SDC Railroad

[crsjrr]

With the talk of a new area being developed near the site of the current train robbery, it has been mentioned that the railroad would be more of a transportation system then a "ride".  How many locomotives and sets of cars are there.  As a transportation system, would there be a demand or need for more frequent arrivals and departures per hour? Is it possible to have more than one train on the line at a time.  As a transportation system, and not a "ride", would there be a need for a more enclosed weather proof cars?   Any talk of upgrading the trains with larger locomotives?  Maybe steam engines with a more typical wheel arrangement and a tender?   If CC is redeveloped, I'd vote for a train, but make sure it would be something similar in size to SDC or larger. Some parks have the smaller trains seen a zoo's or local parks, just don't seem like a major amusement park train.   Any thoughts?

[shavethewhales]

I don't think they'd need to change anything with the trains - adding another station would be all. They currently run two trains at once, so capacity should stay the same even with an added station. The trains currently have to stop mid-way and re-fuel, so a new station would just replace the old robbery scene.

When this finally happens, I'll really miss the robbery. It's just a little cheesy, but it's really fun and adds a lot of warmth to the ride and the park experience as a whole. I miss the little things like that that used to be everywhere around the park. Also, the sing-along-train at Christmas will never be the same.

Meh, progress. I will be happy when there's a massive new coaster over in that area to ride.

[Tom]

I'm assuming that SDC does not even have a third train...do they?

[Dukefan]

^SDC has three (working) locomotives with two sets of cars.  So they rotate the locomotives around - two running, and one down for maintenance.

I still hate the idea of turning the Frisco Silver Dollar Line into a transportation ride.  Sadly a lot seem to suggest thats Dollywood's eventual plan for their magnificent train as well.

[Swoosh]

Yep.  lol.  Would hate to see something that was built and designed to transport people be used to transport people. 

[crsjrr]

I SAW THIS POSTED AT UsedRides.com.   ANYONE KNOW IF THE TRACK AT SDC WOULD BE THE RIGHT GAUGE.  MAYBE IT COULD BE BACK DATED.  MAYBE IT WOULD FIT IN WITH THE RUMORED NEW AREA? LOOKS PRETTY FANCY, MORE OF A PEOPLE MOVER THAN A TRAIN RIDE. WOULD LOOK AT HOME ON THE MAIN STREET AT CC/??

Description: REDUCED!!! Beautiful 24" gauge demonstrator model trolley with only 100 hours of service, styled after the famous "San Francisco" styled trolleys with half open air seating and half cabin seating, built by Custom Locomotive Corp. The trolley is approximately 6' wide x 25 feet long x 9' high, with ample head room for a 6'-8" tall person to walk inside and be comfortably seated. The unit is wheel chair accessible and powered by a Perkins 104-22 diesel engine with automatic hydrostatic drive. A Bendix 2 cylinder air compressor with automatic condensation blowdown provides air to the dual fail safe air brake system. The trolley's entire interior as well as the exterior trim are all solid mahogany wood with etched glass slide down windows and solid brass trim, interior lighting, and PA system. There is a sign board on each side near the front of the trolley for your advertisement purposes. The diesel engine provides enough power to pull 2 additional trail cars if desired. Price reduced for immediate sale to only $90,000
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Ad Owner:  By Owner
 Ad Posted:  9/24/2008      Ad Category:  Major Rides      Ad Reference Number:  34865

[Tom]

I have no idea where it could be put, but a trolley could almost work with the Grand Exposition on its own independent circuit.  I was thinking that it could have a Bonnie and Clyde robbery, especially if the train was used for transport.   Several problems,  1.)  where would it go and 2.) Bonnie and Clyde is in the 1920-1930s.  I like the trolley though. 

[Swoosh]

That would have worked with Celebration City... too bad that park is now closed 

[History Buff]

Haven't you seen the authentic trolley system that takes us to the parking lots?  They're just like the old time trolleys.  Except for the rubber tires.  And the diesel engines.  And the...

Seriously, the trolley in the picture would be really great at CC - for when it reopens as, as, well...as something.

[krash9924]

so weird to even think of the train as it is now being gone. The line for the train is almost always one of the longest in the parks. At Christmas time the line goes on forever. This is one move that i think SDC needs to re-look into. Who ever rides the train at Six Flags? No one. There are times like this when I worry about SDC becoming more of an Amusement park than a theme park.

[Dukefan]

Who ever rides the train at Six Flags? No one. 

Exactly!  The multi-station park train rides are really seen as more of a utility than a "must experience" ride/attraction.

[Zephon]

Man...I've been reading these posts and wondering.  We haven't heard anything about this.  And I know some who would have heard if there were anything to it.  No changes to the train at all that we are aware of, and it's not going away.  No new area out on the tracks either; all capital expenditures have been tabled for now, so there is no new development.

There have been no company releases or inter-office memos indicating such changes that I am aware of.  I don't know where you heard this, and I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing to it.

[sdcforever]

^I hope you're right, Zephon.  I heard rumors on this site only that the robbery was going away and a second station was being built so the train would transport guests between the main park and a new area.  If this is in the works I would think it would be way down the road.  The RiverBattle is the main attraction for a totally revamped Tom Sawyer's Landing, which is a major expenditure.  The next major expenditure, I'm assuming, will be a new coaster.  Also I'm betting SDC/HFE will be spending major cash to celebrate the park's 50th anniversary in 2010.

The only way I could see a second station being built is to transport guests to a new area of the park.  Due to the expenditures listed above I don't see this happening anytime soon, if at all.

[shavethewhales]

All this talk originated from a post a long time ago stating that a concept was submitted long ago dealing with a new train station and a new area on the hill past PK. It's not even a rumor at this point, I hope no one got confused. It will be many, many years before they even think about messing with the train, but it's come up at DW so it will eventually come up at SDC too.

[Zephon]

Right.  If anything, it's a long ways off.

It would be interesting though.  I've thought for years that a small village out on the loop, that gets back to the basics of frontier living and crafts might be workable.  Maybe a small army post/fort, with Indians camped about.  You know they used to have a resident Indian that had a teepee set up right in front of the Leather shop years ago.  They kind of tried this with the "Land of Forgotten Crafts" but missed by a mile.  The idea, at least in my view, would be to get away from the "commercialism" that has become the main emphasis of town.  I wouldn't put any rides out there, but I would leave the train robbery intact for the return trip.