A live steam locomotive, once destined to be run at SFGAm but never did, has a new home at the End-O-Line Railroad park in Currie, MN. Heres some info and a picture:
There were 3 other real steam locomotives that were going to run in the Marriott parks as well and they are all in museums, and one is at Cedar Point but isn't run because it burns a different fuel. Thus ends your history lesson for the day.
If youre talking about the little black one then its the Tom Thumb replica. Also when you ride the train and if you look to your left by the employee lot you can see the other train.
SFGAmfreak4life wrote:If youre talking about the little black one then its the Tom Thumb replica. Also when you ride the train and if you look to your left by the employee lot you can see the other train.
I beg to differ on the Tom Thumb replica. There is no drive mechanism connected to the wheels, so even if you could steam it up (which you can't) it wouldn't move.
To be specific on the equipment we have:
2 Custom Fabricators Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives (aka as steam outlines, i.e. fake steam) Both built 1975. 3 others were built. 2 more for the California park (one is in peices, the other for sale on the internet), and one more which is now at a Laughlin, Nevada casino. 5 identical locomotives total built the same. Custom Fabricators didnt build any more.
1 Caterpillar driven mule (that is the real trade name for it) locomotive. The mule has a manual transmission with a clutch, and is pretty much drives like a big bulldozer, but on rails. I belive built in the 1950's
2 sets of coaches, also built by Custom Fabricators. 12 coaches total. Some parts were salvaged off of flatcars from the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad.
1 ballast car (behind mule)
1 Tom Thumb replica. Not sure who built it. I have no info on this.
In addition, 3 other live steam locomotives that almost ran at the park. One is in Minnesota, one in California, one in Colorado, the other in Ohio at Cedar Point
All I was saying was that the thing they were talking about was the Tom Thumb. I didnt say whether or not it worked. I wouldnt say anything like that so I dont know a thing about it as well as the other trains.
During the regular season this year, didn't it seem like they only ran one train. It seemed very long for another train to get there. Before, they used to use both trains all the time. However, for FF I know that they are using two.
Ilovthevu' wrote:During the regular season this year, didn't it seem like they only ran one train. It seemed very long for another train to get there. Before, they used to use both trains all the time. However, for FF I know that they are using two.
Yeah, that was annoying, I actually spent a quarter doing age and love tests waiting for trains, Turns out i'm romantic and will live until i'm 82, Nice
Yep. We have only run 1 train during the regular season, 2 for FF. Seems that we may never run 2 trains in regular service again.
Yes the Mule is used all the time. Its used in the pre-season to do track work and spread ballast, to pull a locomotive that has broken down out on the ride course, and to move coaches around. Its VERY powerful. Its actually had quite a workout this year.
Well, to put it in a nutshell, the money for staffing isn't there. But things always change, they go in cycles. We may see it again, we may not. Lets pray we do.
The mule is the little blue engine right before some crossing going to Fairgrounds Junction. When youre on the train its to the right and it has a little gray mule painted on it.