The A&R Ark was owned jointly between brothers Ernie and Nelson DeVey.  It was built by Orton & Spooner and was originally built as a 5 hill machine.  Later in life it was converted to a 4 hill machine.  Like many rides of that age it has gone through huge changes in style and construction.

The Ark in the 50's with the old Scenic Front and Pillars (Photo M Smith)
Visit Michael at Dingles Museum Web Site. 

When Ernie DeVey acquired the now No1 Dodgem track from Gilbert Smith, Nelson DeVey took full ownership of the Ark. 

The Ark open in the 60's (could be Babbacombe) (Photo by M Smith)

The Ark in my earliest memories in the early 70's travelled with the two Scammells "Dragon" and "The Lion".  The centre was on two wheels and the platforms packed on a flat truck and the animals in a box truck.  Both Scammells still exist today and the box truck is still in the yard in Bristol.

The Ark loads arriving at Penzance.  Notice the centre on a two wheel truck. Photo borrowed from Simon Reeds web site, click the link to visit the Site.

The Ark has evolved over the years and has appeared in many different guises. In the early 70's the ride was theamed as the Psychedelic Speedway and had been extensively repainted by "Pete the Painter"

In the mid to late 70's the ride was re-theamed as the "Disco Ark"

In about 1976 the ride was transformed in terms of transport with the removal of the box truck and the flat truck and one of the Scammells.  The ride now travelled on an Atkinson 8 Wheeler and the original two wheel centre was put on a truck allowing the ride to travel as one load.  This configuration lasted until the ride was laid up in 1988 and is still in this configuration today.

The ride at this time was a standard 20 section bottom with 20 further intermediate sets of gates.  In total there were 20 Sleepers, 40 Gates, 20 Trams, 40 Gratings.  There were 22 platforms in alternate Pink and Purple.

The Ark Lorry is pictured here in the Yard in 1977.
In those days there was no winch for the platforms and the Girders were stacked up the sides of the lorry.  This was changed later as getting the girders into the top slots proved too difficult.

Ark Build up in 1978 at South Molton

 During the 1979 season the Ark Lorry and Waltzer lorry had all the lettering stripped off them and were painted plain blue they remained like this for many years before returning to the traditional deep maroon of A&R.

The Waltzer and Ark lorry's in blue 1981 Babbacombe

In the summer of 1980 the Ark had a complete new set of deep rounding boards made for it.  The ride travelled the rest of the season with these bare aluminium boards on.  In the winter of 1980/81 the ride was completely redecorated.  The rounding boards and a new set of bottom shutters were sent to Chris Thomas who painted them.  The bottom of the ride was altered and the intermediate gates were taken out making it a straight 20 piece bottom.  The trams were strengthened and the gratings went from 40 small ones to 20 large ones.

The new look Ark with top rounding boards 1981.

A view of the inside of the ride in 1981.

In the mid 80's the load was redecorated in maroon and lettering was applied to the lorry body.  Hydraulic jacks were fitted to the centre truck which enabled faster levelling.  A winch was added to the lorry to lift the platforms on and off as well as the girders.

Ark load arriving at Goodrington 1986

Ark Centre at Babbacombe 

Ark open at Torquay 1987

Ark open at Paignton

Ark arriving at Paignton for the last time driven by me 

Sad reflection of its former self in the year 2000 in the yard at Bristol.

In the early part of 2002 the Ark was rescued from the yard after much complaining to the DeVey family.  In the last years the ride had begun to be stripped of its metalwork and had been left uncovered for many years.  T

he ride is now at Dingles Steam Museum in Devon.  Its future still uncertain, the alluminum ceilings and steps have been stolen and other parts are missing, what is left will need a lot spending on it due to the rot and perishing of the parts of the ride.  

Ark lorry at Dingles Steam Mussum 2003

Ark Centre at Dingles Steam Museum 2003

The Ark centre remains in good condition despite 16 years being parked up.  Come on Colin DeVey fix her up so that one day we can ride the Ark again in all its former glory and listen to those immortal words:
"The louder you SCREAM the faster we go....lean to the middle for a longer and faster ride"