Eeny Meeny Mine Train, January 1974
Today's photos are nothin' extraordinary, but it's always nice to see the li'l Mine Train.
Here comes old #1, back from another trip through Nature's Wonderland. Does train #1 think it's better than the other trains? Hopefully all the passengers survived; occasionally the animatronic beavers would go haywire and attack the train. I still don't quite understand why Marc Davis insisted that the beavers needed laser beam eyes.
Another train sits on the siding; maybe you can use an "A" ticket to sit in it, in case you are too scared to ride the regular attraction. What else are you going to do with those A's?
And finally, one last look at Rainbow Ridge. I notice that the locomotive has some sort of "lid" that is up, just behind the little engine. Any idea what that's for?
17 comments:
I always love pics of the mine train attraction and I really like the lighting on these. Would you say that was late afternoon sun and shadows?
gorgeous pics of the train and Rainbow Ridge. if i ever have a big estate, that is what im going to name it!
i never noticed before that the cars have names like the subs do....very cool!
thanks for a very sunny start to my day! ;)
True beauties Major. Excellent shots!
TM!, yes I do think it looks like the sun is on its way down. Since these are from January, late afternoon was probably about 4:30!
My impression of the photos is that they were taken around 10-11 am or so and not late in the day. Look again. See what you think.
The open lid is a container where they kept all the rifles for the guests to fend off the wild beavers etc... I am not really sure what that is on the train. It could be some kind of container and platform for the operator to sit on is my guess and from what I can remember when I rode this attraction oh so many years ago.
I do miss the Mine Train. It was a wonderful ride, especially through the show building which were the caves and the rainbows of colored waterfalls inside the caverns.
Yes, I miss the bubbling mud pots and rainbow caverns, especially the glowing colors and damp smell.
(My favorite smell off all though was that musty odor you got in the Haunted Mansion)
@Orange Co. Native: I have to disagree with your time of day assessment. The Rainbow Ridge buildings are the same buildings that are now part of Big Thunder and I believe they have always faced west. That being the case, I doubt if they'd be lit so well mid morning. I could be wrong. But I suspect that we're looking at late afternoon here, as the Major pointed out. Just my two cents.
Have to admit, I looked very hard to see if I was operating that train that day, but no, it isn't me. As for the time of day, my vote is that it is mid afternoon, between 2:30 and 3:30. And that item behind the 'engine' is the spoiler to augment the brakes....
OK, I'm just having some fun. That car contained the battery that ran the engine. I suppose it is open for some impromptu maintenance.
Actually, the buildings are facing south and not west. The buildings are in the same location as they were when Thunder Mountain was the Mine Train ride.
Look at Google Maps and you will see that it is a southern exposure. Harbor Blvd runs north/south and Katella runs east to west. The buildings are facing toward California Adventures.
It is strange the way Disneyland is situated. It is facing toward the Pacific Ocean. I guess technically yes it is west.
However, all the years I have been to Disneyland, the sun seems to rise east of Tomorrow Land and the sun seems to set behind the Haunted Mansion.
I am not sure now. It is strange/
At least Train #1 outlived all the rest of them; finally ending its tenure at Disneyland in 2010. It was the rotting old wreck that sat forever beside the River's of America.
I thought I read somewhere that ALL of the Magic Kingdoms, including Tokyo and Paris, have their castles facing south for maximum sun exposure to their facades and for better picture taking.
Tokyo Magic,
Yes. You are correct. The castle is facing south for a southern exposure. The Mine Train buildings face the same direction.
Whereas, the back of the castle inside Fantasy Land is in the shade during the fall and winter months.
I'll need to take a compass next time I am there.
I'll stick with my timeframe. To clarify, the engine was just for show. The battery car powered the train.
I have to admit, now that I look at it again, it does seem like the sun is low in an easterly direction, at least in that first one. If it was late afternoon, I think that we'd be seeing long shadows pointing to the right.
Kevin, I know that you reported that the #1 was taken for the archives... do you know if it is being fully restored, or will it remain in its "rock slide" state?
Look at the shadows in the 3rd photo of the El Dorado Hotel. The shadows are shifted to the left with the sun coming in to the right.
Definitely morning.
Sorry for hammering this to death.
Interesting thread. Looks like #1 was taken at a different time. Anyway, regarding #3, if the sun was coming from the East the El Dorado would cast a shadow towards the train which is to the West. But the shadow on the train is coming from the trees to the West (or SSW if you prefer)of it. This is afternoon.
I wonder what became the fate of #2and 3 Engines. Was so sad to see #1 end up as it did.
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