Preparing the Trains at the SDC Roundhouse Behind the Scenes | Confessions of a Theme Park Worker

[@SirWillow]

a HUGE thank you to Silver Dollar City, Lisa Rau, Andrew Dean and Noah Bentley for all of their help and for making this possible. I've wanted to do this ever since I started making videos, and I'm so happy that I was finally able to do it. I hope you enjoy it.

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

Find it funny that you stood in front of engine #76

[@SirWillow]

ok, not sure what that would be funny... I've stood in front of all of the engines, and actually did with a few of them in this one. :-) You can see 14, 76, 504 and 43 all behind me at different points

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

@@SirWillow I meant it's kind of interesting because you always say that you love engine 76

[@mrs6968]

Everyone involved with this project is da real MVP!!!

[@weaponizedtoast2134]

@@SirWillow when you went there was 13 still outside the roundhouse waiting for overhaul?

[@jamescolter308]

This was really interesting video on how you keep this train going for this fun ride too

[@markreno2252]

As a railfan, I enjoyed this greatly. I finally understand the basics of how a steam engine works too! Really appreciate these engineers' passion and feel happy for them.

[@SirWillow]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TweetsieRailroader]

George, you seriously are a lucky man! As a train guy myself, I would kill to do something like this! Seems like the guys at SDC are good bunch, and they certainly do their part to keep the railroad running!

[@SirWillow]

trust me, I know how lucky I am. :-)

[@tokin0127]

He can drive that train very well . My grandad ordered parts for the engines in the shop at Radnor yard in Nashville untill the 80s. It was a sight for a kid with all those huge engines in a huge building .

[@WPUpioneer]

I'm just getting back into setting up my HO scale models, and a lot of the newer control systems have digital sounds with the blowdown included. Love videos like this. Someone asked me once how they start one of these and I didn't quite know at the time, of course now I do, but I replied with "I'm not sure but I dont imagine there's an ignition to stick a key into!"

[@FlybyStardancer]

That was an amazing look at the trains! And when you went underneath to show that angle… no way you could get that at places that have formal tours! Thank you!

[@AlexNunes-z6v]

That is awesome I 😍🥰 it.I love #504 2 Sdc..I love trains i have an ho scale railroad Hope I get to ride # 504 When we go to SDC on April 8 for the new fire 🔥 😀 in the hole 🕳

[@kevhuff65]

Thanks, George! Andrew, Noah, and the other guys do such a great job!

[@mrs6968]

I loved every single second and still cant believe you were able to produce this I'm beyond thankful to everyone at that theme park for allowing this it brought all your past train story videos to life

[@SirWillow]

Thanks. I'm so grateful that it was finally able to happen. it's been a process but I'm very grateful for them working with me to help it come together.

[@mrs6968]

@@SirWillow amen i was always hoping for a video like this yet thought it would never be possible

[@travcojim]

Excellent behind the scenes video. The trains have always been my favorite part of SDC. The sound of the whistle echoing thru the park never gets old..

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

Awesome video! I’ve been a follower of the Frisco and years and I’m in close touch with Andrew and Noah and I’ve also wanted to do a video like this for a really long time.

[@SirWillow]

Thanks so much. I'm convinced that being a former train guy at SDC helped out a lot. Even then it's been a process to be able to get the opportunity. Happy it finally came together.

[@TheDylanJoyce]

That Engineer’s a SPY!

[@robertbaldwin4429]

This was a great documentary! Very informative and entertaining. Nice work.

[@TheRealMr.Higgbottom]

It looks beautiful amazing work when it comes to restoration

[@marymcmaster9189]

Looks like they all have that down to an exact science. A lot goes into it and it gives me a greater appreciation for all their hard work.

[@SirDufferson]

Excellent video! So glad there’s finally a behind the scenes look at the FSDL roundhouse.

[@AshAndSteam]

You're famous too, I saw you in it!

[@ladyinhotpink0575]

Sir willow thank you for making this video it was very fun and informative

[@TheVolvoline]

Was the 14 steam train, the Davey Crockett express train from adventure town in Alexandria bay? 1955-1961

[@wyatttrainworld]

Where was the Whistle?

[@Mr.WonderfulGaming]

You should see about doing this but at night! Like their closing shift.

[@markwright9214]

Nice behind the scenes video!!!! Don't ever get to see the underside of a train, cool! 😊👍

[@Throttlejockey94]

Man, I sure miss when I was an engineer there. That was the best job ever!

[@seabolt3]

This was an awesome video. Makes you appreciate the people at the park so much more. Would luv to see more behind the scenes of other areas of the park. Also getting ready for Christmas would be really cool!

[@SirWillow]

I would love to do more. Getting access and working around liability are some of the limits. We will see what other openings come

[@chandrawalker9220]

This was super, super cool! Thanks for thr behind the scenes!

[@woodencoasterfan]

That was really interesting and very well done. I love history and in turn love steam locomotives so this was really neat to see the what it takes to operate them. As a truck driver, I can tell you that a 7% grade is pretty steep as is the maximum allowable grade on any Interstate highway. Our pneumatic (air) brakes operate the same way. You have to supply air to the system to keep the wheels rolling.

[@CockfightProduction]

Andrew Dean, the man, the myth, the legend! What an honor to hear him talk about trains.

[@SirWillow]

I definitely have to point this comment out to him. lol

[@robertacosta6480]

Very cool video! More PLEASE :)!

[@clydediddit5753]

Has SDC ever thought of using deionized water for their steam locomotives? IMHO that would save some serious wear & tear on the locomotive boilers!

