Disney World (FL) Steam to go Cold

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

To bring this topic back to light, I find it very hard to believe they're getting rid of the engines since the Lilly Belle is running again. Source? Saw it the other day from Frontierland, where I now work.

If they're getting rid of, or planning to get rid of, the steam locomotives, why go from three running engines back to four? Wouldn't it make more sense to just not use the fourth one anymore?

bigjim4life · **Posted:** Sun Jun 29, 2014 9:38 pm

Next to last thread on this post, please, page 10:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/no-m ... 82/page-10

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

bigjim4life wrote:

Next to last thread on this post, please, page 10:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/no-m ... 82/page-10

Glad to hear. That's my favorite part of my new job, seeing them go by all day

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

I'm hopefully optimistic after reading the "it's not going to happen" post, but I can't help but recall the numerous times I've seen something vehemently denied, only to have it happen quickly thereafter. Lets hope I'm wrong...

Main Street Jim · **Joined:** Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:55 pm **Posts:** 3

Mark Z. Yerkes wrote:

To bring this topic back to light, I find it very hard to believe they're getting rid of the engines since the Lilly Belle is running again. Source? Saw it the other day from Frontierland, where I now work.

If they're getting rid of, or planning to get rid of, the steam locomotives, why go from three running engines back to four? Wouldn't it make more sense to just not use the fourth one anymore?

:)

As a former WDWRR engineer and conductor with very strong ties to Lilly Belle (she was the locomotive that I was trained on to fire and operate), and with friends still in Disney steam maintenance and operations, I will tell you that Lilly is NOT back at the park yet. You most likely saw Roger Broggie with her green boiler and mistook her for the Lilly Belle. If indeed Lilly had returned, we'd have at least seen pictures of it and heard of a re-dedication ceremony.

I have, however, received word that Lilly is supposed to return to Florida some time before the end of the year.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

Main Street Jim wrote:

You most likely saw Roger Broggie with her green boiler and mistook her for the Lilly Belle. If indeed Lilly had returned, we'd have at least seen pictures of it and heard of a re-dedication ceremony.

Thank you for the update Jim and welcome to RYPN!

Main Street Jim · **Joined:** Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:55 pm **Posts:** 3

Chris Webster wrote:

Main Street Jim wrote:

You most likely saw Roger Broggie with her green boiler and mistook her for the Lilly Belle. If indeed Lilly had returned, we'd have at least seen pictures of it and heard of a re-dedication ceremony.

Thank you for the update Jim and welcome to RYPN!

Thanks.

Becoming a steam train engineer - let alone a Walt Disney World Railroad engineer - was the *last* thing I had ever expected :) I worked in Magic Kingdom Attractions from 2001-2010, and worked everywhere from Frontierland to Tomorrowland. I was on the trains from 2004-2007. Those were the *best*, MOST FUN I ever had in my 44-plus years. No one operates a steam locomotive much any more, let alone 365 days a year, 7 days a week. Most steamers these days are "tourist" trains, running seasonally. Disney maintenance is top-notch in keeping those narrow-gauge 8- and 10-wheelers going.

I miss 'em somethin' awful.

Now I may not be an "expert" on trains like a lot of you; I'm just a casual fan. :) But, I respect those that keep the past alive by keeping Walt's passion alive - I'm a HUGE fan of Walt Disney, the man. The world needs more like him.

Main Street Jim · **Joined:** Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:55 pm **Posts:** 3

Insights from my inside source on the upcoming refurb:

1) *Most* of the 1 1/2 miles of rail is getting replaced.

2) Main Street Station will be getting new tile flooring.

3) The Indian village is getting replaced/updated, along with new scenery along the backside of the park. Will give guests something to see besides trees :)

4) Locomotives will be getting repainted. My source tells me that the current paint jobs are in *bad* shape.

5) Frontierland station will be getting a rehab. Wood is rotting, stairs are getting reworked.

6) Possibly installing the in-cab block system similar to Disneyland.

7) And all of this done in about 6 weeks :)

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2014 7:48 pm

Main Street Jim wrote:

7) And all of this done in about 6 weeks :)

Oh, how nice it must be to have the traffic and the money to do things that good that fast. . .

And allow me to welcome you to RyPN as well.

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

Main Street Jim wrote:

Mark Z. Yerkes wrote:

To bring this topic back to light, I find it very hard to believe they're getting rid of the engines since the Lilly Belle is running again. Source? Saw it the other day from Frontierland, where I now work.

