Margate’s famous rollercoaster the Scenic Railway destroyed by fire

Today saw Margate’s famous rollercoaster, the Scenic Railway which was the centrepiece of Dreamland destroyed by fire. The Scenic was built in 1920 and was grade II listed. It’s said that the railway was the third oldest of its kind left in the world.

Police are said to be treating the fire as suspicious. Fire investigation officers will enter the site when it is declared safe.

Thanet District Council leader Sandy Ezekiel said that “It is devastating, it is tragic - I used to go on it when I was a kid. To see it like this is heartbreaking. It looks like a third of the scenic railway has been completely lost and all the carriages appear to have gone, if they were in the building next door which went up. When I arrived, the flames were 40-50ft high from the top of the ride. The fire brigade did a tremendous job in bringing it under control very quickly. The fire is now out and they are dampening down.”

My brother was one of the drivers for the Scenic railway and he used to love driving the train, and I can remember going on it all the time as a kid.

What are your memories of the Scenic railway?