Walt's Legacy..the steam locomotives

[pumpkinhead]

Hello Mouskateers! Heard a rumor about Michael's latest brainstorm on how to pinch a few pennies at WDW. He wants to replace the steam engines (a.k.a. the "Walt Disney", the "Roy Disney", the "Lilly Belle", and the "Roger Brogie") with diesel powered engines like the ones over at Animal Kingdom. So this way they can be maintained by the people that take care of the fine Disney bus fleet. NO MORE STEAM! THE END OF AN ERA!!! and the end of Walt's Legacy....nothing like showing "Little Jonny" a "Fake - o" and trying to explain to him that they used to be powered by steam....like in Great Grandpa's time. What a "Show"! The stockholders keep complaining about all the "Fake stuff" in the park...well here comes another one!!! OH! By The Way!! Maybe a few of you kids can go on Roy Disney's website and see if you can get an answer on this......kind of a black hole for me there too! WHAT'S NEXT!!!! A PICTURE WITH CARDBOARD MICKEY??!!

 

[Coach Rick]

Say it ain't so. I voted that I would miss them, but I do understand that maintaining Steam is very expensive. If this did happen, I would hope that they would keep them for special excursions.

 

[dcentity2000]

That's awful!



Rich::

 

[Lebjwb]

I love the trains at Disney. These were originally designed to burn coal. The ones now use propane to generate steam. Maybe they're thinking about using diesel as a heat source for steam rather than the propane?

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Considering all the money they have been sinking into rebuilding the trains from the ground up I doubt they would get rid of them. Two of the trains are done, with a third being worked on now.

If these are the ideas that Eisner comes up with than Disney needs a CEO who cares more about the big picture and less about the trival details.

It sounds more like a WDW Finance dept idea.

 

[Planogirl]

This is a horrible idea. The old engines add to the ambience of MK and are just plain good show. Who wants to ride a train with plain old smelly diesel engines?

 

[pumpkinhead]

I will try and clear up a couple of things;the locomotives now burn
diesel fuel to heat their water in the "boiler."So there would be no
SMELL change.It would just sit and idle like a bus,go around the
park sounding like a bus,and be driven by the same people that
could technically drive the parking lot trams.Yes two of the engines have been totaly rehabed.The "Walt Disney" for the 100
Years Of Walt Anniversary.And most recently the "Roger Brogie"
because it just needed it. Now supposedly the "Lily Bell" is out
for overhaul. And yes the penny pinchers have a lot to do with
this decision to replace steam with diesel hydraulic.But most of
this is rumored to be comming from the top, or the tippy tippy
top of the corporate ladder. Yes including Roy,the one that really
is said not to be the best of friends with Michael right now.And as far as keeping them for a special occasion,don't think so, unless
they go to out - sourcing for the daily maintenance for these
special occasions......pretty pricey,would'nt you agree? Plus where
would they store them so they could be accessible for this purpose? Back stage property is at a premium, let alone in the area to be accessible to the track. I.E. the "Round House" would be taken by the diesel locomotives...what to do with the four steam locomotives.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

The Roy O Disney and the Roger Broggie are the trains that have been rehabed. I have a video of the Roy Disney doing the rededication of his father's train.

Roy Disney is now longer in the Disney corporate ladder so saying that he is encouraging this is senseless.

 

[Planogirl]

I enjoy riding trains pulled by older locomotives. There are a few in this area that are just diesel locomotives. And they do smell to high heaven! Maybe they're just not maintained properly or it has something to do with the type but they caused me to assume that replacement diesels would smell worse.

 

[Dana49]

Where is this rumor coming from? This is the first time that I have heard of this. With all that Corporate Disney has to worry about, it doesn't make sense that they would spend their time on something like this.

 

[pumpkinhead]

Could never reveal a source.Thats why it is posted on a "Rumors"
Board.Just remember a rumor becomes a fact only when it
happens...

 

[OnWithTheShow]

They arent really older locomotives in anything but name. The two that have been through the rehab are practically brand new. They were also completely rebuilt when they were originally purchased for WDW.

 

[pumpkinhead]

Yes...thay were completely overhauled in a shipyard in Tampa Fl.
Know a man who worked on them way back then in the late 60's

And that man is still with them today.......at the Magic Kingdom..

But I would state thay are "old" in everything.... including name.
Thay are still early turn of the centry locomotives,new parts
doesn't change what thay are....

 

[jbwolffiv]

I would hate to see them remove something was was a true passion of WED!