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Discussion Boards => General Discussion => Topic started by: jonathan on July 24, 2010, 02:27:03 PM

Title: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: jonathan on July 24, 2010, 02:27:03 PM
Took the kids to Busch Gardens for a couple days.  Of course, Daddy had to check out the train ride.  They ran some kind of 4-4-0s, decorated to look like European trains.  Didn't have a measuring tape, but appeared to be 3' guage track.  Locos ran on propane.

Regards,

Jonathan

(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Railfan%20Stuff/DSCN2887.jpg)

(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Railfan%20Stuff/DSCN2886.jpg)

(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Railfan%20Stuff/DSCN2885.jpg)

(http://i642.photobucket.com/albums/uu146/jsnvogel/Railfan%20Stuff/DSCN2884.jpg)
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: RAM on July 24, 2010, 06:09:45 PM
My guess would be 30 inch.
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: Terry Toenges on July 24, 2010, 06:54:20 PM
When InBev purchased Anheuser-Busch,they changed a lot of things. I wonder if the locos were American before that.
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: J3a-614 on July 24, 2010, 08:12:07 PM
These engines are factory modified Crown Metal Products 36" gauge 4-4-0 amusement park engines.  These would be among the "large Crowns" mentioned in an ealier thread on "Pretty and Different Prototypes," linked below:

http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,13280.0.html

As always, enjoy!
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: jonathan on July 24, 2010, 08:35:06 PM
That makes sense.  I'll bet there was a pretty good market for this stuff when all these parks were being built.

R,

J
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: Woody Elmore on July 28, 2010, 08:58:43 AM
I like the color scheme.

The road name translates to Prussian State Railways. Why Prussia?


Jon - how many rides did you take?


Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: jonathan on July 28, 2010, 10:13:10 AM
I coaxed the family into riding around the whole park twice.  It was hot that day, so a good break from the sun.  Also gave me a chance to check out the "layout"; signals, ballast, crossings, etc.

Got to check out the site glass while rewatering, with some sort of 2 1/2" firehose contraption.

I suppose I really stood out as a foamer.  My wife just rolls her eyes...

Regards,

Jonathan

P.S.  "Prussia"  The park has a European theme.  The best attraction for parents is the Festhaus:  live oompah music, German sausages, kraut, and many flavors of Busch products.  'nuff said. ;)
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: Terry Toenges on July 28, 2010, 02:19:26 PM
InBev is a European company. We St. Louis folks were bothered that AB sold out.
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: pipefitter on July 28, 2010, 02:28:03 PM
Busch Gardens, originally called "The Old Country" opened in the mid 70's, long before the InBev buyout. The theme park is divided into sections, each representing a different European country.

Robert
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: Jhanecker2 on July 28, 2010, 09:30:58 PM
Before the founding in 1870 of the Geman Empire ( second Reich ) Prussia was one of the larger Kingdoms (Electors) of the Former Holy Roman Empire . Austria , Bavaria , etc were others  ,including Hanover the original House of the  current British Royal Family : Saxe Gotha Coburg ( Windsor ) Battenberg( Mountbatten). Many of the kingdoms had their own railroad lines.  So there were a lot more "old countries" .    John II                               
Title: Re: Narrow Guage Action at Busch Gardens
Post by: J3a-614 on July 28, 2010, 09:35:32 PM
Movie links from YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0chkXAajiwk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nd-nDOR-xk&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1iaRt3dYwE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8kz11bNiok&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJpMIBePP3w&feature=related

"International" collection of modified Crown 4-4-0s, the red represents Prussian State Railways, the blue is a representative of the Caledonian (Great Britain), and the green, with its snowplow, is supposed to be Swiss.

While on the subject of amusement park steam, here is some footage of former White Pass & Yukon 3-foot gauge 2-8-2s at Dollywood in Tennessee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwT06QYR4ak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VODOlxBsRCg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Zibq_g0J8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AnqYJFETsQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjCSIta5bd0&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5vuut8Npqg&feature=related

Enjoy.