July at Disneyland evokes images of crowds and long lines,rabid monkeys, and most of all - - blazing heat. But these two slides, hand-dated July 12, look overcast and anything but summery. Perhaps the famous Southern California "June Gloom" held on for a few more weeks into July that year. Who knows! Anyway, we're getting some up-close-and-personal views of the little Mine Train before it ever went through Nature's Wonderland (which was added in 1960). For some reason the original seating arrangement was kind of screwy, notice the way some guests have to torque their bodies in order to see what's coming up (in this case they are approaching the "natural arch" that the pack mules crossed over).
Now we are about to enter the Painted Desert, with the bubbling pots of colored mud ("Real mystery of the desert..."), as well as a few of those crazy cacti, and a few geysers too. You can also see the C.K. Holliday passing just behind that little rise and the mysterious shack (what was that for?).
Major- great views of the green Rainbow Mine Railroad engines and trains. I do not know what the shack was for, maybe for the switching equipment for the SF&DRR?
ReplyDeleteI gotta know what that shack is for???? These are two sweet shots, neat rare angles. I wish I rode this attraction, as a kid it just never got my attention, in fact I only noticed it in 1977 when it was closed and they were starting to build Thunder Mountain, I remember thinking “what used to be over there?”
ReplyDeleteI can tell you it was a great ride to operate. Felt like you were miles away from the crowds. Miss it every time I visit.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots major! One of my all time favorite rides in the Park, especially after it was expanded. It was a heartbreaker when it was torn out (sorry, gang, no great BTRR fan here).
ReplyDeleteThat 2nd photo made me go "yikes!"... not for the mystery shack, but the lady in the first car wearing the white hat, necklace and sleeveless dress. Being 10 years old in '58, I remember my mom dressing exactly that when we went to DL. We kids were always dressed up, shined shoes and the whole bit. (The HOF was full of families who looked like that -- it seemed to attract 'em like a magnet.)
To anonymous' post above -- envy! You don't know how many kids dreamed of driving that train. Its scale, its speed and the show combined to make it truly magical... even more so than the SF&DLRR.
Love the layering of attractions here. Nice shot!
ReplyDelete"dreamed of driving that train" Well, I came close. The operator once let me sit in the locomotive. But I had a job - it was to ring the bell when we came back into the station. I remember being nervous all through the ride that I wouldn't ring the bell at the right time. This was Disneyland and I couldn't mess this up! But in the end I did ring it at the right time and I remember it so well. One of my great Disneyland memories.
ReplyDeleteWow, OldMiner and Mr. Wiggins, those are some fantastic memories!
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure of at least riding the Mine Train, and like everyone else, wish I could have seen it just one more time. If only I had known it was going away, I would have tried to preserve as many details in my memory as possible.
Yes, if you were truly lucky, yours truly would let you in the cab. Could seat a couple folks, one to a side. But that was on request only. Liked to keep it all to myself. And I got paid for this too. What a gig at the time!
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