1990s Coin Operated Chuck Wagon Kiddie Ride - Ranch Cogan

Filmed at Skegness Pleasure Beach on June 23rd 2014.

Manufactured by Italian company Cogan, the Ranch Cogan wagon was released in the early 1990s and is still in production at the time or writing. It was an immediate hit on the British market, and could be seen outside numerous arcades in most seaside resorts throughout the 90s.

I believe this particular one was an earlier model. The music is original to the ride, but the horses and vulture had been repainted. I kind of wish I'd held out and found a more original example to film now but I'm always scared I won't get another chance when I leave a ride behind unfilmed!

This is another ride that holds special personal memories for me as the local bowling alley/leisure centre had one when I was four or five and my parents would sometimes take me there in the evenings as a special treat especially to ride it. I never knew the building as a bowling alley or leisure centre but as "The Magic Stagecoach Place". This may be partially explained by the fact that the Ranch Cogan had replaced a Bafco Magic Roundabout Ride. Before the Ranch Cogan arrived, I had nicknamed the arcade as "The Magic Roundabout Place". Obviously, by four year old logic, if the roundabout was magic, the new ride must be as well!

I am currently working on a website about coin operated rides, particularly those made (or at least commonly distributed) in the UK during the 1950s-90s. Please visit http://www.coinoperatedrides.weebly.com! If anybody has old photos/video footage that they wouldn't mind sharing with me, please e-mail me at [email protected] or leave a comment below. I would be eternally grateful. Thank you! :)