The Big One, formerly known as the Pepsi Max Big One, is a steel roller coaster located at Pleasure

Beach Resort in Blackpool, Lancashire,

England. Designed by Ron Toomer and manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, the ride opened to the public on 28 May 1994 as the tallest and steepest
roller coaster in the world, featuring a height of 213 feet (65 m) and a drop angle of 65 degrees. It held the title as the tallest until 1996
when Fujiyama opened in Japan. Construction of the ride cost £12 million. The ride was sponsored by Pepsi until 2011, at which time Pepsi Max was
removed from the name.

History[edit]

The Pepsi Max drink can tunnel

The Big One's construction began in 1992 by Arrow Dynamics with Ron Toomer as its lead designer, and by the time it was completed, the total cost
had reached £12 million.[1] The tubular track and supports were airlifted from Bolton to Blackpool and stored at nearby Blackpool Airport. During the
start of the construction of the ride, the south of Blackpool promenade was closed and pieces of the structure were stored on the road adjacent to the
Pleasure Beach. The first pieces to be fitted were the large foundations that would follow on from the main supports. Once all the supports were fitted,
the tubular track was fitted followed by additional supports on the turnaround and the mid-course brake section.[citation needed]

The roller coaster opened as the Pepsi Max Big One on 28 May 1994.[2] At the time, it was both the tallest and steepest roller coaster in the world.[3] Its
height record was surpassed in 1996 by Fujiyama at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan.[4] The Big One also features one of the longest tracks in the world with
its out-and-back roller coaster layout, which measures over a mile in length at 5,497 feet (1,675 m). Each train reaches a maximum speed of 74 mph
(119 km/h), which at the time of opening ranked second in the world behind Steel Phantom at Kennywood.[3][note 1]

The ride maintained its sponsorship from Pepsi Max until 2011 when the branding was removed from the ride.[2] The Pepsi Max ride tunnel shaped like
a drink can still remains as part of the ride.

The Big One has been partially re-tracked by Taziker over four recent closed seasons. In 2019-20, four sections of track were replaced in the section
which passes through the Big One lift hill.[5] The following year, a further 75m of track was replaced towards the end of the ride.[6] In 2021-22, another
103m of track was replaced, from partway over Star Hill through the Big Dipper and into the mid-course brake.[7] Following this, a further 103m of track
was replaced on dip 4 over winter 2022-23.[8]

Statistics[edit]
The ride reaches a height of 213 feet (65 m) and has a first drop measuring 205 feet (62 m), confirmed by Ron Toomer of Arrow Dynamics.[9] The first
drop has an incline angle of 65 degrees, and the coaster reaches a maximum speed of 74 mph (119 km/h). During the three-minute ride, riders
experience positive g-forces of up to 3.5g and negative g-forces of up to 0.5g. Pleasure Beach Resort advertises the ride as 235 feet (72 m) in height,
but that is above sea level and not the actual height of the ride from ground level.[citation needed]

The 205-foot first drop in 1995

Each train has five cars with six passengers per car, for a total of 30 passengers per train.[2] The ride is rated for a maximum capacity of 1,700 riders
per hour.[2] The colour scheme for each train is the same: a blue base with two coloured bands around the side and front (red and white) showing
the Union Jack logo. Each train is numbered at the bac