8 Things You Didn't Know About the Train at Silver Dollar City- Confessions of a Theme Park Worker

[@SirWillow]

And a correction! I was told that there actually was at least one day last year that they ran 2 trains! Talk about blowing my mind, as they kept telling us that there was no way they would do it during the summer and hadn't in a long time when I was there. surprise! lol This was during the covid period when they were having to spread people out through the train, so it was a way to try to keep the lines down on busier days. I'm grateful for my friend "in the know" that let me know that they did that at least once this past summer. :-)

[@SirDufferson]

Yes! I was a Conductor that day! So much fun!

[@carriecharles4423]

I do remember one time when they were running 2 trains (can't remember the time of year off the top of my head). The 2 trains passed each other at Hobo Junction.

[@carriecharles4423]

One of the funniest robberies we got to see was when Alfie & Ralphie were dressed up as ladies. The guys had beards and it was just a hilarious show!

[@SirWillow]

that was a couple of years before my time. From what some of those robbers told me, they had rather mixed feelings about that show. :-)

[@carriecharles4423]

@@SirWillow lol! I bet they did :) And you couldn't do that show now days. Pretty sure it would offend someone. But it was soooo funny!! :)

[@SoloTravelAdventures]

Love this! I've never been to SDC but love hearing about the old trains that parks use. Absolutely loved the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour at Disney World. Awesome tour if/when they bring it back. Those trains were actually manufactured in the US, exported to Mexico to transport hemp in the Yucatan, then repatriated by Disney.

[@lilithcal]

Interacting with the robbers: at Knott’s, after the robbery, I saw one of the actors who was obviously one of the robbers. I involved him in a dialogue where I pretended not to realize he was the robber. I told him he needed to go get the Sheriff and report the offense. He asked if any of the robbers looked like him. I said yes and he said, “That was my sister.”

[@cerneysmallengines]

I used to be a cub scout counselor. We had moments like you described that seemed like we made mistakes, but it was part of the script. It happened by accident one day, it got a huge laugh and went into the script

[@SirWillow]

That's exactly how most of the "flubs" and funniest lines got in the script- happened once, got a great reaction, and they kept it.

[@broseph2859]

I genuinely appreciate and enjoy your stories. Thank you for sharing them!

[@woodencoasterfan]

That was some really interesting history on the Frisco SDC line. I love digging up some history on the parks I’ve visited and rides I’ve been on. I believe one or two of the trains at Cedar Point used to be yard engines at a former brick manufacturer in Ohio. Also the locomotives at WDW came from a boneyard in Yucatán.

[@brendonneely9456]

16:50 - I'm not sure I ever want to ride the train again now! I don't wanna be train chow!

[@virg0_lem0nade]

your shirt collection is always awesome hahaha

[@SirWillow]

Glad you like them! Credit goes to Barry especially, and also Craig, who send me most of my shirts.

[@AdventuresWithC3]

This was awesome especially about how scripted it really is. We were just there and someone gave candy...now looking back they did a great job acting it all out.

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

During the off-season, they do what they call “marathon runs” where they run as many laps as they can without stopping until they have to refuel.

[@SirWillow]

yep, to test and work the engines as well as to make sure the track work is all done. Among other reasons. ;-)

[@rossshimer3426]

This is amazing this is Ross Shimer iove those engines sirwillow

[@RR_RailfanAdventure43]

I don't think that they have ever run two trains during the summer! Far as I know of, they only do that during Christmas because it being the busiest time of the year. There was one thing that surprised me about having special guests out on the robbery. Never really knew that up until now, but now I plan to see that happening again!

[@weaponizedtoast2134]

once during harvest festival they ran 43 and 14 together, unfortunately i wasnt smart to stay off 14 and wait and get my first ride on 43 in years

[@weaponizedtoast2134]

boy i do miss 43

[@TheThomson8]

Thanks for the, bonus extra!

[@tlt935]

I go around saying, "Hey, hey, hey!" all the time! 😂

[@callofdutygaming7279]

I’ve been waiting for another train video.

[@TweetsieRailroader]

A wonderful video as always George! A lot of things you mentioned here, also applies to Tweetsie Railroad. For instance I rode the train there TWICE at one point, and I got to see the same actor play 2 different characters. (Also, I tossed you another email. Do make sure you check it out.)

[@meganwidmer1950]

Great video! You should also talk about what you did while waiting between trains. My friends who worked on the train said they played video games in the shack between shows 😊

[@SirWillow]

I actually have a video I did a while back detailing a day as a train robber. :-) yep, reading, video games, poker/ card games, watching movies, or just yakking. kzbin.info/www/bejne/apO5lIuJh7aobrc

[@meganwidmer1912]

Oh very cool! I just watched your other video. I had always wondered if you guys had a bathroom out there, haha! Do you know if there are any secret portapotties in the cave?

[@SirWillow]

@@meganwidmer1912 no that I know of, but I didn't work the cave so I can't say for sure.

[@politiekhistorie]

In Efteling park there still is a real steam train (on coal) running

[@briananderson8102]

That sounds like the Santa Clara Great America. We'd run the train or cunduct. Too.

[@TheRealMr.Higgbottom]

Those german trains may have helped the Bismarck grow while in the dock yard and then eventually Tirpitz and Scharnhurst, Gneizeinau, Graff Spee, lutzow, Admiral scheer and lots of u boats

[@Sethab97]

Two of them worked at a rock quarry in Germany. From what I’ve read it was called Kies und Schotterwerke Nordmark. Two of them worked for a construction company called Peter Buescher & Sohn. The two from Czechoslovakia worked for a construction company called Hans Vatter AG

[@SirWillow]

Thanks Seth! i figured you'd know more details on that than I would. What I remember hearing when I worked there (and could be wrong) was that two of them had worked in a shipping yard moving cargo around. But I never heard where or exactly what, so it's very possible that I think I heard could be wrong.

[@BLaymon060]

there was one time I went that was messed up it wasn't supposed to be messed up they even said it wasn't supposed to be I even asked the conductor at end and said the same and the next time I went it was part of the show

[@galileykwong7017]

Isn't easier to just have diesel or electric locomotive?

[@SirWillow]

wouldn't be very authentic to the 1880's. :-) Nor anywhere near as much fun to ride behind

[@austinzamora6780]

I wonder if Jack or Pete ever robbed trains?

[@SirWillow]

Absolutely! There are a few stories about Pete as a robber out there. :-) I believe that some of the lines still used in teh show today originated with one or both of them.

[@tobiastyshawn3732]

Very nice 😍💋 💝💖♥️❤️