Scenic Railway (Dreamland Margate)

Scenic Railway
The Scenic Railway in 2016
Dreamland Margate
LocationDreamland Margate
Coordinates51°23′7″N 1°22′39″E / 51.38528°N 1.37750°E / 51.38528; 1.37750
StatusClosed
Opening date3 July 1920 (1920-07-03)
Closing date27 January 2026 (2026-01-27)
General statistics
TypeWood
ModelScenic Railway
Lift/launch systemCable (two lifts)
Height40 ft (12 m)
Drop40 ft (12 m)
Length3,000 ft (910 m)
Speed35 mph (56 km/h)
Scenic Railway at RCDB

The Scenic Railway was a wooden roller coaster located at the Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate, United Kingdom. First opened in 1920, the ride was distinctive compared to modern-day roller coasters, as a brakeman was required to travel with the train to control its speed, manually applying brakes when needed. UK's English Heritage granted the roller coaster Grade II listed status in 2002 and Grade II* listed status in 2011, when it was the oldest operating roller coaster in the UK and one of only eight scenic railways in the world. The Scenic Railway was non-operational from 2006 until 2015 amid park closure and restoration following an arson attack. The ride was closed in August 2024 due to a derailing incident, and has remained standing but not operating since. In January 2026 it was announced that the ride would no longer operate.