What do you think is a very under appreciated manufacturer?
In the enthusiast community we always talk about huge manufacturers of the industry like Vekoma, Intamin, Bolliger & Mabillard, RMC, and etc, but we also need be aware of other smaller manufacturers and how they have helped out the small parks and industry as a whole.
The manufacturer I specifically want to talk about have ventured out of the amusement industry to design and manufacturer other projects, but since this is a theme park/ride page, I'm only going to focus on their rides/attractions but only at Fantasy Island Resort, UK.
WGH Transportation was a Doncaster based firm responsible for manufacturing and designing leisure rides, inclined lifts and specialist public transport. Most noteable they have been as dark water rides, roller coasters, log flume and other attractions. WGH Transportation even manufactured a few flat rides as well, which operate a family parks in the UK. During the mid-1990’s, there was a demand in the market for family-sized roller coasters to be manufactured as many parks in the United Kingdom were faced with the lack of physical space to build large roller coasters. And out of the bloom, WGH Transportation stepped into the roller coaster manufacturing market of the United Kingdom to assist and provide future attractions.
Andrew Howarth, John Martin and Tony Brown entered a new line of work, after the demise of the coal mining industry. The three men sold their business, Gyro Mining Transport (GMT), which made locomotives and rope-haul transport systems for British Coal and several foreign mining companies, starting up WGH Transportation Engineering in 1989.
In 1995, WGH Transportation designed and manufactured their first roller coaster for Fantasy Island Resort which was called the Rhombus Rocket. Rhombus Rocket remains to be the only powered roller coaster WGH Transportation have manufactured. In 2007, Rhombus Rocket received a major refurbishment which involved a replacement of the track, station, and an upgrade to the train.
Following the installation and opening of the Rhombus Rocket, another WGH Transportation manufactured roller coaster would open at Fantasy Island. In 1996, the Junior Rhombus Rocket (Now known as Jellikins Coaster). This was added into the resort as a substitute for smaller visitors who were not tall enough to ride the Rhombus Rocket.
The Jellikins Coaster is located indoors and features a vibrant coloured track. Interestingly enough, the Jellikins Coaster features a single train with semi-enclosed cars which accommodate two passengers each. Unfortunately around 2012-2013 a new policy was introduced that adults were no longer allowed to ride.
Also in 1995 when Fantasy Island opened, many rides from WGH Transportation by where introduced in such as the Magic Seaquarium, the Fantasea Flume, and Rhombus Rocket.
A year later, many more attractions would appear at Fantasy Island which included Barrel Dark Ride (1996-2003), Junior Rhombus Rocket, and the iconic Balloon Ride.
Over the years WGH Transportation have contributed heavily to the amusement industry especially to smaller parks. This includes many parks such as:
Pleasure Island Fantasy Island Legoland Windsor Joyland Childrens Fun Park Watermouth Castle Cadbury's World The American Adventure
Flamingo Land Rotunda Amusement Park Bottons Pleasure Beach Parc Astérix Wicksteed Park GreenWood Forest Park London Dungeon Dickens World Blackpool Pleasure Beach Dreamland, Margate
In 1993 WGH Transportation worked with The American Adventure to help modify and extend their log flume Nightmare Niagara.
In early 2016, WGH Transportation was acquired by Stage One, an engineering firm from York, United Kingdom. While Stage One does not manufacture amusement devices, they have decided to provide extended service for the existing rides and attractions that were manufactured by WGH Transportation, including the six roller coasters that operate to this day.
During 2014-2015 WGH Engineering was involved in a restoration project for Dreamland, Margate to work on the ride's mechanical operation. WGH Transportation added permanent magnet brakes to the train, installed a safety system as part of the control system and even increased the height of the train sides to restrict passenger movement during the ride. They added lap bars and seat belts and in keeping with the 1920’s original aesthetic. Even though in this day and age it is very rare to come across a brakeman, a ride-along brakeman was still used in the operation of the ride to truly make it feel like it's from it's time. Although the ride runs without human intervention, the train is capable of slowing automatically as required. The roller coaster reopened to the public on 15 October 2015.
I know this post was aimed more towards Fantasy Island Resort, but they're the rides I grew up with. I would be at Fantasy Island about 3-4 times a year from the last 19 years, so I've had my fair time on the WGH classics.
There was a bit of discrepancy about Wicksteed Park's log flume as it was mentioned that the log flume was built by W.G.H. Transportation and the built date was in 1987,. But the issue was that WGH was founded in 1989. After doing a bit more researching I can confirm that the old Rotunda Amusement Park's log flume which is now operating at Wicksteed Park was built by Big Country Motioneering.
WGH played a massive part in reviving the Scenic Railway at Dreamland, Margate. Arsoned and neglected by the owners at the time, after community action it was rebuilt without plans or blueprints, just from photographic evidence and it’s back being enjoyed by many riders to this date.
