Interested in Operating Steram in American Amusement Parks? Here is a link to a site that will provisde lists of those locomotives and their locations:
@ http://www.trainchasers.com/theme-park-steam.html
Also Look up Cagney Bros. They manufactured live steamers around the turn of the 20th Century, I think thier plant was in the Buffalo,NY area(?). Their trains were primarily in the 15", gauge and required some training to operate them. They had a large presence in the PanAmerican Exposition 1901.
From the site: "...For ten cents, passengers could board small, open cars and ride to the end of the line. The locomotives, called the Class D series, weighed 1,000 pounds and were 36 inches high from the base of the wheels to the top of the smokestack. They were steam-powered, their driving wheels 16 inches in diameter..."
Two not on the list.
Nut Tree Railroad Vacaville CA
Michael Jacksons Neverland Ranch near Los Olivos CA.
Nut tree was a small gauge line. Neverland Ranch may have been 36"
YoHo1975Man, this thread is old. A point of clarification. The Miniature Diesels in use at Kiddieland in Maywood Illinois..and the same at the San Diego Zoo AND at Bay Beach in Green Bay Wisconsin....along with probably any miniature F unit you've ever seen are all 16in gauge MTC G-16s. MTC standing for Miniature Train Company. They are quite literally scale models of the EMD F-2 built from the EMD plans that were given to them.
That Richmond minature railroad was taken up in 2014. Here is a link to a photo of its yard. You can see other photos of mine of this minature railroad on Flickr from 1998.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/20935380630/in/photolist-HPgh72-J3BbKG-J3BbCY-J3BbyQ-CZpob1-xeJczr-xU77Bz-yaHsQy-xU1snY-xTZihs
Not sure when the minature railroad at Chilhowee Park in Knoxville (near the zoo) closed but here is a view of some of its equipment.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/39092860@N06/30141451475/in/album-72157667696069211/
I know of two amusement park type engines that are (probably!) still in use.
One I was preparing to buy several years ago. It was in City Park in Iowa City, Iowa. It was just a small oval of track, an engine and 2 or 3 multiperson passenger cars. 18-inch gauge (I think, its been a while!). The family that owned and operated it for many, many years decided to quit the business and wanted the city to buy it, but the city was reluctant to do so. So they put out feelers to see if someone else would buy it. I was still attempting to arrange for cash to bid on it, when the city reversed itself and bought it. After that I heard that they had built up the track on a high berm and there were complaints about safety. When it was right on the ground, if it tipped over the passengers would just land on their sides, but with it elevated, if tipped over the whole car would roll completely over and put passengers UNDER the upside down cars. I just checked on Google Earth and using the "History" function I can see the old track layout. The images from today show a MUCH longer (and curvy) track loop. Google Earth's "Street View" also has images that show the track and it is back down at ground level for the most part and much safer from that standpoint. I gotta go visit this summer! :-)
The other track is a fairly large oval on the grounds of the Nowthen (Minn) "Threshing Show". I think it is 24-inch gauge (maybe 30"). Smooth ride but the engine is sort of strange looking... somewhat reminiscent of an F3 Diesel, but mounted WAY ABOVE the trucks/wheels so it looks like it is tiptoeing around the loop. See, youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDT9_VOQvRc
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Springs Park, outside Lancaster, S.C., had steam powered trains back in the mid-forties. My Sunday School teacher took her class there two or three times one summer, possibly in 1946, since there were also three WWII military planes which were great fun to play in.
I am not sure of the gauge, but the cars seated several people each, with the seats in one line.
I noticed, last week, that the park still exists, but did not know anyone to ask about the railroad.
Springs Park was owned by the Springs cotton mills, which were the province of Colonel Elliott Springs, the then president of the Lancaster and Chester Railroad.
The only other park railroad I knew about was in City Park in New Orleans; in the early sixties I wandered through there and saw what I considered to be a "gaudy dodad" pulling a train. The dodad had a vague resemblance to a steam engine, but anyone who knew anything about steam locomotives instantly saw that it was not even an imitation of one.
Johnny
King's Dominion in Doswell, VA had a couple of propane fired Crown 4-4-0s for their loop through the woods of maybe 3/4 mile. They also had a monorail line through the wild animal park. Both attractions were evidently to mild and space consuming to survive in todays intense thrill ride enviorment, along with most of the trees which made for pleasant, shady walkways. I think both rides came out in the mid-90s. You can still catch a glimps of the enginehouse for the Crowns from I95. Growing up in south Jersey, for a few short years, someone operated a 12"(?) gauge loop for the public in the quaint shopping village of Rancocas Woods. The power was a live steam 4-4-0. This is a couple of miles west of Mt. Holly. Poking around behind one of the gift shops, a few years ago, I noticed a shed with rails imbeded in the concrete floor, validating my childhood memories. Couldn't see inside, though. I still have a ticket stub from a ride in the early 60s.
Geahaga Lake Monorail Aurora Ohio.
The Detroit Zoo was a field trip for many of us in elementary school. And a ride on the train.
