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| Rollercoaster fire investigated | Rollercoaster fire investigated |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| The cause of a fire which severely damaged a Grade II listed rollercoaster at the former Dreamland amusement site in Kent is being investigated. | The cause of a fire which severely damaged a Grade II listed rollercoaster at the former Dreamland amusement site in Kent is being investigated. |
| Up to 60 firefighters tackled the blaze at the Scenic Railway in Margate after it broke out on Monday afternoon. | |
| About 40% of the historic seafront rollercoaster was destroyed, including sheds which stored the rolling stock. | About 40% of the historic seafront rollercoaster was destroyed, including sheds which stored the rolling stock. |
| Kent Police said they would be looking to see if the fire was caused by an accelerant or if it was accidental. | Kent Police said they would be looking to see if the fire was caused by an accelerant or if it was accidental. |
| Damage assessed | Damage assessed |
| The wooden rollercoaster, believed to be one of the oldest of its kind left in the world, was damaged in another major fire in the 1940s. | The wooden rollercoaster, believed to be one of the oldest of its kind left in the world, was damaged in another major fire in the 1940s. |
| It has not operated for the past two years, but a campaign has been under way to boost the town's tourism by reopening the ride. | It has not operated for the past two years, but a campaign has been under way to boost the town's tourism by reopening the ride. |
| Dave Collard, of the Save Dreamland Campaign which secured the ride's heritage status in 2002, said he was optimistic the rollercoaster could be rebuilt, although that would depend on the full extent of the damage. | Dave Collard, of the Save Dreamland Campaign which secured the ride's heritage status in 2002, said he was optimistic the rollercoaster could be rebuilt, although that would depend on the full extent of the damage. |
| "There are eight other coasters in the world that have similar trains," he said. | "There are eight other coasters in the world that have similar trains," he said. |
| "There's no reason why it couldn't be done, but it will take a lot of work and a lot of money to do so." | "There's no reason why it couldn't be done, but it will take a lot of work and a lot of money to do so." |