Dollywood Express 192: Springtime in the Smokies

On the third weekend of March 2018, Dollywood officially opened for the season with the annual Festival of Nations. In charge of the Express for opening weekend was ex-White Pass & Yukon 192, freshly out of the shop after several months of major repairs. Guests riding the Express this year will have an unusual ride, as the mountain forests along the route have been completely torn down & flattened as part of the construction work for the park's 2019 expansion. Although rather ugly, it does provide a unique glimpse at how the tracks climb the hill behind Timber Canyon. Hopefully the the new area of the park will offer some new vantage points to watch the trains from.
Music in opening sequence is 'Scotland the Brave' by Shake That Little Foot, from the Free Music Archive.

[@jrayproductions7790]

I don't know HOW you are not more popular. Your production quality and ability to set a scene with ambient sound is fantastic.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thank you!

[@jrayproductions7790]

@@SmokyMtnSteam No problem brother, I enjoy your works. Hey, I know it isn't steam, but, if you're ever looking for "off the beaten path" stuff, the Southeastern Railway Museum would be glad to have you come out. We don't have much of a train ride, but, our collection is nice. More publicity helps, of course, too. I mean, if you're ever looking around.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

@@jrayproductions7790 I've been meaning to visit SERM for a while now, and I'm tentatively planning a visit in January during the steam off-season.

[@jrayproductions7790]

@@SmokyMtnSteam Good time to go. It's cool out and it's quiet at the museum.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

That Rebel Railroad southern 3 chime is a great whistle! It’s got a good sound to it.

[@Thomasboi01]

I love that scene at 4:42. I love seeing dollywood express 192 in action and plus "cinderella" and I'm in love with that southern railway 3 chime now.

[@bluesmokeproductions4642]

My history professor went to Dollywood last Tuesday and rode the train ( at my request) but her kids didn't want to ride it, they only wanted to ride the roller coasters. She told me they fell asleep on the loud steam engine. Its sad how kids can't sit still for 5 minutes anymore but she did say she thought of me when she rode it.

[@dergenmusic2081]

Awesome whistlework from the engineer! Loved the vid!

[@PlayerPianoFavorites]

First steam train experience for us as a family was at Dollywood!

[@thehamelsduck1600]

I’m ready to see Klondike Katie in person again. We are going in June. Wow that was a massive clearing and filling they have done. Thanks for the great video.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Thanks, the scale of project really is massive.

[@tnaviation562]

I hate to say this, but Katie may not be out in June.

[@thehamelsduck1600]

DW 192 rebuild again? Cinderella ain’t bad either.

[@tnaviation562]

The Hamel's Duck Not sure, she may just not be up to pulling the heavy summer trains like Cinderella can.

[@joosubliminals444]

I just went today and Katie is up and running but Cinderella is "taking a well deserved break"

[@wildcatindustries8030]

First steam locomotive I ever witnessed. After that I went home on Friday. That weekend I seen 630 in my home town of Grundy

[@thomasthetankdank9708]

my first too

[@TechBrosGamingChannel]

I was just there on Tuesday lol! First time in 3 years I saw 192 lol

[@Heisler91]

That Southern Railway 3 chime sounds so good but I think 154 wore it better.

[@jacobwoods8738]

Jarrett Prince Sounds a bit like the 4501 (no surprise based on the whistle type).

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

I agree it was great on 154, but I'm happy to hear it anywhere.

[@tweetsieengineer]

this is 192's original rebel rr whistle

[@Thomasboi01]

I'm now in love with that southern railway 3 chime.

[@Thomasboi01]

I agree it was cool on southern railway 154.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

Hopefully the new areas will also have New railroad Crossings to see the train at either manual or mechanical

[@kellyashfordtrains2642]

All in good fun.

[@trainmaster90productions]

Very nice smokymtnsteam hope you come up to the Everett Railroad this year were starting are season this weekend as well

[@santoshsahoo1621]

Nice train

[@carriepraytor4443]

I used to ride the dollywood express back when i was a kid in the 90s and the scenery was wayy better than this.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

The continuous expansion of the park has soured the view a bit.

[@TexasRailfan21-RailfanRyan]

What is 192's name her sister engine 190 on the Tweetsie Railroad is called the Yukon Queen what is 192's name to refresh my memory?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

192 is named Klondike Katie

[@stevensainerailfanproductions]

Nice vid. Did they change 192s smoke stack. Why does it have that thing on top of it.

[@jacobwoods8738]

Stevewivibeevy channel That is a cinder catcher. Inspired in my opinion, by the ones used on the Denver & Rio Grande Western 3ft Mikados in Colorado and New Mexico. It looks a bit like a modified 1950s D&RGW style cinder catcher. This cinder catcher sits on top a shotgun, rather than having a whole spark arrestor shroud it, like the Radley & Hunters.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

192 has started some fires over the years so they put it on to catch cinders.

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

I've been told that 192 is the bigger fire hazard, so 70 shouldn't be getting one.

[@dollywoodrailfan]

Stevewivibeevy channel I was told that it didn’t work at all they were going to change smoke box screens. To me it is ugly.

[@tweetsieengineer]

I designed and built the spark arrestor and it is working just as designed. Fire prevention is something you must take serious and after the devastation of the 2016 fires you can't just ignore a problem. Since the spark arrestor was added to 192 and a better screen system in 70 we have had 0 fires due embers getting out.

[@docholliday5472]

Great video. I'm curious what the ladder on the back of the last car is used for?

[@calebhodge6574]

Ryan Shipp There are ladders on the back of every car and they are used in the case of an emergency evacuation.

[@thecarolinianrailfan8339]

What other railroads are you going to visit this year?

[@SmokyMtnSteam]

Aside from my usual places, I'll be going to the Monticello Railway Museum to see 401, and I'm going to try to get to Cass at least once if not twice. I've got some other plans for later in the year, but nothing certain yet.

[@southerncrescentproductions]

Sounds like SOU 4501

[@Thomasboi01]

She sure does sound like her.

[@emilybays4901]

Why can't they design the train the rebel railroad?