Astroworld Rides Seen Leaving Park

[greatamerica2003]

It didn't take long, but they are beginning to remove rides from the Astroworld property.

First to go, the 610 Limited, the parks railroad. Their diesel(made by the same company that manufactured the Great America trains) was the first to leave. There is one more live steam locomotive left on the property (shown in the second photo) The coaches for the train are in the last photos.

http://www.sixflagshouston.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=788

We should know pretty quick where this stuff goes. Photos from the parks receiving this stuff should be up as soon as it arrives.

The internet is a wonderful thing isn't it?

EDIT: About an hour after this topic was posted the pictures in the sixflagshouston.com website were removed except the steam locomotive picture.

[msoeagle]

What are they doing with the train cars and stuff?

[Galvan]

Im interested to see where some of Astroworld's rides end up...


One thing i can say for sure is that despite what some people on this website may wish...

Serial Thriller IS NOT heading to Great America Nor is Dungeon Drop coming to SFGAM for that matter either

I thought it was kinda funny seeing a "R.I.P" tombstone on the front of the locomotive as well.

[FRD714]

Maybe nothing will come to great america.

[mschulz5]

Chances are something will, maybe even the Dipping Dots stand!

[msoeagle]

Whats the rip doing on the front of the locomotive?

[FRD714]

I love dippin dots!!! Whatever it is, hopefully its something good.

[greatamerica2003]

Nobody knows yet. It will turn up sometime and we will find out.

In reference to the RIP sign, I would hope that they are NOT scrapping or converting that steam locomotive. That would be and awful fate for a perfectly operable steam locomotive.

There are currently 2 Six Flags parks operating steam, St Louis and Over Texas. Thats down from four parks in under 3 years. Over Georgia ended their steam operation a few years back and gutted one of them and converted it to a growling diesel (budget cuts they said). Building an steam outline from the ground up (like Great America's are) is one thing, but destroying a steamer is an awful sin. A lot of people do not know what a steam locomotive is.

I realize the train is not the most popular ride in a park, but I think it deserves more respect than being scrapped.

I will get off my soapbox now..........

[twixmix0303]

Great America needs some exaust fans through the Demon tunnel. The fumes in there are disgusting.

[msoeagle]

i think the trains are good for transportation.

[msoeagle]

Does anyone have any other pictures?

[twixmix0303]

i think the trains are good for transportation.

Do you mean in an amusement park or on real rail lines?

[Galvan]

Nobody knows yet. It will turn up sometime and we will find out.

There are currently 2 Six Flags parks operating steam, St Louis and Over Texas. Thats down from four parks in under 3 years. Over Georgia ended their steam operation a few years back and gutted one of them and converted it to a growling diesel (budget cuts they said). Building an steam outline from the ground up (like Great America's are) is one thing, but destroying a steamer is an awful sin. A lot of people do not know what a steam locomotive is.

I might be wrong, But doesnt PKI Still opperate a steam train on there less then spectacular railroad?

[Trailblazer Tony]

I know that Dollywood does for sure, i smelled like it afterwards. That train ride is something else, it leaves the park and wanders up the mountains around it.

[msoeagle]

i think the trains are good for transportation.

Do you mean in an amusement park or on real rail lines?

Amusement parks. Like its nice not to have to walk to the back of sfgam.

[twixmix0303]

Oh, I see now. I thought you meant the trains specific for AstroWorld are good for someplace else, like on real rail lines.

[msoeagle]

I dont think they would fit.

[[jonrev]]

Those trains are way too small to be used on real tracks. Plus, they's piss off people with cars because they're sslloooowww.

[msoeagle]

Yeah it would take 10 hours to get to chicago in a train instead of 1 1/2.

[twixmix0303]

That's what I was going to tell you, but I wasn't sure what you meant at first.

[msoeagle]

oh sorry . Why did they take down the pics from the astroworld site. And does anyone have any other pictures?

[greatamerica2003]

The railroad at Astorworld, and at Great America and most other amusment parks is 36" gauge, or 36" between the rails. Conceviably you could take that Astroworld stuff and move it to another park that had a 36" railroad and it would run fine. All commercial railroads in the USA are 48 5/8" gauge, so the wheel base it too narrow.

And the PKI railroad is indeed steam, but the route is less than spectacular (in my opinion it sucks). But they do take great pride and care in their locomotives. Kudos to them

[Galvan]

^

Thanks for that, PKI's route on there RR is a joke... But you are right about one thing, They are very proud about there steam locomotive.

[twixmix0303]

greatamerica2003 yes I was also going to tell msoeagle that the rail gauges are different. I didn't have exact dimensions like you do, though. For those of you that want to be technical, rail gauge is measured from the center, not inside, of each rail across the ties.

[FParker185]

Cedar Point has a very nice collection of Steam Trains, I forget the stats but like about half are coal and half are propane.

Disney also has a good set, though if i'm not mistaken they are all propane (like SFStL's)

The most awesome (less than full guage) steam train I've ridden was at Lakeside in Denver, they only run it on weekends, and they day I was there it only ran for about 2 hours til something broke, but it was just incredible, being pulled around the lake by a coal fired steam train, throwing embers everywhere (I still have burn marks on the shirt I was wearing that day after riding in the front seat right behind the engine). Also they have a nifty car that rides at the back of the train that sprays water along both sides of the track to prevent fires.