ECZenith Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 The Disneyland Railroad will always have a special place in my heart as my first attraction. I've liked trains since I was a little kid and through pure luck, I was hired in to be a conductor on the DL RR which is considered a very sought after and hard to get position. The layout itself is pretty interesting, I love how the track cuts through Splash Mountain and goes over the Critter Country bridge, it's fun to wave at the guests below you and see all the kids exstatic about seeing a train. The diorama scenes are really cool and add a unique touch to the ride. We also have Walt Disney's presidential/VIP rail car, the Lily Belle (currently attached to Holiday 5) If you're ever in the park a ride in this car is a must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik_73 Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 I like the Efteling train ride. Beside the beautiful park landscaping you see from the ride, it is also a unique ride while they use original "small gauge" steam locomotives. Except for one later build (1991) locomotive, the other 3 trains they use(d) are true original classic steam locomotives from 1907, 1911 and 1914 who where in service all over europe back in the days. The track has two stations, so you can use the train for transporting to the other side of the park instead of just a scenic tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philrad71 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Not sure about the best...but I know what would get my vote for lamest train ride - the one at KI. Rode it last weekend and the only theming was an old looking house and old general store. Is this supposed to be a Western village or wtf??? The highlight was seeing the track for Diamondback in the parking lot and the closed water park. Oooooohhhh/Aahhhhhhh!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vekoma Fan Boy Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I would have to say for theme parks, that DL would probably be the best, even though I haven't experienced it first hand. But, for REAL railroads, I would have to say that the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic RR, Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Reservation, and the White Pass and Yukon Road dominate in scenery. 3' Gauge FTW!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outbackjack Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 (edited) As a park enthusiast much more than a coaster enthusiast (I only love wooden or mega/giga speed coasters with no inversions)....I always ride the train ride at each park. Just like anything else, these can go from outstanding to pathetic. Something about the way train tracks cut through wooded areas, over bridges, through tunnels, always been a huge fan. My favorite train rides... 1. Dollywood. That bending curve back in the woods, where you can see the rest of the train, majestic. Plus the steam engines are just gorgeous. 2. Busch Gardens Virginia. Beautiful park deserves a beautiful train ride, and the best bridge run of any train ride ever. 3. Knoebels.....take your pick of awesome and unique miniature trains. One running by the campsite, one running under Twister. 4. Magic Kingdom. Decent ride, but the main station is stunning and is EXACTLY what a theme park train station should look like. Anyone else a train geek and have some favorites? Edited August 27, 2011 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarTrekGeek Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I like BGT's Serengeti Express, because it gives a nice view of the Serengeti Plains and other parts of the park. I also have to agree with you on MK's train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XYZ Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Sadly, they took out the train at CGA, it was a fun ride... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outbackjack Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I'm always shocked when parks take out, or even worse, never have had a train. Trains, along with a roller coaster, bumper or antique cars, and a carosuel are park staples. EVERY park should have this 4 pack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 (edited) We already have a thread devoted to park train rides, so I've merged this new one with the old one. As for park train rides, I'm rather partial to Disneyland's (it's got dinosaurs), Knoebels (it's got ravenous squirrels and is creepy at night), and, of course, BGW's (it's good way to get around the park when you're tired). Edited August 27, 2011 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 1) Disneyland Railroad ... without question, it's the best one I've been on. 2) Knoebels ... this one is really great and fun, especially at night 3) WDW Magic Kingdom ... Hopefully with Mermaid opening it won't be even more backsides of buildings, but it's still great 4) SFGAm ... this one REALLY surprised me. I totally enjoyed it. I think there are some others that I'm forgetting ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandonR Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Where's the love for SFoT? It doesn't get much more authentic than a 114-year-old steam-powered train that came from a sugar cane plantation... Plus quite a bit of the theming from the inaugural 1961 season is still up and operating, whose somewhat politically incorrectness makes me chuckle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gforce532 Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 One train that I was really impressed with was the one at Michigan's Adventure. How it goes threw the swamps out in the back of the park along with providing great views of Shivering Timbers (though you can't take pictures). And it also provides convenient transportation to the two biggest coasters in the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen G Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 SFOT needs to be added since Ive operated the train there for the past 2 years, both engines are 114 years old and still running strong. Also Disney Land Ca needs to be added, Few people know that at Disney Land ca you are allowed to ride in the cab of the locomotive "on the tender technically" with the crew something no other park will allow due to insurance reasons and Disney Land only dose so because Walt Disney him self a rail fan wanted the public to see how the train operates. All you