| For the next five years guests of Fort Wilderness Campground
were treated to live steam train transportation like no other. The train
route was by far the longest train route at any Disney park, more than
double the 1 1/2 mile route around the Magic Kingdom. The Wilderness
Line transported guests through woods, fields, and over trestles. People
realized this was no ordinary campground. You could take a steam train
to a old swimmin' hole called River Country, or just ride and enjoy the
scenery. A $1.00 ticket was good for an adult to ride all day. Imagine
that! The train ran every day from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. The fact that
the train started running at 7:00 am brought up a 'over design' issue.
The engines were fitted with whistles designed to be heard up to a
county away under rural conditions. Guest, often camping in tents, were
treated to a startling morning wake-up. |
Engine #3 crossing 1 of the 2 trestles located in Fort
Wilderness.
|
