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GHOST TRAINS I

Lawrence Appleton’s original Undersea World, Lancing, 15/07/76	Lawrence Appleton’s later Ghost Train, Glastonbury, 13/09/84
Albert Barton’s original Ghost Train, Derby, 04/01/78	Albert Barton’s later Ghost Train, Haverfordwest, 02/10/82
Beachs’ “The Demon’s Den” Ghost Train, The Spanish City, Whitley Bay, 20/06/75	Close up of one of the unusual cars on Beach’s “The Demon’s Den”.
Henry Bentley’s original Ghost Train, Blackheath, 03/04/83	Close up of some of the station décor on Henry Bentley’s Ghost Train.

Above and below: some of the wonderful Hall & Fowle artwork on Henry Bentley’s Ghost Train. Note the signature below the demon’s arm. Newbury, 16/10/81

Pepper Biddall’s Ghost Train, Eton Brocas Fair, 24/07/83	Mrs Elizabeth Brett’s Ghost Train, Newcastle Town Moor, 20/06/81

Brett’s Ghost Train. Note the H&F signature on the bottom right hand side of the panel, below left. This ride is now in the Fairground Heritage Trust collection, and is at Dingles Steam Village awaiting restoration. (Above: GDSF, 18/09/83; below left: Newcastle Town Moor, 27/06/79; below right: Netley Marsh, 21/07/84)

Gilbert Chadwick has been one of the most prolific builders of Ghost Trains in recent years; here are three examples of his work. Above left: the “Haunted Mine”, Lincoln, 04/76 (photo courtesy of Tate); above right: a Ghost Train at Daisy Nook, 04/04/80; and right: the triple decked “Phantom Chase”, Hull Fair, 12/10/91.

Tommy Charles’ Ghost Train, Central Park, Plymouth, 25/04/87	Chipperfields’ Ghost Train, Weymouth, 07/08/83

The wonderful Hall & Fowle imagery can be clearly seen in this close up of Chipperfields’ Ghost Train front.

Codonas’ “Roller Ghoster”, Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, 07/01/78	Whatever happened to this one? Almost certainly a Fred Fowle/Roger Vinney collaboration: Brian Collins’ Ghost Train, Alton Towers, 1979 (photo courtesy John Thorpe)

Before and after: Benny Cubbins’ Ghost Train as it was (left), Heaton Park, Manchester, 30/05/76, and post-repaint (right), Farnworth, 22/03/80. The ride was one of the finest produced by the Fred Fowle/Roger Vinney partnership, as witnessed by the four close-ups of the artwork below, seen at Platt Fields, Manchester, 02/09/78. The front boards are now part of the Pete Tei collection, and are in store at Dingles Steam Village awaiting display.

ON TO GHOST TRAINS II

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