video, i have a recording from the opening of seaside special 1975 shows the monorail coming round the big wheels used to have and going behind noahs ark presume was original track layout.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

That’s awesome!

[@jenhugs84]

And used to to go past a building with the indoor Ball pool back when I was a Kid

[@Reecicle]

Although I’m to young to have rode the monorail I bet it would have been awsome

[@stephensworldofadventure]

Always loved going on the monorail with my parents when I was younger. Was one of the only things my mam would go on cos it was a thrill ride haha

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

One of my favourites!

[@turke6663]

going past the engineering shed in the 90s/early 00s and seeing the fully covered pepsi monorail trains that you never saw operating.

[@jhc_fan]

I was expecting a video about the Big One!

[@catherineclark4484]

I know this is an old vlog but I've only just seen it shawn, I remember the pony rides you could look at where the revolution is now

[@mikekaraoke]

Another really good video, So many memories with that monorail shame it is gone :-( Could you please do other remembering videos for past rides/attraction in general before you were born?? + not just your memories of rides! Hopefully you can plan your Futuroscope + Legoland Billund trip later this year :-)

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for your suggestions

[@alanheaton4240]

There was a station when it when around casino build and has some more ride inside. This was back in the 80s

[@elkiepops]

We loved this ride when the girls were toddlers.....when they got older and didn’t want to go on I went on myself whilst they were away on something else with daddy lol, we used to sneak snacks on, sat up the back, and ate them on the way round when we thought the driver wasn’t looking 😯xxx

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was a great ride to just have a chill on!

[@CLC-1000]

Nice bit of history. 👍

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks!

[@CLC-1000]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide 😊 Anytime

[@angelawilliams2024]

BPB has lost lots of brilliant family rides. My absolute favourite was the turtle chase? Would love a video on that! Always loved the monorail too though 😊

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

That was awesome!

[@haydnhughes1834]

I miss this ride so much, did it not also go over Vikingar 🤔 another awesome ride that i miss. Great vid 👌

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I did indeed!

[@bobnudd]

The bulldosers have finaly gone into Camalot near me mate such a shame , loved the monorail as a kid but was frightened of the giant as my dad told me he came alive at night lol , top vids

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Such a shame to hear however I’d rather it be something else rather than in ruin!

[@bobnudd]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide Yes your right there , hats off to Southport for not scrapping the old Gallion ride i used to love that and a few cars from the dragon flyer and the old big wheel , RIP Camalot

[@cds1110]

I really really love this youtube channel deserve a more like,views and subcribevers

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thank you

[@oranda15]

Great video. That brought back a few memories. Did you know that the monorail actually stopped at the Casino for a while? I remember getting off there once. Also, when it opened it had a large station at the north end of the park and nothing at the south end. It was also more fun along the front before Ocean Boulevard was built as the views were much better. Finally, I seem to remember that in it's very early days, you paid for a ride from the north entrance to the centre and visa versa as it was used as a transportation system rather than a ride in itself. Perhaps someone can confirm this as I would have been very young at the time but I am certain this was the case.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for sharing all of this information! I never got to use the Casino station unfortunately!

[@D2Dale]

basically the only reason why the monorail is still there after a decade is because different utility it can hide within the old track

[@THE_BRICK_BROTHERS]

Cool

[@rachaelsmith8764]

I liked this

[@josh_bfc_2769]

Great video. Lots of memories for me. Do you have any footage of the chairlift? .

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I don’t have footage from it unfortunately however I do remember riding it on a regular basis as a kid!

[@elkiepops]

We always got a video of our ride on the monorail every year lol husband used to moan not again takes up too much space on the tape! 😂xxx

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was such a long ride!

[@timdickson3351]

There used to be a monorail station in the Casino building

[@kevinheath7635]

I liked going on the monorail but the ride I loved and miss was the Virginia Reel!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I would love to of experienced it

[@markbell2526]

The best part of the monorail was when it went inside the funhouse, the funhouse was my favourite as a kid

[@ABCDEF-yf4yu]

You had to take your shoes off in the Funhouse. Sadly destroyed by fire and not rebuilt. The monorail went behind the giant slide.

