Frontierland, November 1961
Here are two pretty nice photos, taken (I assume) from the top deck of the Mark Twain as it churned along the Rivers of America. Well, OK, maybe this first one is merely average, but I still like it. Being November, the trees are not as lush and full as usual, but there are some Fall colors. It seems as if the saplings along the shore grew so quickly that you had to have a speedy shutter finger - but the important thing is that you can see the dead guy, he always brightens my day.
Now this one is nice! A lovely view of the li'l yellow Mine Train as it trundled past Cascade Peak, where guests might feel the refreshing spray from some of the waterfalls. Once again, it appears as if we would hardly see a thing if this had been June, those skinny trees would have blocked most of the view. Still, my appreciation for the Beautiful MTTNW grows year after year.
11 comments:
Major-
I feel more relaxed just looking at the waterfalls, the trees and the train as it ambles along. Shout-out to the Mine Train thru Nature's Wonderland-!
Thanks, Major.
"the dead guy, he always brightens my day". It's party time! Grab some weenies and marshmallows! Hey, Carl Arrowshirt, where do you keep the mustard? No, no, don't bother to get up. I'll find it! Just point the way.
I'm getting a feeling of déjà vu... like we've seen this photo before... about twenty or thirty times. ;-) Still nice to see though.
I agree, this is a really nice photo. At first I thought that the giant people in the foreground would distract from the image. But no, they provide a reference point that helps set the scene. They, and us, are watching this sight unfold before us. Coupled with the bright light, blue sky, pine trees, and train, they all add up to a beautiful picture. The foreground trees, partially obscuring the train, add interest. Even the waterfall water looks especially nice.
I wonder what that bit of bright red is, just above the "g" in the "gorillas..." watermark? Oh, there's another one on the left edge. They're attached to some sort of pipe.
Nice photos, Major. Thanks.
I'm not seeing the arrow in Mr. Dead Settler. Maybe this particular guy experienced a fatal self-inflicted wound while chopping wood, just like Yonny Johnson of Sunnyvale, CA. Does anyone know if the burning cabin later became a Toys 'R' Us store?
I know it's just an optical illusion, but the Mine Train's engine, and even the passenger cars, look like they are tilting to the left a little bit.
It’s nice of Carl to invite friends over for a barbecue, but things got out of hand. I remember feeling a little grim seeing this display in real life, but pictures now are nostalgic.
A splendid view of the Mine Train, seeing all those folks enjoying a quiet ride through the wilderness. Sometimes less is more, not always, but sometimes.
JB, I think those red items are pipe collars, these are components used to connect iron pipe such as those used for fire water (overhead sprinklers and hydrants). If we look closely, the pipe appears to be black iron. We have established that Cascade Peak had internal overhead sprinklers because the water gong is visible in some photos. This pipe might be the supply line that is attached the train trestle to span the (artificial) stream. Just a guess.
The area of the River just in front of Cascade Peak was also the return inlet for the Dark Water distribution system that connected all the dark water moats, streams and rivers throughout the Park, so this might have been a natural location to surface the fire water line which might have been in a common trench with dark water piping.
Thanks Major!
JG
@ JG-
Those 'pipe collars' appear to be Gruvlok couplings, making Disneyland an early adopter, as that style of fitting was introduced in 1960, if my memory is correct. The return inlet for the dark water return should be located a bit farther 'up around the bend', near the NE corner of the [original] Rivers of America layout.
Thanks to JB’s comment in a recent post, I will always see “fox pelts” in that first shot.
In the second picture, those poor train riders—in the last full car on the right—look like they’re wrapped in barb wire. Not a pleasant way to travel.
Thanks, Major.
I don't recall any piping along side the MT by the time I arrived. Much of the Park's mechanicals were well hidden by that time. What intrigued me was I couldn't make out the MT operator, expecting to see a traditional red shirt. But upon further inspection, I noted everyone was bundled up and realized that he's probably wearing a wardrobe-issued Mackinaw jacket which obscures him. Otherwise, the train apparently left the station without him! Oh my!! KS
It's all so wonderful, isn't it? That's why they call it Nature's Wonderland.
I had something racy but decided on corn instead. Thanks, Major.
@ KS-
"I couldn't make out the MT operator, expecting to see a traditional red shirt".
If you zoom-in all the way, you can easily make-out the MT operator, in profile, looking towards the RoA, wearing a long sleeved 'white' shirt with 'black' vest, perhaps topped-off with a 'cowboy hat'-? Either way, there's not a "red shirt" to be had.
Nanook, I guess today’s guests do not want a “relaxing” ride.
JB, yum, hotdogs (I don’t call them “weenies”) and marshmallows, a meal fit for a king. We’ve certainly seen plenty of pictures of the burning cabin, but they are all unique. The foreground people in the first photo are considerately off to the side, they don’t impede our view of the Mine Train. And I guess they add to the composition? As the MTTNW matured, it got more beautiful, even though the trees that had no scale did get too big, in some instances. I can’t tell what the bright red thing is, is it part of the plant? Or is it attached to the pipe?
TokyoMagic!, I think the arrow is there, it just doesn’t show up so well in this photo. I was just reading about freak accidents on Wikipedia, I would not be surprised if somebody, somewhere, fell on an arrow. I don’t get the Toys ‘R’ Us remark! I see what you mean about the optical illusion, it does loo like the train is tilted.
JB, the philosophy at Disneyland these days is definitely “more is more”, there is no thought of “less, but better”. As for the pipe collars… hey why not! I sure have nothing intelligent to add, and it sounds like you know what you are talking about. I probably knew about the Dark Water return inlet at one time (thanks to “The E-Ticket” magazine), but as usual I’d forgotten it. So it’s new again!
Nanook, “Gruvlok” would be a good name for an ogre or alien.
Lou and Sue, I’d forgotten about the fox pelts! The barbed wire that wraps those guests is one of Walt’s “hard facts”.
KS, I trust your memory! Although sometimes I am surprised at things that were “right out in the open” back in the old days. I know nothing about pipe collars, so (as I said to JG) I have nothing of note to add. I hope the MT operator was not back at the station!
K. Martinez, it really was a wonderland! I have to edit my naughty comments all the time, I have to remember that some things don’t really go over so well when typed.
The 'right side of heads' does not diminish the photo at all. I haven't thought of Yonny in decades. Hey, TM, if you know about Yonny you might know Charlie Olson. He's still alive and keeping the remaining cherry trees alive, too. I played Bocce Ball with him a year ago.
Thanks, Major
Zach
Post a Comment