It was a bit odd hearing that purring (and they did purr) internal combustion engine in the locomotive...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Many of us lament that NONE of the famous Milwaukee Railroad "Hiawatha" passenger trains remain. Grade crossings west from Chicago had a warning posted on them "Trains pass this crossing at over 100 miles per hour." Thats right none of the great Milwaukee streamline HUDSON 4-6-4 engines of this fame are left. Gone are the winged feet always driving on of the "Hiawatha."
Unless you go to the Detroit Public Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan where a complete passenger railroad in miniture exists and has for almost 50 years - all trains hourly pulled by the famous "Hiawatha" streamline hudsons. A complete multi train railroad with signal system which carries most of the visitors to the ZOO. My God! riding on this thing you think you are really on a Class 1 passenger railroad!
Hiawatha hudsons were built and a gift to the park by the old Chrysler Corporation. I'm talking before Dalmer-Benz bought Chrysler and everyone in the company changed their name to Klaus or Henrich, and before it became slick Italianized by Fiat. The good corporate managment of America's own Chrysler Corp gave a full set of Hudson steamers to the public zoo!
Now I ask you, Detroit was never served by the Milwaukee Railroad, but it was served by the New York Central with streamlined Mercury Hudson locomotives and by Grand Trunk with semi streamlined Northerns running just blocks from the zoo. Also C&O served Detroit as did Pennsylvania RR. Never did hear of Pennsy's Raymon Lowey streamline steam came to Detroit. So why Didn't Chrysler Corp choose them?
Similar live steam railroad activity can be found on Saturdays in Royal Oak, MI in the summers at Star Park.
Go to the Zoo, ride behind the flashing rods the "Hiawatha" Hudsons!
Doc
Freedomland was a historical theme park in the Bronx, NY in the early 60s. It borrowed historical Maine 2 footer steem engines from Edaville. Of course Edaville itself has had its own abandonment episodes
Riverview Amusement Park was a Chicago landmark from 1904 until it closed in 1947. The park covered 74 acres and at one time was the largest amusement park in the US. I'm guessing that the railroad that ran around a part of the park was about 18" gauge. Two trains were operated one painted red (including the locomotive) and the other painted green. The engines were live steamers and as I recall were 4-6-2's. My grade school made annual class trips to Riverview and most of the kids would head for the rollercoasters but not me. My first stop was the railroad to ride and watch those fascinating little steamers make their rounds.
Mark
I rode the House of David park live steamer (15" gauge IIRC) in Benton Harbor, MI in 1971. I know it was abandoned soon after, however, I see by web search, parts of the park have been historically recreated, including part of the RR with restored steamers.
Disney's Fort Wilderness in Fla. had a RR and back in 1996 the rails were still there. From what the park employees told me there was too much issues between cars and the RR crossing. The simple solution was a conversion to small vans and buses. The rails were left to add to the decore (when not being covered by Codzy a major problem back then.) Does anyone know what equiment was used and last run?
There is still quite a bit of 12 inch or so gauge railroad track running around the Pima County Fairgrounds at Tucson, Arizona, but it doesn't appear that it has been used for many years.
Poppa_Zit senshi wrote: South of town. At the southeast corner of Hill Rd and US12/IL31.You can see the loop through the sheds on Google Maps. HERE. Isn't it behind the building with the Lionel Trains sign out front? He's still running. I recently bought a DVD of amusement park trains and his got significant play on it. He has either an F or E diesel unit and passenger cars painted in SP Daylight colors, plus other rolling stock. It's right near where the old CNW line to Lake Geneva crossed under the Milwaukee Road.
senshi wrote: South of town. At the southeast corner of Hill Rd and US12/IL31.You can see the loop through the sheds on Google Maps. HERE.
Isn't it behind the building with the Lionel Trains sign out front?
He's still running. I recently bought a DVD of amusement park trains and his got significant play on it. He has either an F or E diesel unit and passenger cars painted in SP Daylight colors, plus other rolling stock. It's right near where the old CNW line to Lake Geneva crossed under the Milwaukee Road.
Drove by the area last Saturday, and saw that the track was torn up. It was there last fall. Drive up to Wisconsin almost every weekend during the summer.
....Sq: Yes I fully understand about the beautiful depot in Ligonier.
When the LVRR ran right thru the park, there was a very small depot {perhaps better word would be station}, located near the vicinity of the Merry go Round. It was a very small building...perhaps just 10 ft. square or so....I have no idea if that building may still be there or not.
People used to ride to the park on the Doodlebug and get off there or reboard, etc....
Quentin
Boyd wrote:For the movie "The Jerk", I wonder what park that was filmed in?
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
Y6bs evergreen in my mind
There was not to long ago there was an old train with cars sitting on a hill to the left going north out of birmingham,alabama on I-65. It was on private land and I could not get to it.
Is there anyone out there that can tell me anything about it. I bet it has some great history on it.
....BaltACD:
Yes, I remember the Kennywood Park owners have also owned Idlewild Park for many years now.
My home is located just 20 miles east of there on rt. 30.
Idlewild has been a beautiful and fun place to visit in years past and suppose still is....Our school used to have a day long outing and picnic there on the last day of school. Really looked forward to that visit.
I have been in the park many years ago as the Doodlebug passed thru....and made a stop at the tiny station right in the park.
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