Hong Kong will not have Steam? - Will be diesel outlines instead?

Locoboy5150 · **Posted:** Fri Sep 17, 2004 11:25 pm

Quote:

Quote: from chocolatetrumpet on 12:46 pm on Sep. 17, 2004

Quote:

I hope you all realize that outside of "trainland" (the magical world we all live in) most people have *no clue* what a steam engine is, and in general don't conceptualize different kinds of motive power on trains. I'm not defending them, I'm just saying how it is "in the real world."

You're probably right on. I remember when the modified Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopened at Disneyland with the missing axle and driver wheels. On all the Disney and roller coaster message boards/newsgroups where I read about the changes, nobody aside from myself voiced how pathetic it looked. (Also, nobody mentioned how the changes did not solve the root cause of the problem, but that's another issue.)
To 99.99% of the world, a train is a train is a train is a train.

David Rose · **Posted:** Sat Sep 18, 2004 7:25 am

That's strange they did not use live steam for Hong Kong. If I remember correctly, China is one of the few countrys that still builds (or did within the last decade) and they still use steam engines for every day use.

You guys are right, Disney has turned into a company of suits that base every decision on the almighty dollar.

ashcat72 · **Posted:** Sun Sep 19, 2004 12:33 am

I can confirm Hong Kong will have gas (not diesel) powered steam outlines. This was stated by a rep of Severn-Lamb on the yahoo group.

Dukeisnumberone · **Posted:** Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:44 pm

Quote:

Quote: from David Rose on 8:25 am on Sep. 18, 2004

You guys are right, Disney has turned into a company of suits that base every decision on the almighty dollar.

Which is exactly why HKDL looks to be the crappiest Disneyland clone yet.

It won't evan have a Frontierland or River section! So no Big Thunder/Splash Mountains or Riverboats...

Locoboy5150 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:55 am

I'll wait until it's built and I visit the park myself before forming an opinion on how it looks. I don't know how accurate they are, but I've read reports that it's Phase 1 expansion is pretty slick.

I tend to not make a final judgement on any new park until after it starts to grow and most importantly, until after I visit it in person.

chocolatetrumpet · **Posted:** Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:35 pm

Quote:

Quote: from Locoboy5150 on 2:55 am on Sep. 21, 2004
I tend to not make a final judgement on any new park until after it starts to grow and most importantly, until after I visit it in person.

Don't worry about them, Locoboy5150... they just can't get over the internal combustion. Just think, "In My Merry Oldsmobile" will be fitting music for a HKDLRR video :-)

Ed Kelley · **Posted:** Sat Nov 06, 2004 8:38 pm

Yes, Hong Kong will sadly have steam profile/steam outline locomotives (diesel outline would be a diesel with a gas engine; to me, it's all the same!). Brass at SL confirmed the order. I haven't heard anything since. The ROW is down in Hong Kong, and the track-laying to begin (if it hasn't already).

Walt would be rolling in his grave knowing there were fake steam locomotives in his park. Yeah, I'm an Arrow fan...but Walt's intention was to keep steam alive in his parks...remember, this is the same man that turned down and dismissed the MacDermot/Overfair Railway 19" gauge equipment (not to mention ferris wheels) for being 'too carny' and 'used to something he saw in kiddie parks'. First Animal Kingdom's midway, then Paradise Pier...but if Walt knew they were touching his legacy of steam trains, he'd be pretty darn upset I'm sure. Steam outlines have their place; but they have no place in the Magic Kingdom; I'm surprised Disney would sink to this level at the plateau of midway parks such as what Six Flags has done to Magic Mountain, Great Adventure, etc. Much of the theming found in those parks to begin with was wiped out; not to mention others.

As I'd said elsewhere, it's also real convenient that HK Disneyland will lack Frontierland; of course, which will prevent scrutiny for a diesel riverboat because there will be none! The park apparently doesn't sound promising, nor does it look it. The Imagineers have plenty of ideas and are working hard; unfortunately, HQ doesn't appear to be giving them the kind of cash flow that they need. Those trams at Disneyland, I remind you, almost became a Viewliner-meets-Jules Verne railroad in the mid-90s!

-Ed Kelley

Chris · **Posted:** Mon Dec 20, 2004 8:17 pm

If Walt were still alive he jump out of his freezing carbonation and talk to the people in Hong Kong on why they should use actual steam locomotives. The Quote saying "You are riding in the comfort of a Genuine steam power train" (that is the quote that is used today on the DLRR) there was a similar quote used on the one in Paris and I assume there is another qoute like that for the one in Tokyo. All I could say is that this is not really a Disneyland without real steam trains, Frontierland, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, the Matterhorn, the river boats, Casey Jr. Circus train, and the Grand Cannyon Primevil World Diorama. This is totally undisney and this will be a Disneyland I will never want to visit. :angry:

Steve DeGaetano · **Posted:** Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:45 pm

I just saw a couple pictures of the first two HK engines. They are, in a word, beautiful. They are both 4-4-0s looking very much like Disney engines, with lavish paint, detailed cabs, and tons of brass.

The "prime mover" is located in the tender. There looked to be some "louvers" on top of the tender tank, but overall, the motor is very hidden.

From what I saw, it would be almost impossible to tell that they're not steam engines. Of course, I haven't heard them yet!

Pullman · **Posted:** Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:09 pm

Geez... if Walt were alive! Sorry folks, but give me a break here.

He'd be over 101 and likely this would be not much of a concern to him.

As far as the project goes, the average visitor won't really pay all that much attention to it. Just not that big a deal, honestly. Sorry...

Let's recall that steam locomotives are still running in parts of China in every day service, and the public recalls them in recent memories -- unlike here in the states, France or Japan. Would it have been nice to have them at HKDL? Perhaps. But it sure ain't the end of theme park life as we know it.

Edited By Pullman on 1103656241

Hong Kong will not have Steam? - Will be diesel outlines instead?

Who is online