No more steam trains? (rumor)

[tirian]

I sat near Michael Broggie at the 2004 Shareholders meeting in Philadelphia with Eisner's substantial no confidence vote. During the Q&A, he introduced himself to the audience, and made an impassioned plea to Michael Eisner to step down from his position.

I'm suspect he could never have guessed that Eisner's successor could be actually be worse, especially in regards to the steam trains. But I think a lot of folks (myself included) had a similar line of thinking.

I hope his information is correct. Whether this was ever a serious plan or not remains to be seen, but the fact that it could even be discussed or considered is shameful.

That was a fascinating time in the American business world, regardless of whether or not you were a Disney super-fan. The same guy who oversaw Beauty and the Beast and Disneyland Paris allowed DCA, Chicken Little, and WDSP. The same guy who aggressively expanded WDW and improved its status as a world-class resort later gutted it of its originality and laid the groundwork for its mismanagement. It's a Shakespearean tragedy of modern business practices.

 

[Texas84]

Pardon me for paying attention, but...
In those B-roll clips of a steam train going by (right to left in front of the Castle) which are aired as part of the story about the measles "epidemic", I've looked closely at that engine. There's no steam visible, nor smoke; not even a heat "shimmer" above the smokestack as the engine goes by. The engine looks dead "cold".

Is this really a Steam Engine, or just an amazingly lifelike artists concept of what a steam engine might look like, if they had one in use? (grrrrrr)

I was at DLR two weeks ago and the train I was on actually had to stop for water. They apologized for the delay and said "after all, it's a real steam train." Got to watch them do it. Was awesome.

 

[Jakester]

Checking in to see if the Lilly Belle has returned to the WDW RR. Thanks

If you truly knew the current condition you would be horrified as to whats going on. And No, I am not discussing since its confidential to the Disney Company.

 

[unkadug]

If you truly knew the current condition you would be horrified as to whats going on. And No, I am not discussing since its confidential to the Disney Company.

Then why even bring it up?

 

[ford91exploder]

Then why even bring it up?

Agree

 

[asianway]

If you truly knew the current condition you would be horrified as to whats going on. And No, I am not discussing since its confidential to the Disney Company.

When has that stopped you before...

 

[Lord_Vader]

Thread bump, for those watching I just talked to one of the Engineers today who told me Lilly Bell is back in the roundhouse for paint and final rebuild!

 

[The Mom]

Thread bump, for those watching I just talked to one of the Engineers today who told me Lilly Bell is back in the roundhouse for paint and final rebuild!

Yes, There is an existing thread about the return.

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/the-lillie-belle-is-home.915773/unread

 

[Donald Razorduck]

The steam trains already run on Diesel as it is. The diesel engine replaced the old coal firebox that those trains came with and it heats up the water to create the steam to make the trains go around. Removing the whole Steam Engines from those priceless locos would be a crime!

If you want to ride a steam train the way it used to be, Dollywood is the place. That theme park in the Smoky mountains of Tennessee has two beautiful narrow gauged (3ft like Disney) locos. One is a 2-8-2 Baldwin locomotive from 1938 and the other is a lighter Baldwin 2-8-2 from 1943. They run one train at a time on a 2.5 miles loop up to the top of the northern mountain of the park. The most beautiful thing? They still run on coal! You got the authentic large black cloud of smoke when it powers up the mountain.

At an American Coaster Enthusiasts event in 2012, I got the chance to go on a steam train shop tour and even got to go check out the cab... WOW.

Hey

Cough, Silver Dollar City, cough.

 

[Captain Barbossa]

If this were to ever happen I would be done with disney

 

[Absimilliard]

Hey

Cough, Silver Dollar City, cough.

Silver Dollar City steam trains run on Diesel. It is something I discussed with the engineers running it when I went to Silver Dollar City and I noticed they were not coal fired. Another place with coal fired trains is Heritage Park in Calgary, AB.

 

[Imagineerwannabe]

Silver Dollar City steam trains run on Diesel. It is something I discussed with the engineers running it when I went to Silver Dollar City and I noticed they were not coal fired. Another place with coal fired trains is Heritage Park in Calgary, AB.

Aren't Disneys steam trains operated on gas fired boilers rather than coal/wood fired burners?
Gas is a much cleaner system and more efficient for heating the boiler consistently, it would avoid the need to stoke the fire, reduce the coal dust shunted out of the smoke stack and give a cleaner operation. It wouldn't avoid the need to refill the water in the boiler system though.

 

[Bolt]

Nothing like a two year thread bump to restart the conversation again

 

[Disney-Trains]

The locomotive works the exact same way regardless of how it is fired. Wood, Coal, and Fuel Oil were all used by various railroads in the US, one is not more authentic than the other.

I agree Dollywood is a great railroad, alot of that is the fact they operate with a long train up a 3.5% grade so you really hear the locomotive work.

Cedar Point also operates coal burning locomotives.

For a complete listing of theme parks that operate steam locomotives... There is a whole page listing them on www.trainchasers.com

 

[CDavid]

If you really want an authentic steam locomotive experience, find an operating railroad museum (Tennessee Valley, etc.), not a theme park. The Disney and Dollywood trains are both nice (among other parks), but it is far from a truly authentic steam passenger railroad.

Real trains don't run around in circles all day pulling open sided cars with bench seats riding on freight trucks, but I digress.

 

[Disney-Trains]

"Real trains" also don't have a narrator pointing out random facts about every little thing you pass. But that is the case at both museums, and theme parks usually.

If it's steam... I'm quite happy though, regardless of the consist behind. I'd actually rather have the open air cars so I can hear the locomotive, than the old commuter cars some museums run.

 

[danlb_2000]

"Real trains" also don't have a narrator pointing out random facts about every little thing you pass. But that is the case at both museums, and theme parks usually.

If it's steam... I'm quite happy though, regardless of the consist behind. I'd actually rather have the open air cars so I can hear the locomotive, than the old commuter cars some museums run.

This is actually not true, national park service provides "narrators" on Amtrak trains through certain parts of the country.

 

[Disney-Trains]

True. I actually really dislike the term "real trains" anyways which is why I put it in quotations. I think a park train is a real train, it's moving people around the park, sometimes for actual transportation.

But yes, I'm aware, i ride the California Zephyr often (my favorite long distance train by far), and I'm always happy when the Park guides are on for portions of the ride.

 

[msteel]

True. I actually really dislike the term "real trains" anyways which is why I put it in quotations. I think a park train is a real train, it's moving people around the park, sometimes for actual transportation.

But yes, I'm aware, i ride the California Zephyr often (my favorite long distance train by far), and I'm always happy when the Park guides are on for portions of the ride.

The California Zephyr! My one and only (long distance) "real train" ride. I rode from Provo to Chicago. Great memories.

 

[ford91exploder]

Silver Dollar City steam trains run on Diesel. It is something I discussed with the engineers running it when I went to Silver Dollar City and I noticed they were not coal fired. Another place with coal fired trains is Heritage Park in Calgary, AB.

Steam trains can be real yet oil fired, The Union Pacific was famous for using large oil fired engines, A giveaway for most oil fired engines is a cylindrical tender.