Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - July 17 1980
Sue B. has scanned more of Lou Perry's slides (Lou is her dad, of course); these are from 1980, and they feature the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which had opened less than a year earlier (on September 2, 1979). Based on the number of photos Lou took, he was mighty interested in this new attraction!
I can almost hear the fast "chugga-chugga" sound that these runaways trains make - reminds me of a pressure cooker. And the high-pitched whistle keeps ghosts away, as has been proven by science.
Lou was faster on the "draw" and got this locomotive as it screamed past! I can't help thinking of the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland, but I really do like BTMRR - if only there had been a way that we had both. Impossible with Disneyland's limited real estate.
It's comforting to see some of the familiar old Rainbow Ridge buildings, repurposed for the new attraction (I am unclear if the buildings were completely rebuilt or not). We've seen many vintage photos of the El Dorado Hotel, and Miner's Hardware!
THANK YOU, Lou and Sue!
11 comments:
Major-
Who [indeed] amongst us lucky-enough to have experienced every wonderful aspect of the Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland doesn't miss it terribly, but the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is hardly chopped liver, either-!
Thanks to Lou and Sue.
It's a good thing the whistles on the Thunder Mountain trains keep ghosts away, with the Haunted Mansion just across the way, and all.
Looking at the train tracks in the last image, I began to wonder what makes the tracks that faded, old-timey reddish gray color. Surely it isn't paint? The paint would rub off after just a few runs of the trains, wouldn't it? Maybe the steel itself has had the coloring added to it? Though I don't know how one colors molten steel. Tis a puzzlement.
It's always a treat to see Lou's photos. Thank you, Mr. Perry, Sue, and Major.
When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in 1979 , the mining town of BIG THUNDER was comprised of original 1950’s and 1960’s former Rainbow Ridge building - just refurbished with new color schemes and businesses. When big thunder closed for a few years for its massive overhaul and reopened in 2021 the buildings of Thunder Ridge …. Now renamed back to Rainbow Ridge were all new construction - in fact they are constructed mostly of synthetic materials and could easily last another 50 years .
By the way I remember when Big Thunder was brand new when Lou’s pictures today were taken. The whole attraction had an old musty NEW smell … paints, wood stains … the creosote on the reused vintage mine cribbing … another thing was in the early days of Big Thunder it was hit and miss .. it often broke down several times a day … or the fear : that it would remain closed for the rest of Disneyland’s operating day. Also because of new machinery glitches the attraction often opened a hour or two after the rest of the park opened. While I loved natures wonderland … I was really excited for Big Thunder … all the displays and models at Disneyland Showcase … the coming soon signage and pre opening attraction posters … the big construction wall Clem Hall concept art …. Combined with the monthly changing construction panorama…. And then seeing the red buttes being to appear along the Disneyland skyline ! It was very exciting!!
Historic 25th Anniversary Photos! Thanks Lou and Sue! A perfect beginning to my day, and a great "ride" or adventure as they say. I find it interesting that I was there on the same day so at some point we should have crossed paths. Disneyland is not a huge place, and I would often see the same guests several times a day (as a guest, AND employee). I'm waiting for the Lou-photos to surface of me with my long hair, barely recognizable! I am enjoying the train all dusty looking, and the overall dusty look in general. The Wild West was dusty. It's great to see all those full size pine trees, and it seems that the dusty town had been there since....well, the 50's :) Red shirt is getting his photo taken by grandma and her very tiny camera with the tiny tiny film that took very tiny tiny terrible photos :) but hey: it fit into your pocket. I see a huge resurgence in analog based photography. They capture things that digital makes way too perfect. Thanks to Lou and Sue and Major!
Lou and Sue bring the goods, as always. Photos with the “you are there™️” look and feel.
I was another lucky one who experienced the original Mine Train and the Big Thunder. Nothing can replace the Mine Train, but Big Thunder is my favorite of the Disney Mountain coasters. It’s a solid ride with multiple lift hills and great theming with a smoother ride than either Matterhorn or Space Mountain, and you stay dry riding it. But it still isn’t the old Mine Train, which was better without any of those things.
Thanks for the pics, Lou, Sue, and Major!
JG
The whistle also keeps diplodoci away.
Need to get me one of those whistles. Them thunder lizards is driving me crazy!
Nanook, I think that my wish to experience Nature’s Wonderland is so strong because I only rode it a few times, and I was just a kid. I guess that’s how nostalgia works.
JB, hmmm, I sure don’t know about coloring steel tracks. Maybe they used nail polish, that stuff is very strong! “Did you say you want 5,000,000 bottles of nail polish??”. YOU HEARD ME! C
Mike Cozart, I suppose it makes sense that they finally replaced those old original buildings - wood structures can only endure for so many years. Though it is weird to think of them being made of fiberglass, cast/extruded resin, etc.
Mike Cozart, gosh I wish I remembered things like the way Big Thunder smelled when it was new! I probably didn’t even notice, or if I did, it didn’t really make an impression. It seems that many new rides have periods where you really take your chances as to whether it will break down while you’re in line. I had that happen the two times I rode “Rocket Rods”, and had already waited so long that I stayed in line. Luckily they did get it up and running again.
Bu, wow, that’s amazing to think that perhaps you crossed paths with Lou, decades before you would know his daughter! I choose to believe that you saw him, taking photos. And you’re right, Disneyland is not that huge, I know that during full-day visits, I’ll often find myself near a group that I saw a few hours earlier in an entirely different part of the park. Multiple times! I hate to be a grump, but I usually notice them when they are annoying. There was a group of teenagers who made weird noises (with their mouths) constantly, it was bizarre. Maybe the whole point was to annoy others. What I wanted to do is shout, “Would you please shut up??”. Funny, when you mentioned “red shirt”, I thought you meant a “red shirt” like the guys who used to work the Mine Train.
JG, one of the things about the Mine Train is that it’s the sort of ride they’ll never do again. BIG. Slow-moving. Relaxing, beautiful. You really were enveloped in Nature’s Wonderland. So as much as I like Big Thunder, I long for a ride that is an artifact from the past.
Chuck, everybody enjoys a shrill, deafening whistle! I wish I could do that thing where you put two fingers in your mouth and whistle so that a friend in another part of the country can hear it.
^ Major, my mom could do that LOUD whistle - putting her two fingers in her mouth. I never could. But I can do that really loud, obnoxious whistle-like sound - blowing through a stretched-out blade of crab grass that's held in-between your two thumbs. Do you know what I'm talking about?
BTMRR is exactly the perfect roller coaster for me. It doesn't jerk too hard or hurt your back, but it sure is fun. It tickles your tummy, too, and I usually find myself laughing during the whole ride.
Glad you enjoyed these pictures.
^ I can do the grass blowing thing too!
JB, that’s cool! Now, next time we go on TSI in DL, we’ll be able to easily locate each other if one of us gets lost. I don’t know what the others will do.
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