Miscellaneous Pics

Pullman · **Posted:** Fri May 27, 2005 1:56 pm

About those vertical boiler things.

I believe the concept is/was that the boiler provides steam to an engine, single piston, that turned a gear to which a chain ran to another gear on an axle.

Of course, that was what I recall from looking at them some time ago...

Steve DeGaetano · **Posted:** Fri May 27, 2005 1:59 pm

Look closer, Pullman. In the last picture on Matt's first post, you can see that the cylinder works through a "walking beam" that drives the first set of wheels through a simple rod arrangement. No gears or chains.

Ed Kelley · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2005 12:11 am

Steve, Matt, and Steve (!),
Thanks for the details on the "Hot Lead & Cold Feet" prop engines. They sure always made a neat addition to the ride.

Among the 'junk' on display at the DL attraction's queue, at least one of the ore carts had a plate on it that read no other name than "Joshua Hendy, San Francisco, CA". A vintage piece of Hendy equipment at Disneyland! Sure would be neat if it traced its origins to the New Almaden mines,

As for a neat shot of a true "Donkey",

Truly amazing little brutes. A couple as far as I know still remain on the site of the West Side in Tuolumne, which if I remember Glen Bell actually had in steam while running the West Side & Cherry Valley tourist operations/theme park (with Shays 7, 12, 15). With bullet holes shot through them, those boilers will obviously of course never be able to hold pressure again!! Make a rustic and unique display.

CP173 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 18, 2004 2:06 am **Posts:** 1648

Big Trees Flume & Lumber Co wrote:

but do any of you know what really put Cooper on the map? Something we all have had before... puts a smile on your face...

Puts a lot of money in Bill Cosby's pockets, too...

"Watch it wiggle..."

Pullman · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2005 11:36 am

Steve DeGaetano wrote:

Look closer, Pullman. In the last picture on Matt's first post, you can see that the cylinder works through a "walking beam" that drives the first set of wheels through a simple rod arrangement. No gears or chains.

Thanks Steve... Yes, now that you point that out, I do recall the little walking beam engines.

It's been a bunch of years since I looked at one of them up close.

Yet... I'll ask the obvious question. Anyone know if these things really were steam powered for the movie?

Or were they run by gears, chain and battery?

Pullman · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2005 11:40 am

Neat Ed! Way back in the summer of 1981, I went out on the Westside right of way to Niagra Creek with a couple of friends. We saw a couple of donkey engines still out there. Also walked out onto the trestle, about a week before part of it fell over...

Chris · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2005 9:54 pm

Such a gorgious engine. The John Bulls (real & replica) the Dewitt Clinton Replica, the Tom Thumb Replica, the Laffayette Replica, the William Mason, and the Inyo really are stunning pieces of motive power, and theres something about the old engines that really touch the heart.

Locoboy5150 · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2005 3:35 am

Quote:

Anyone know if these things really were steam powered for the movie?

Well, if you look closely at the drivers on the one in the queue, they actually have polyurethane tires. They were originally painted to match the rest of the drivers, but over the years that paint has flaked off, revealing the red polyurethane underneath. The "walking beam" is also made from wood. Its painted metal finish is also peeling away slightly.

I suppose that in Hollywood anything is possible though!

I couldn't get a close up enough view of the other steam engine along Big Thunder Trail so I don't know what it's made up of.

Miscellaneous Pics

Who is online