I do prefer the old fashioned theme to the more modern setting in Disneyland and I think Dollywood gives more "bang for your buck", if you know what I mean. If your into train rides, there is one in Knoxville called (The Three Rivers Rambler) They have just restored another steam engine, #154, she isn't much to look at but she is a nice ride. The other engine #203 is their other steam engine, I don't like it to much because its an oil burner. They only run them on a special occasion basis, so check their website first.
I have a season pass and ride it every year! I have never seen equipment kept as clean and spotless. I live in CA about an hour from Disneyland and much prefer Dollywood, very family friendly.
I got a season pass for the 2010-2011 season. When I went up to the train I was expecting a cab ride. But guess what, they don't let people do that anymore. Probably because some "idiot" got hurt being stupid and tried to make money off of it. I think Dollywood is to concerned about safety it ruins a good thing for every one. I also think if they gave a public shop tour, it would be a great money maker.
Great,
I'll send you an e-mail within the week. If you don't have it by firday, e-mail me and remind me and I'll send some.
Cheese
Nick! :)
That would be fantastic, I have friends in Cookeville Tn. who could use a visit, hmm...How to get the wife to go along with it, lol.
Thank you.
Yes,
The Dollywood Railroad is a class act, with a very friendly crew, who are very willing to let you pose by and even on the engine, as well as ride in the cab. Now, they no longer allow rides in the fireman seat, its just a seat installed on the tender, which is very comfortable. Just watch your legs when the fireman picks up the shovel.
The park opened in 1961 as Rebel Railroad with a Civil War Theme, the it changed to Goldrush Junction after being bought by the Cleveland Browns Managment, the Silver Dollar City of Tennessee, and now Dollywood.
My first vacation when I was 4 months old was tol Dollywood and the only tide I rode (or so my parents said) was the train. I found a photograph they took of the train and it was #70 "Ciner-ella". My first Dollywood cab ride was in #70 also, and the first time I stood on the pilot of a steamer was on #70. We always seem to be there when #192 is operating. I love that engine too, but #70 is my favorite.
I almost got to go into the shops too, but I didn't have time, so come Christmas time when we take our annual Dollywood trip (we got 2 or 3 times a year, usually April, July or August, and December) I'll go through the shops and take pictures.
Also, during the christmas festival that fix christmas lights onto the locomotive and coaches. They do this because they run the train after dark during the festival.
If you wish, garthor, I have several pictures of both engines taken in the past 2 years that I can e-mail to you. I also videotaped a cab ride in #70 (taken this past april) and a ride in the coaches (April as well) that I will send to you when I figure out how to load them onto my computer.
Cheers,
Hi,
I was at Dollywood two weeks ago for a day after attending the Tweetsie RR Railfan Weekend. The railroad runs daily on the hour between 11 am and 4 pm, with the ride taking about 20-25 minutes. The park will be open until the end of December. This is a 36" narrow gauge operation with a main line with loops at both ends (dog-bone). There are 7 open-sided coaches, the last one reserved for wheelchairs and the conductor.
Normally the engine in use during most of the season is WP&Y/USATC 2-8-2 192, but it has been under maintenance since the end of last year, so this year only WP&Y 2-8-2 70 was in use. Otherwise 70 is just used at the begining and the end of the season. Also present, WP&Y 2-8-2 71 was undergoing a heavy repair which is expected to still take some years. WP&Y 2-8-2 72, which was mostly destroyed in the Skagway roundhouse fire, was only bought for spares and few traces of it can still be found.
There are a few possible photo locations (two trestles, level x-ing near departure station when the train returns), but the train is fairly difficult to photograph as most of the track runs through areas off-limits to the public. However, given the nature of the coaches (open-sided "toast racks"), it is probably better to just have shots of the engine. The crew was very friendly and even offered to take me around the shop when they realized I was a railfan. Some years back the engine's cab sides and tenders were painted white with red inscriptions and they had spark arrestors, but happily these have been removed and the engines are now black with realistic-looking inscriptions. The engines were converted from oil to coal firing for use at Dollywood.
Std. gauge Smoky Mtn. RR / Southern Ry. 2-8-0 107 is not at the park itself, but on display at Dollywood's booking office, located where the road to the park branches off from the main highway. It is lettered DOLLYWOOD EXPRESS.
Regards,
Thomas Kautzor, Geneva (Switzerland).
NB: 20 miles away on Rt. 321 in Townsend, TN there is the Little River RR & Lumber Co. Museum, which has 3-truck Shay 2147 on display. www.littleriverrailroad.com
TG3 LOOK ! LISTEN ! LIVE ! Remember the 3.
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