need to do to get the cab ride is to talk to the conductor at the Main Street station "you cannot get in the cab at any other station" and ask for the tender ride, you will only be able to ride if engines 1 or 2 are running that day "only ones with seats for riders" and if it is not a crew change time or refueling run "which are not often" you will then be belted in to a special seat in the cab for a round trip back to Main Street station. you can talk to the engineer/fireman and ask any questions you like while in the cab. this is the only park to allow this, at SFOT letting people in the cab while the train is moving was a firing offense so this is special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewRnR Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 I forgot about SFoT - thanks for someone remembering. - Cedar Point - Dollywood - Silver Dollar City - Busch Gardens (both) - SFoG - Six Flags St. Louis had a decent train as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shavethewhales Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 Are there any "classic" train rides around anymore that involve stopping for a skit or having live actors interact with the train in any way? I know Silver Dollar City's train ride still has it's skit, but it seems like most parks just operate their trains like they're some kind of kiddie ride these days. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it seems like back in the old days a lot more train rides had skits intertwined with them or something else happen along the way... but maybe I'm spoiled because I grew up with SDC and Dry Gulch (which used to have a kick-ass train ride). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted August 27, 2011 Share Posted August 27, 2011 ^Dollywood had the same little skit on their train ride but removed it years ago. The buildings are still there where the gun fight took place at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schrecken Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I don't always get to ride the train at whatever park I am visiting for the first time (nor do I always notice or remember which parks have them - I was at Knoebels a few years ago and I swear I don't remember them having one but I guess I was just enjoying my first time visit to that park and was trying to do everything I wanted to do there), but the one that has impressed me the most is the one at Dollywood. Probably because of its authenticity, as the only other place I've ever seen a coal-fired steam train in action is in old movies and newsreels. Never been to SFOT and haven't been to WDW since I was a teen so I can't comment on the trains at those parks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjune4991 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I love BGA's train especially in the Serengeti plain. But it's really loud in the tunnel. Especially when kids, teenagers, and many adults just LOVE to yell and whistle as loud as they can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Are there any "classic" train rides around anymore that involve stopping for a skit or having live actors interact with the train in any way? I know Silver Dollar City's train ride still has it's skit, but it seems like most parks just operate their trains like they're some kind of kiddie ride these days. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it seems like back in the old days a lot more train rides had skits intertwined with them or something else happen along the way... but maybe I'm spoiled because I grew up with SDC and Dry Gulch (which used to have a kick-ass train ride). Silverwood still does this. The actors board the train and hold up the passengers. Donations from the "victims" go to charity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen G Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Aaside from Dollywood, there are several railroads in Colorado that operate the coal burners and a few up east, but for many theme parks they are too dangerous. Coal likes to set fires all along the line due to ashes and cinders getting pulled through the stack that are still hot thus requiring many railroads to run a small fire car behind there trains for fire control which is more payroll along with the need to wash the coal to keep the dust down or the cab might blow up, you also have to remember that it requires much more skill to fire a coal burner thus requiring more training and practice along with proper facility's to handle the ashes and to add coal to the locomotives tender "cant pump a rock into the tender" so space is needed for a loader. you also need bigger engines to burn coal due to the inefficiency of burning coal in the smaller engines due to lack of draft in the fire box many of them were converted to oil in the early twenty's as soon as it was possible to so along with many engines of a larger size and larger engines mean more maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSum1_55 Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 My favorite train ride is the Beast at KI. Very few train rides allow you to really go away from the park and out into the woods. Also, the nearly 5 minute length allows for a nice long break from walking around all day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 ^I see what you did there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Clinksalot Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 I don't think we rode the train when we were at SFOT. It's on my to-do list next time we are there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The SETGO Guys Posted August 28, 2011 Share Posted August 28, 2011 Starting off with regular trains- Walt Disney World Railroad Logo The Walt Disney World Railroad Trains are absolutely beautiful. The Engines themselves are so well maintained and really look great running around the Magic Kingdom! (Now technically if you saying trains....Monorails should count, but that woud be another post) -Zach Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Johnson Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I love train rides, I always try to ride the train at every park I visit. Dollywood has my overall favorite train ride. The most surprising train ride still has to be the first time I rode the one at Disneyland. I had no idea that there was going to be a dinosaur section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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