I know, I was just saying that was something they found that will make it harder to make the engine operable iff(if and only if) they were aiming for that! But I'm glad it's cosmetically restored, and more easily visible!

Although I would say that the engine is more likely to run again simply considering the differences in management between the mountain and the museum.

Speaking of management, here's what Wikipedia says about the operations at SM:
"The Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation currently has a long-term contract to operate park attractions while the Stone Mountain Memorial Association retains ownership and the right to rebuke any project deemed unfit."

Seems like the SMMA's been layin' down on the job lately!

By the way, recent pictures of the mountain show the train going the other way. Anyone been there recently?

I recently stumbled across this new site for the Texas II:

http://www.saap60.org/

It's by a group that wants to bring the engine back to San Antonio, and make it operable again!

Has anyone heard if anything will be different for the the SMSRR this summer?

I haven't been, and heard nothing yet! But, in some recent pictures, it looks like they reversed the trains. That is, they're going counter-clockwise around the mountain, not clockwise!

I think that is just the ad agency flipping the picture. I don't think the trains are running in a different direction. Frankly, they don't have a way to change direction...they got rid of the wye the New Georgia Railroad used to have.

Ad agency flipping the picture, huh? Then how do you explain this?
http://rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C47360%5C2184%20and%20Stone%20Mountain.jpg

Or this?
http://rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C47360%5CCaboose%20and%20Stone%20Mountain.jpg

This?
http://rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%5C47360%5CStone%20Mountain%202184.jpg

Such views are not so easily manipulated convincingly!



No, the wye is still there, just no longer connected to the main line.

Wow, Jayo...I apologize. I had no idea that they had reversed the trains. I did see an ad last year where the picture was flipped - so, I just assumed that is what you were referencing. I also will say that when I was at the park early last year, one section of the wye was disconnected. I guess they reconnected it to reverse the trains!

Now...the question is "why"!?!? With the trains now going counter-clockwise, it is one heck of a stepp grade up the side of the of the mountain to the Walk-up Station. It is also one long, boring ride from the Memorial Depot to the little town where the put on the show. Now, you have to travel 2/3 around the mountain before you get to the entertainment!

Has anyone else on here heard about this and know the reason why?

Those are interesting pictures. Being from Dekalb county I have never seen the trains run counter clockwise.

Brad,
On your 0-4-0 locomotive avatar, it looks like there are amber light flashers mounted near the boiler front. Are they marker lights?

Roy,
You asked Brad if the lights on the front on the locomotive in his avatar are marker lights. No, Petticoat Junction RR added these terrible yellow bubble lights on each side of the locomotive for safety I'm guessing. I knew Mr. Wilbur Golson who was an engineer there for several seasons. Mr. Golson wrote to me that people trying to beat the train at the crossings, of which there were at least 4 going into the parking lot of the amusement park, was a problem. I remember seeing the #9 pulling the train a couple of times at night on the back side of park where it was darkest with the yellow lights flashing. It could also have been management's attempt to draw in customers. Anyway, the lights were eventually removed. PJRR never did put these light on the #7 which was the main locomotive, I'm glad they didn't. I really miss that little pike. I've asked before and I'll ask again. Has anyone ever seen any video of the PJRR? If you have, please tell me where and how I might obtain a copy. Tommy