Does anybody know the current status of this locomotive, other than this "rumor" from Disney fans?
One thing I have to say is there may be some sort of truth to the rumors; check out the commentary on No. 2 in the Wikipedia entry below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World_Railroad
"Due to frame issues, Lilly Belle does not run in regular service. It is used exclusively for the daily park opening ceremonies along with its original set of coaches, all of which with the exception of one have not been fitted with the new side panels to allow the characters to disembark from the train unimpeded. It is also used as a standby locomotive in the event that any of the other three locomotives fail in service."
Sad in two ways, one of which is that she's named for Disney's wife, who was apparently a very important person to him (even if she didn't like trains running in her yard). Secondly, in my opinion, this is the best looking engine on the Florida roster.
Having said that brings up several questions:
1. If the No. 2 really is to be retired, what is likely to become of it? Sale? Display in Florida? What?
2. If there is to be a replacement, what is it likely to be? Will it be a totally new engine, along the lines of Northern Central's No. 17 or the Klokes' Leviathan? Or will it be another narrow-gauge locomotive brought in for overhaul, as the original four were? What would be the likely locomotive for such work, if that option were chosen?
3. Just for fun, I wonder what the reaction from the personnel and the crowds would be if Disney World went for "modern" steam power? In this case, I'm thinking of a lease, for say, five years or so, from a road that does have some extra locomotives.
http://www.railarchive.net/randomsteam/ebt15.htm
Talk about a change of image for Disney World!
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