Revolution (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)

Revolution
Revolution's loop
Pleasure Beach Resort
Location	Pleasure Beach Resort
Coordinates	53°47′24″N 3°03′19″W
Status	Operating
Opening date	1979
Cost	£1,000,000
General statistics
Type	Steel – Shuttle – Launched
Manufacturer	Arrow Development
Model	Launched Loop
Height	56 ft (17 m)
Drop	47 ft (14 m)
Length	635 ft (194 m)
Speed	45 mph (72 km/h)
Inversions	2 (once forwards and once backwards)
Duration	66
Max vertical angle	52°
G-force	4
Height restriction	50 in (127 cm)
Revolution at RCDB

Revolution, formerly Irn Bru Revolution, is an Arrow Development shuttle roller coaster at Pleasure Beach Resort. It was Europe's first fully looping roller coaster. The ride consists of two raised sections of track with a vertical loop in the centre. The train is launched off the first raised platform, into the loop, and up onto the second platform, where it repeats the process in reverse. As a result of the design, riders are required to climb a series of stairs to get to the loading station. Until the introduction of Infusion, it was the park's only looping coaster.

It is one of only three Arrow shuttle coasters in operation, the others being Diamond Back at Frontier City in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens Theme Park in Denver, Colorado.

History

Revolution was designed by Arrow Development with steel fabrication by Watson Steel. It opened in 1979 as the first fully looping roller coaster in Europe. It was initially painted red and white, with the Union Flag painted on the front and back.

Revolution in its original colour scheme

Later the ride was sponsored by Irn-Bru, titled "Irn Bru Revolution", and carried the Irn-Bru orange and blue colours. The sponsorship ended in 2011 and the ride then reverted to its former title.

Revolution in its Irn-Bru colour scheme

In February 2012, the park confirmed that the ride would be closed for early parts of the season in order to be painted in a new colour theme - grey and white. It received a repaint for the 2017 season.

In popular culture

The ride was featured on the BBC show Jim'll Fix It when a group of Cub Scouts ate their lunch whilst riding the roller coaster.

A homage was featured on an advert for Irn-Bru soft drinks when a group of goths drank Irn-Bru whilst riding, resulting in them becoming completely drenched, in 2007.