High-End Custom Manufacturing Company

PNE Wooden Roller Coaster Car Rebuild

PNE Wooden Roller Coaster – Car Rebuild and Restoration

The Wooden Roller Coaster at Vancouver’s Pacific National Exhibition is one of Canada’s most iconic amusement rides — a 1958 landmark celebrated for its all-wood construction and timeless thrill.

When the PNE began a restoration to preserve this national treasure, MJY Fabrication was brought on to fabricate new solid wood and metal components for all coaster cars, ensuring the ride’s longevity while maintaining its original charm and authenticity.

Our team worked from historical drawings dating back to the 1950s and a full reference car provided to our shop for measurement and testing. From these, we engineered and built replacement components that honored the coaster’s heritage while meeting modern engineering standards.

The Challenge

Reviving a Classic — Without Losing Its Original Soul

The project required a complete rebuild of all structural wood components of the coaster cars — strengthening them for modern reliability while preserving the authentic 1958 design. Achieving this balance demanded precision alignment with aging steel frames and strict adherence to the original aesthetic.

Adding to the complexity, fabrication had to be completed within a short off-season window before reopening. Compounding the challenge were inconsistencies between the original drawings and the physical sample cars. Every fit, hole, and joint had to be verified through detailed measurement, prototyping, and meticulous hands-on craftsmanship to ensure a perfect match.

Client:

Pacific National Exhibition (PNE)

Location:

Playland, Vancouver, BC

Timeline:

November 2023 – June 2024

Cost:

Approximately $320,000

Scope:

Craftsmanship Meets Engineering Precision

The Approach

Where Classic Craft Meets Modern Engineering

MJY Fabrication approached the project with a balance of classic woodwork craftsmanship and technical precision:

Research & Verification: Carefully compared archival drawings with physical components to establish accuracies.
Prototyping: Produced and tested a complete prototype set of parts in-house
Material Selection: Used locally sourced solid fir
Joinery & Construction: Replicated the original ½-inch tongue-and-groove joinery using structural adhesives for maximum strength, longevity, and to maintain the original look.
Engineering & Documentation: Delivered fully updated construction drawings and specifications, approved by PNE engineers before fabrication.
Metalwork Collaboration: Partnered with a curated metal fabrication partner to produce select steel components, ensuring structural and aesthetic consistency.
Finishing: Applied exterior-grade clear coatings to protect against weather and to accentuate the beauty of the wood itself.

The Build

From Prototype to Perfection

The fabrication was completed in two production phases:

Phase 1: One prototype set and full fabrication of 18 solid-wood components per car for 8 cars.
Phase 2: A second production run for 8 additional cars, completing 16 coaster cars in total.

Wood components were fabricated entirely in-house by MJY’s team, while steel parts were produced through our trusted partner and integrated seamlessly during final assembly.
Every part was numbered, fitted, and tested against the reference car before delivery, ensuring minimal complications during installation.

Key Takeaways

Heritage restoration demands precision, patience, and respect for history.
Thorough documentation and prototyping ensured accuracy and efficiency.
Collaboration — both internally and with trusted partners — was critical to success.
The project reaffirmed MJY’s role in preserving cultural landmarks through craftsmanship and design excellence.

PNE Wooden Roller Coaster Car Rebuild