Author Topic: What is this Ride? (Gandy Dancer)  (Read 14340 times)

MattPaasch

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What is this Ride? (Gandy Dancer)
« on: January 07, 2008, 02:38:29 PM »
I have found a picture of my brother and I ridding a ride at SDC around 1986-1988. It was located behind the Carousel Barn, across the tracks from the Train Depot, near the old petting zoo (where the Carousel is today).

I can't remember the name of it. Anyone want to help me?
« Last Edit: March 26, 2019, 11:55:05 PM by MattPaasch »

Copper

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2008, 04:01:46 PM »
I want to say it is called Gandy Dancer. I am not 100% on the name. The track is still there under a lot of weeds and grass.

shavethewhales

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2008, 07:01:42 PM »
That is indeed the Gandy Dancer, and we have a couple of pics here on the site of what's left of it as of this last fall -> http://www.sdcfans.com/galleries/sdc_sept_07/sdc_sept_07_gal.html

Do you have any memories of what it was like? I never got to ride it.

Coaster

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2008, 04:41:41 PM »
I wonder why they ever quit using it. It'd be great if they brought it back.
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Swoosh

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2008, 12:32:02 PM »
Wasn't that like a sit-down version of a "pump cart"?  KBF has one similar called the Huff and Puff Railway
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Old Guy

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2008, 03:35:19 PM »
Kids tended to poop out half way around and the ride opperator had no choice but go climb on the car and pump it back. This made a low capacity ride even slower and eventualy to costly to staff. Too bad, it was fun.
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Johnny Boy

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2008, 01:06:12 AM »
wow, so nothing keeps you inside the ride?
that sounds WEIRD.. :o

shavethewhales

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2008, 12:52:35 PM »
^Well it's not like there were any tremendous forces to throw you out of the car.  ::) Besides, this was before the age of intense regulations, restraints, and lawsuits out the butt.

Coaster

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2008, 06:22:43 PM »
Kids tended to poop out half way around and the ride opperator had no choice but go climb on the car and pump it back. This made a low capacity ride even slower and eventualy to costly to staff. Too bad, it was fun.

I got to thinking about this today. Couldn't they just put in a simple chain system that the ride operator can turn on and pull the kids around if the kids start to poop out? And to make it so more kids can ride they could put in another track so there are two tracks going around at once and then it could be a race type ride.
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sdcforever

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #9 on: April 06, 2008, 07:26:09 PM »
I got to thinking about this today. Couldn't they just put in a simple chain system that the ride operator can turn on and pull the kids around if the kids start to poop out? And to make it so more kids can ride they could put in another track so there are two tracks going around at once and then it could be a race type ride.

I like your idea!  Let's bring back the Gandy Dancer and make it a race type ride!  That would make it less likely that kids would poop out halfway (nothing like a little competition to push the kids to finish the ride), plus it would be a ride where they could get some exercise.  Waving that Wii remote around just doesn't cut it!  :)

Joy

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #10 on: May 02, 2008, 10:26:52 AM »
You know, I tried like crazy to find the Gandy Dancer track, but I couldn't see it for the life of me. I looked all over the area behind the Carousel Barn and near the carousel... I dunno why I couldn't see it.

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marolinesdad

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Re: What is this Ride?
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2008, 10:46:59 AM »
It is still there.  It is a little over grown with vines and such.  I think the entrance to the ride is even still there behind the Carousel barn.  You can really see the tracks if you ride the Train.
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shavethewhales

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Re: What is this Ride? (Gandy Dancer)
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2008, 09:03:04 PM »
Hey, it turns out the Gandy Dancer is still there, despite the construction being so close. In fact, it looks like the new construction won't even reach it, so unless they purposefully go in and take it out, it will live on till it rots.

sdcforever

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Re: What is this Ride? (Gandy Dancer)
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2008, 10:49:47 PM »
^Cool!  It deserves to live on...a nice piece of nostalgia for the park. :)

bobber620

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Re: What is this Ride? (Gandy Dancer)
« Reply #14 on: January 14, 2009, 01:08:19 PM »
my brother and i tried to make a race out of it when we were little, we would see if the one in the front car could stay out in front of the trailing car without getting run into the back of or getting yelled at for doing it.
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