If they're getting rid of, or planning to get rid of, the steam locomotives, why go from three running engines back to four? Wouldn't it make more sense to just not use the fourth one anymore?

:)

As a former WDWRR engineer and conductor with very strong ties to Lilly Belle (she was the locomotive that I was trained on to fire and operate), and with friends still in Disney steam maintenance and operations, I will tell you that Lilly is NOT back at the park yet. You most likely saw Roger Broggie with her green boiler and mistook her for the Lilly Belle. If indeed Lilly had returned, we'd have at least seen pictures of it and heard of a re-dedication ceremony.

I have, however, received word that Lilly is supposed to return to Florida some time before the end of the year.

Hm. I swear I saw a green locomotive with a green cab. Ah well, eyes playing tricks on me, I guess. Thanks for the update.

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

Main Street Jim wrote:

Insights from my inside source on the upcoming refurb:

1) *Most* of the 1 1/2 miles of rail is getting replaced.

2) Main Street Station will be getting new tile flooring.

3) The Indian village is getting replaced/updated, along with new scenery along the backside of the park. Will give guests something to see besides trees :)

4) Locomotives will be getting repainted. My source tells me that the current paint jobs are in *bad* shape.

5) Frontierland station will be getting a rehab. Wood is rotting, stairs are getting reworked.

6) Possibly installing the in-cab block system similar to Disneyland.

7) And all of this done in about 6 weeks :)

I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is going to coincide with the Splash Mountain mini-refurb that's supposed to take place over four weeks this fall. Four weeks of standing in front of that area explaining why it's not open -_-

As far as the repaint, are they repainting them exactly as is or possibly changing it up?

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:26 pm

Mark Z. Yerkes wrote:

Main Street Jim wrote:

Mark Z. Yerkes wrote:

To bring this topic back to light, I find it very hard to believe they're getting rid of the engines since the Lilly Belle is running again. Source? Saw it the other day from Frontierland, where I now work.

If they're getting rid of, or planning to get rid of, the steam locomotives, why go from three running engines back to four? Wouldn't it make more sense to just not use the fourth one anymore?

:)

As a former WDWRR engineer and conductor with very strong ties to Lilly Belle (she was the locomotive that I was trained on to fire and operate), and with friends still in Disney steam maintenance and operations, I will tell you that Lilly is NOT back at the park yet. You most likely saw Roger Broggie with her green boiler and mistook her for the Lilly Belle. If indeed Lilly had returned, we'd have at least seen pictures of it and heard of a re-dedication ceremony.

I have, however, received word that Lilly is supposed to return to Florida some time before the end of the year.

Hm. I swear I saw a green locomotive with a green cab. Ah well, eyes playing tricks on me, I guess. Thanks for the update.

That engine definetly was Roger Broggie... I only know because I was there for most of last week, and rode behind her I don't know how many times...

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

daylight4449 wrote:

Mark Z. Yerkes wrote:

Main Street Jim wrote:

As a former WDWRR engineer and conductor with very strong ties to Lilly Belle (she was the locomotive that I was trained on to fire and operate), and with friends still in Disney steam maintenance and operations, I will tell you that Lilly is NOT back at the park yet. You most likely saw Roger Broggie with her green boiler and mistook her for the Lilly Belle. If indeed Lilly had returned, we'd have at least seen pictures of it and heard of a re-dedication ceremony.

I have, however, received word that Lilly is supposed to return to Florida some time before the end of the year.

Hm. I swear I saw a green locomotive with a green cab. Ah well, eyes playing tricks on me, I guess. Thanks for the update.

That engine definetly was Roger Broggie... I only know because I was there for most of last week, and rode behind her I don't know how many times...

The Walter E. Disney and the Roger E. Broggie seem to be the regular day engines, with the Roy O. Disney coming on during the busier days. Unless you can see the wheels, the defining difference between the Broggie and the Lilly Belle is the cab color (red and green, respectively).

I watch these trains go by almost everyday, so I'm picking up on a lot of details.

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

Still with Disney and I'm starting to hear some rather interesting and exciting rumors...

Reading T1 2124 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:54 pm

Paul Boschan wrote:

IF this comes to pass, I can only hope the equipment finds a second life outside Disney. It happened with the Fort Wilderness equipment, though decades after the line closed.

What might save it from a different fate than Fort Wilderness is the fact that it has an enclosed shed, therfore not exposing it to the elements. Also, for ceremonial purposes at least, I would assume they might fire up the "Walter E. Disney" (or retain it at least).