Access to this area was made available during a Behind the Scenes Tour, do not try and access behind the scenes / off limits areas without permission. Join the Fan Club via the park’s official website for opportunities to see backstage areas.

The park’s signature ride is almost certainly the Big One, opened in 1994. Standing 235ft above the Irish Sea below, the ride is a vast feat of engineering, pioneered by Arrow Dynamics and designed by Ron Toomer.

To keep the ride running safely, there is a vast array of control gear and equipment to support maintenance and engineering work.

These photos give some insight into the ride’s behind the scenes areas. They were taken on a Behind The Scenes event on 18 March 2026.

The maintenance bay is located directly below the station. This provides engineering with direct access to a train that is in storage with easy access to spare parts. To the right hand side is the ride's Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and the control gear for the DEMAG system that lifts trains between this area and the station. Further below this area is the 'pit' which serves as storage for a third train.
Maintenance and recovery procedures are posted on the PLC cabinets in the maintenance area.
The ride is controlled by two Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), serving as the 'brains' of the ride. These are located below the station level and bear the Arrow Dynamics manufacturer plates.
The variable opening hours of the park necessitate a large stock of time cards to be attached to the entrance signage.
This diagram on the PLC cabinet shows the ride's block zones. 'A Block' (shown in orange) is all track from the exit of the 'Station Block' to the top of the lift hill. 'B Block' (shown in blue) is the majority of the ride's free running track, from the top of the lift to the exit of the block brake. 'C Block' (shown in green) is the track from the exit of the block brake to the safety brakes. The Ready Brakes (immediately before the station) make up the final block.
The running track in the station is visible from the maintenance area below.
The ride's station is unique, with an abundance of glass providing a light and airy space. It was designed by Fiona Thompson.
The 'Ready Brakes' from the station area.
A view from the operator's panel above the station provides visibility of the station area, the train that is loading/unloading and the 'Ready Brakes' directly behind this position.
The ride's huge lift hill climbs into the distance, with 420 steps to the summit.
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