Tuesday, January 01, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year! 

Let's all make some crazy resolutions on this significant day, shall we? I promise to try a new weird flavor at the frozen yogurt place near me (maybe coconut, yuck), and to replace any old, frazzled socks and underwear. These are resolutions I can live with!

Meanwhile, let's enjoy some nice Instamatic photos of Disneyland's Mine Train, just because. Everyone loves the Mine Train! This first one is a great and unusual view of a little train as it passes over a waterfall and is about to go through a tunnel. Notice the Pack Mule riders, just visible above the tunnel. I really love this picture!


This Instamatic negative was actually cut into two pieces, but thanks to the miracle of Photoshop's cloning tool, I could put them back together seamlessly. This is another fantastic view; If you look at the top photo, the locomotive looks too small to admit guests and the engineer, and yet I think that the photo was taken from the cab, maybe. Could guests somehow ride up in that little cab?


And finally, the return to civilization. This was before you exited through the gift shop!


I hope that all GDB readers have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

18 comments:

Nanook said...

Welcoming in the new year with some very unusual shots of one incredible attraction sure sounds good to me. And, oh yes - passengers were most-certainly allowed to ride in the locomotive. I remember it well-!

Thanks, Major - and happy new year to all.

D-ticket said...

Or how about ginger lemonade sorbet frozen yoghurt, if they've got it, let's not get too crazy (coconut? sheesh!)

The first shot is great, it once again demonstrates the clever use of one location for 2 attractions, something they just can't seem to do anymore.

All the best in the New Year, while we enjoy looking back at the old years, courtesy of the mad scanners of the GDB workshop.

Rich T. said...

Happy New Year, Major! Thanks for another year of the best site on the internet. Love all these Mine Train pics! :)

K. Martinez said...

A trio of instamatic Mine Train photos is a great way to start the new year.

Seeing the water pass below the track in the first pic reminds me of how many waterfalls, streams and other water elements been lost or reduced over the years in the park.

Chuck said...

Happy New Year!

Disneyland's water features have always been one of my favorite things about the parks. They add motion to static scenes and mask outside traffic noise (the waterfall to the right/west of the exit to Country Bear Jamboree/Winnie the Pooh comes to mind) and yet still manage to convey a quiet, peaceful sense of wilderness to what is actually a completely manufactured environment.

I can stand or sit next to a rushing or bubbling Disney stream perfectly contented, not wanting to ride another ride, for what seems like hours, although I know that can't be the case because the sound of rushing water always makes me head to the Men's Room. In fact, just thinking about it is, uh, well, could you all excuse me for a moment?

Chuck said...

Several months ago, I read a wonderful description of Disneyland's water circulation system in Sam Gennawey's "Walt and the Promise of Progress City," but I don't have access to the book right now. Fortunately, I have just discovered a description that Mr Gennawey recently posted on his "Samland" blog at MiceChat: http://micechat.com/15155-disneyland-secrets/

Not only do you get a description of Disneyland's "Big River," but you also get discussion of the need for private spaces in a public place like Disneyland. Added bonus - Walt's Apartments, the Dream Suite, and Club 33 at no extra charge.

Chiana_Chat said...

Happy New Year to you Maj, and all my fellow GDB-ites!

Love these pics, such a fun place and time they capture. They have a warmth. And the coolest ride-scaled model train with the cutest trains ever.

Miraculous job on the cut pic, I can't tell it was! I like the girl with the brown hair and plaid toward the front in that pic. Think that'd be my expression through the whole ride. :D

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year Major: As I understand it, the engine for the mine train was actually in the tender, and pushed the "engine" along. The big drive wheels were just for show too. That left the cab free for passengers. Never got to ride up front.

CoxPilot

Debbie V. said...

Great pictures - lots of trees and greenery, water - I don't think I realized then what wonderful memories I was making. When I rode the pack mules, I forgot for the time that I was even at Disneyland - I was enthralled with the wilderness. Then when we came around that corner back to Rainbow Ridge - lo and behold the waves of happiness - we're at Disneyland and much more to come that day.
Happy New Year 2013 Major!

Melissa said...

Second picture - babushka sighting!

Looking forward to a new year full of gorgeous old pictures!

Alonzo P Hawk said...

I agree with K Martinez! No better way to start the year than with photos of the N.W.R.R.

Thanks for putting the first big smile on my mug for 2013.

SundayNight said...

Happy New Year everyone. Wonderful pics today as usual. Do you think the first pic was taken from another train?

Major Pepperidge said...

Nanook, I wanted to post something more explicitly "New Year-y", but had nothin'. Very cool that people could ride in the cab!

D-ticket, ginger-lemonade sounds better than coconut! I can't think of many other recent ways that two attractions would intersect, although I always liked the Disneyland Railroad passing through that scene in Splash Mountain.

Rich T., who doesn't love the Mine Train! Only commies.

Chuck, it's really true, water features make so much difference. Even when the subs weren't running I was glad that the lagoon was still there instead of having it filled in. As for the water system, have you ever seen the old magazine called "The E-Ticket"? It was really great, and had a detailed article about the various waterways. I wonder if Sam Gennaway used it as a reference?

Chiana, I love playing around with Photoshop, especially when the final results really work! Happy New Year to you too.

CoxPilot, I think I have read the same thing… the tender was full of big heavy batteries.

Debbie V, the trees and large landscaped areas must have cost a bundle to maintain, but Walt knew that they added so much to the Disneyland experience. I sure wish I had seen Nature's Wonderland from the back of a mule, though…

Melissa, I am wearing a babushka right now. I think that makes me a hipster.

Alonzo, you are very welcome!

SundayNight, I assume that the first photo was taken from the Mark Twain, since I think that waterfall emptied into the river.

PsySocDisney said...

Late comment but, Happy New Year to you too! Thanks for the fantastic Mine Train show today!

steve2wdw said...

Ahhhhhh.......the wilderness that WAS Disneyland. Sadly, like the rain forests, DL's wilderness has been seriously encroached on.

Anonymous said...

Happy New Year! As a former operator of the Mine Train I can attest that the train was run by what we called a 'submarine' battery located in the tender. And yes, guests were allowed in the engine compartment upon request, though it wasn't always granted. Operator preference. The second picture is an incredibly unique shot. In the foreground is the air brake used to 'feather' the speed of the train. It took a bit of skill to operate these trains, keeping the speed at a pace not to jump the track and to match the narration to the scene (and to get the folks in the last car just a bit wet with the desert geysers).

Anonymous said...

Best wishes to all for the New Year.

These are epic shots, Major. Great new views and angles of a lost memory.

Thanks too for the memories of the former driver, very good to know. I got splashed a few times, now I know why.

BTW, Daveland has some fine pictures of little ones riding in the train cab. I never got to do that either, but the view was undoubtedly better in the open cars.

JG

Nancy said...

Happy New Year, everyone!! :-D