Plans to restore one of the UK's oldest rollercoasters at the heart of a new heritage amusement park in Margate, Kent, have received boost from US-based enthusiasts.
The American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) has donated US$5,000 (£3,303) towards the work to revitalise the Scenic Railway, which is the centrepiece of the £12.5m Dreamland Amusement Park.
Construction work on the Dreamland Trust-led scheme is expected to start later this year, with £3.7m secured from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the Sea Change initiative in November 2009.
Thanet District Council has also agreed to contribute up to £2.2m, with a further £1.8m to be borrowed if alternative funding can't be sourced. A first round pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund has also been secured.
Dreamland Trust chair Nick Laister said: "This demonstrates the level of international interest in the future of the Scenic Railway, which is a remarkable and fragile survivor. We will ensure that this donation is used 100 per cent on the restoration of this roller coaster."
ACE president Mark Cole added: "Our support of the Dreamland Trust and their mission to return the coaster to operational status is similar to the work that ACE did to restore the oldest coaster in the world (Leap-the-Dips at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania, US) several years ago."
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