For you fans of the Mine Train, this first picture should make you smile. There she is, chugging yellowly around Cascade Peak, which was still brand-new in August 1960. This fantastic view could be seen along the riverfront for years - it was one of those little extra pieces of goodness that brought movement and life to that particular bend. I wonder what the view would be like if the brave Mine Train engineer looked to his right and up?
Pretty much like this!
Great shots of my long lost favorite.
ReplyDeleteSpinning rocks, bubbling mud, rubber rattlers and bears scratching on trees.
A lot less thrilling than BTMRR but way more creative and escapist. Miss it every time I go.
Thanks Major.
It is a tribute that a place that is nothing more than chicken wire and paper maché could command such love decades after it was removed.
ReplyDeleteI miss that ride so much! I love Big Thunder, but it was so cool just knowing there was an entire world tucked out of sight back there. It really gave Frontierland an enormous amount of depth.
ReplyDeleteYep the mine train had much more story to it than Big Mountain (and felt much much bigger) but somebody thought rehashing a Six Flags Over Texas origial was a good idea...so there you go.
ReplyDeleteIts also interesting that although Cascade Peak made no geological sense, it totally worked with the theme. It is very missed...
I meant Big Thunder Mountain... Happy fingers strike again!
ReplyDeleteAs an avid roller coaster fan, I found Big Thunder disappointing and the ending anticlimactic. I remember the anticipation back in 79 and after riding it in its debut year thinking “was that it?”
ReplyDeleteIt’s beautiful looking but a lackluster experience. On the other hand, Nature’s Wonderland was far superior in design and execution. Even when I last rode it in the mid 70s I was enthralled by it. Not so with Big Thunder.
Wonderful pictures. My favorite ride too, though I never got a chance to go on it. It's so sad that the powers that be decide to rip stuff like this out and either replace it with something not nearly as lovable, or not replace it at all (e.g. Cascade Peak)
ReplyDeleteSpeaking from experience, I can tell you that looking up at the waterfalls from the engineer's perspective was a wonderful feeling. The noise of the water, the cooling spray on a hot day was a real treat. One felt so removed from the crushing crowds of the Park. Day or night, I enjoyed sharing my little perfect world with the guests who rode behind.
ReplyDeleteThe Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland was the pinnacle of theme park attractions, for the many reasons already brilliantly stated. It's understandable (sorta) why the "powers that be" thought a 'refresh' of the attraction and the area made sense. It offered a bit of a thrill to a Disneyland that had little of that.
ReplyDeleteSometimes in search of the next thrill, the youngins' in charge fail to see the beauty and sheer depth of experience in a so-called simple attraction from a by-gone era. Unfortunately we are all the worse-off for it. Too bad.
Alonzo, if only somebody could make a detailed virtual version of the Mine Train ride! Think of what they do with modern video games, and how awesome it would be to "ride" along the track and be able to look around wherever you want.
ReplyDeleteKatella, unfortunately it practically was chicken wire and papier mache, which is part of why it rotted out.
Rich T., when you look at aerial photos, the Mine Train ride really did use a lot of real estate!
stu29573… rehashing Six Flags Over Texas original? Did they have a coaster similar to Big Thunder?
K. Martinez, I actually like Big Thunder, though it would be nice to have a real "wow" ending. If only you could have gone through a longer Rainbow Caverns-type area as the coaster neared the end.
Tom, I'm sure that Nature's Wonderland seemed old and creaky at the time; it's only in retrospect that people realized how special it was. If it only could have hung on for a bit longer, it would have become a classic in the public's eyes.
Anon, I envy your experiences!
Nanook, I totally agree with what you say (see my comment to Tom).
The Mine Train was a slow leisurely ride. It seems these days that everything always needs to be ratcheted up all the time. If something is not fast paced, it is proclaimed "boring" rather than something to be enjoyed. I'm surprised they haven't put in 10 foot drops and spins on Storybook Canal Boats yet.
ReplyDeleteYes Major, I have waxed rhapsodical in the past about the wonders of the early 6 Flags Over Texas park. They did indeed have a Runaway Mine Train,I believe the first, and they certainly had the world's first log flume ride.
ReplyDeleteTarzman
Yep! Six Flags Over Texas had the first "mine train" style roller coaster. It was built by arrow. They also had the first flume ride. Back in the day, they were very innovative...unlike anything in the past fourty years....
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, lots of times these pics with the bright yellow train cars look like dioramas to me....but I like it!
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