mcjaco

That is all.

^ and ^^ Both of you are on the fast track to the Bantron. Chill out. And please read the rules.

^ Difficult? You can't even make it half way around now!

^ Hey, welcome to TPR. I'm going to suggest you read the Terms of Service and Posting Rule Stickies. They're located at the top of the Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys! Forum.

How about just some good beer.....anywhere in Epcot!

Thank the heavens because...... Son of Beast sucks.

I found Hoosier to be a bit more enjoyable this past visit (8/3) than in past visits. That was a last row ride. Cornball was rough, but it always is. The back row is still balls to the wall fun. Steel Hawg......yeah. I'm not sure what to make of it. I'll explain my thoughts when I get my PTR up.

And obviously repeating myself doesn't work. I've already deleted two thread this morning. Read that again, DELETED. No questions asked, just gone. Read the rules people. MATT ANGRY. MATT DELETE!!!!!

We've got lots of ACErs here. It's called not taking yourself too seriously.

Way to be a fan.

One. It was sarcastic. Two. I was comparing it to your argument about cost. The main reason everyone felt the Wand would never come down, was cost. They were proven wrong. Three. Who said anything about burning it down?

That's what they kept saying about the Wand at Epcot.

ADMIN WARNING: Chef kitchen, I deleted your post about drinking wine. Your profile states you're 20. Please do not post in here if your are under the legal drinking age wherever you reside.

^ And you're so sure, how?

^ Correct.

^ There's probably more truth in Scott's thread then there is in here.

Very cool Jeff. I pass by the Circus train everyday on my way to work when it's in town in November. Still amazes me seeing it. Darron, we know you're not as old as Jeff. I'd love to see your pics, I was only four months old when my Dad took me to see it. Eric, I've lived within blocks of a train line all my life. I'm not sure I could fall asleep without the rumbling sound, and horns! I've got some short video I might post tonight.

So, as many of you know, my addiction....err affliction, to EPCOT is almost as bad as my love for things that ride on rails. My Father is a huge train nut, and as a kid he'd take me up to town on the back of his bicycle to watch trains. At least once a summer he'd book a trip on an excursion trip behind one of the few remaining and operating steam locomotives in the country. The minute I smell a steam locomotive, it takes me waaaaay back. Fast forward to the present, and the little town of Owosso, Michigan (by Flint), holds a Trainfestival every year. Owosso is the home of the Steam Railroad Institute, and the Pere Marquette 1225 Berkshire type locomotive. You may recognize it, as it was used to model the train in the movie the "Polar Express." This year Owosso pulled out all the stops and invited the Nickel Plate Railroad's 765 (a berkshire, and sister loco to the 1225), and Southern Pacific's famous 4449 Daylight Northern class locomotive. The 4449 is also known for pulling the American Freedom Train way back in 1976, and for starring in the movie Tough Guys. The Daylight would travel all the way from Portland, OR (it's home base) through Washington, Idaho, Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and finally Michigan. An incredible feat for a locomotive that's 70 some odd years old. The last time a gathering of operating steam locomotives this large happened was in 1999 in Sacramento, CA. So it's been awhile, and this was quite the big deal for train levers.....err, nerds. Anyway, enough of my babbling and on to the pictures.... Sorry. I ride in class. This is the best view while enjoying a brew. What better way to end this? Chicks dig trains. This is actually the newest steam locomotive in the country. It ws recently scratch built off of plans from a locomotive in the 1800's! Back at the show 1225 sits. Like this one. Railfanning is like fishing. There's a lot of sitting around in wierd locales waiting for one good picture. They also had longer excursions (a whole day trip). Each day a different one of the larger steamers woulld pull the train (765 in this case). You could operate a steam locomotive. If you wanted to wait in a line, and sign your life away. They also had hourly train rides. Artsy fartsy. So pretty. The star of the show, SP 4449. Which pulled the famous Daylights from SF to LA up and down the California coast. Also beastly. Beastly. And to think you had to "see" down this while moving all those levers and dials. How the hell did they even drive these things? It amazes the complexity of the whole thing. The eight drive wheels on the 4449 are 80 inches. Or 6' 8" for those with summer break brain. You just don't grasp the size of these, until you get close (note that is not me ) But the 1225 (seen here), the 765 and the 4449 are some of the largest still running. Most of the steam locomotives in attendance (there were 10 in all) were small, like these two. And even little trains you can ride on! One of the first types of diesels. Little tank engines for switching. Everything was on display from more modern diesels. In the back, 1225. In the foreground 4449. Saturday saw a very large crowd. They always give you "collector" ticket stubs for you ticket stub afficionados. Owosso, MI. Home to the Steam Railroad Institute. Or something no one has never heard of. Welcome!

^ The ghetto is part of the U of Dayton campus for student housing. It's a UD thing.

And with those skills, we can close this thread! Search is your friend!

I got denied the Dragon Wagon on Saturday at the local town fair...... How the heck does Mike fit in those????

^ Which came first? The Beast or the Ghetto?

^ Except that they never let a plan play out more than a year or two.

You can't base your opinion off of one visit to each park.

^ I'm a mod. And you just ran out of luck.