Beastie Roller Coaster Photos

The souvenir photos sold to riders of the Beastie came from a photo concession run by Glen and Michael, who also ran the Old Time Photos at the park. The camera was fired by a control box as the train passed. Their original box, made in America, was hard to keep adjusted: changing one setting upset several others.

Kent Learned, who looked after the park’s audio systems, studied the ride and built a more accurate and repeatable replacement. His first design was triggered by a photo sensor and the first wheel of the train. A later design counted the brake fins under the carriages, which worked slightly better on the fastest coasters but was harder to adjust. The concession ordered ten boxes the day the prototype proved itself, and Kent went on to make 27 of the first type, nearly all for American parks, and about seven of the second. His boxes were used on all three of Wonderland’s coasters: the Bush Beast, the Beastie and the Demon.

Kent’s own account is on the Roller Coaster Photo Control Box page in the Wonderland Audio section, together with roller coaster photos from all three rides.

Photos