[@markbell2526]

I was too scared to go on those slide, the only time I did I got a friction burn on my arm

[@nuttyvs1]

Thanks for the memories of the Monorail, used to love this ride. Relating to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, do you have any info/host about the cable cars that used to be there? Thanks

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I experienced them as a kid however other than that I don’t have any footage unfortunately

[@finleyharding3539]

I love your videos and I’m only 12 and I loved going on it when I was like 5😃

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

Thanks for watching!

[@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer]

I miss blackpool 1990s was the best 😊 I actually was watching a very old episode of Fred Dibnah last night at the pleasure beach with his family riding the monorail.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I loved visiting when I was a kid and growing up with the park!

[@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide thank you for the memories. I really enjoyed the footage.

[@andyholloman1211]

The Monorail gave a great view point of the Log Flume, remember before Ocean Boulevard was built the path was there was wide and there was a wall which you could lean over and watch the Log Flume from outside the park and the Monorail would pass over your head. Also there was another station which dropped you off at the entrance and you could then go into the Wonderful World of Entertainment!

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

The views of the log flume were awesome!

[@Michael-hf8hh]

I remember that too! What year did they build Ocean Boulevard, and when did they make it paid entry? Oh for those halcyon days, things always seemed better when you were a kid

[@tombone1]

The monorail was cool. I guess it was a pain to maintain , I see lots of the track is still there as expensive to remove it

[@juliadickinson5837]

Just bought a carriage from the monorail from Blackpool Pleasure Beach 😊

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

That’s awesome!

[@edz_gaming7915]

I never knew this existed 👍🚂

[@TheConsettonian1987]

I wish the monorail 🚝 was open again.

[@harriethopper9981]

It was brilliant then, loved the monorail and missed it. Used to love the Tom Sawyer rafts too.

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was such a fantastic attraction

[@OnlyOneKenobi]

Shame it's not still open... I never got to go on it. Plus it, and bring it back I say! Look at the success of People Mover! 😉👌🏼 Rides like this are timeless! O.O.K 💙👌🏼

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Oh I loved the Monorail, it’s such a miss

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was fantastic wasn’t it!

[@russellb1212]

im with you, bring back the monorail

[@jamesmorrison8078]

Happy New Year

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

You too!

[@michaelhobbs3426]

Shame I never got to go back then when it closed I went on the one in Alton towers I would have liked to have ride it.

[@seany84uk]

Great video again! Had so many rides its a shame it went but had to go someday! Is it me or was the layout once different?

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

I believe it had some changes from the original 1966 ride

[@seany84uk]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide it makes me wonder if the park have plan archives or concept plans for rides that were never built or ones that were built but were different to what we see today!

[@thatone_gayhawkesguy2597]

I never went on the monorail but from this video it sounds good

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was a fantastic ride and one that I miss very much!

[@thatone_gayhawkesguy2597]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide hope you had fun

[@maxhagenauer24]

3:51, look how close the monorail support gets to the bobsled coaster Avalanche.

[@matthewwilliams6904]

I used to love the World Of Toys Ride (believe it was called Magic Mountian) as a child. Still believe it was one of their best dark rides

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

It was fantastic!

[@matthewwilliams6904]

@@ThemeParkWorldwide The sound track is super catchy

[@GarryWilliams555]

This and the Mouse are the two rides I'm most upset that I never got the chance to experience. I wish both of them could have been saved, especially as neither of them have been replaced with anything. What a pity.

[@GarryWilliams555]

What BS lol. Sounds like it was a fun ride. I've heard it was amazing from the people that got to experience it.

[@GarryWilliams555]

LMAO.

[@ianfield1254]

there was also a station in the casino building. , and im sure there was one in the funhouse

[@ThemeParkWorldwide]

There was indeed. I never got to ride it like this though unfortunately!