[@ajfalk6364]

Notice how our roundhouse is square. Yep here at silver dolar city we don't cut coners

[@TheThomson8]

🚂🚃🚃🚃 Great video!

[@soundman423]

Wish there was a video like this of the train shop at Dollywood, this was a great video seeing how things are there.

[@SirWillow]

that would be great to see them do something like that at some point. Maybe this will inspire them?

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

I love to see how other theme parks handle their operations! Something else you should consider doing is mounting your camera onto one of the engines for a trip!

[@SirWillow]

Not any real good way to do that without it either interfering with their ops, or risking it melting, or both. :-) We were working under a pretty good set of guidelines as well that we'd spelled out ahead of time to help make this possible. :-)

[@jgray5025]

That was excellent!!! Park steam trains are my favorite!!! Thanks for putting this video together!!! Enjoy all your videos!!!

[@tomklock568]

This was a lot of fun. Saw something like this about Knott's Berry Farm trains. So great.

[@kdbosch1971]

Really enjoyed this! I agree with others, and would love to see more of these "behind the scenes" videos if they are possible.

[@roguereality3646]

Andrew is right even if you weren't interested in trains when you start you will catch yourself liking them more and more. And Andrew is also right about the best engine being 504 its awesome to run

[@samanthadebusk5221]

We were there on the train when you were filming 😊

[@SirWillow]

be sure to look for yourself then in some of the footage at the end :-)

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

I don't know how many times I've watched this.

[@timbaghurst4066]

Me too I think I have watched to whole thing like 4-5 times!

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

@@timbaghurst4066 Those are rookie numbers. Try 20

[@timbaghurst4066]

@@TrevlynTheTrainiac XD yeah in some cases... Have you seen the new 20 minute cab ride video the SirWillow uploaded it's great!

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

@@timbaghurst4066 yes

[@colton4064]

I knew something train related was coming from the outfit you posted a few days ago! What an awesome experience (even though you already probably worked behind the scenes anyways ;) Thank you for sharing!

[@SirWillow]

Oh trust me I learned a ton and had a lot of new experiences myself with this

[@teresacarosella7624]

Very interesting. Nice job if filming and editing too. I like these type of behind the scenes videos

[@JGanes]

This is the best video in all of KZbin! Awesome job!

[@sptraxide]

By far my favorite video of yours!

[@SirWillow]

Easily one of my favorites to have produced and possibly the one I am most proud of.

[@Mr.Harland91]

Really big but thats awesome you got to go do that

[@jimgreathouse5411]

I knew Andrew Dean when he was working on the Iron Mountain and on the Wabash Frisco & Pacific.

[@jameskinglion]

Thank thank you for sharing this.

[@f2535]

I’m trying to remember if Andrew was one of the gentlemen from SDC that came over and rode with us one day on the steam trains at camp Dry Gulch. It’s been many years so my memory is foggy, but they were a knowledgeable group that truly enjoyed steam power.

[@f2535]

Obviously Noah was one as he mentions the church camp in Oklahoma. I fired the locomotive for him a couple of times there. I always wondered if the were still working there, so thanks for posting this.

[@adean1987]

Yes, I fired and ran the engines at Dry Gulch a couple of times along with Noah. Once during the summer camp and once during Christmas Train. It was a fun time.

[@sgtmyers88]

Awesome! :) Thanks for the video!

[@thunderfoot223]

That was a great vid loved it so much great job. Did the train reach 88 mph and wind up in the 1950s lol

[@timbaghurst4066]

I loved it so much I am so glad to see behind the scenes of the FSDL finally! I have a few questions to 1: What is the youngest you can be to work at SDC? 2: If you want to be a engineer on the train which I want to do. Do you have to do one thing at SDC first like do you have to be a conductor/robber to get to the engineer spot? 3: In the cab of engine #14 you have the 2 long levers the Jonson bar and one of the brakes. Well is the Jonson bar the one with the goldish handle of is it the one with the red handle?

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

18. Johnson bar is red, handbrake is gold

[@timbaghurst4066]

@@TrevlynTheTrainiac Thanks!

[@thejourney1369]

Fascinating!

[@garyjones9095]

Great video..thanks

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

I wish I could go to the round house that would be amazing

[@jamesdurkin1857]

Love this video. It is very informative and entertaining. I notice the cabbage stack on one of the locomotives, and I love the look, but, why is it called a cabbage stack? Just wondering. Anyway, keep up these wonderful videos and may God bless you and yours.

[@noahsarcweldingllc5095]

#14 has a diamond stack cabbage stakes are round like a Weber grill lid.

[@k001daddy]

This was really cool!

[@iamamanda88]

That's so cool awesome cho cho

[@rossshimer3426]

Amazing I love it so much

[@rossshimer3426]

Sir willow I am so happy you got to go the round house I got to when I was like 9 years old I remember 76 was getting fire box work on 43 was out of service 13 was running that day I was so honor to go to the round house my mom and dad got to go with me

[@jameskinglion]

Now I'm kind of curious to find out how I can get this experienced myself

[@SirWillow]

I can pretty much say you can't. It took a lot of work on multiple levels, and my being a former worker and good friends with many of them were big keys to being able to make it happen. We aren't sure that anything like this has ever been done there before, so it's a very unique situation. But my already knowing the round house, some of the routines, and being able to stay out of the way while there worked were big things.

[@johngambon9488]

No joke, SDC literally tried to call me in to work the day you came but I had already dropped off my car at the shop for a battery change. Wish I could have visited with you. Now here's a serious question: when you were in the engine and at the back of the train, did you have any memories come back to you from your days working there? I bet you did but I just want to know you're thoughts on it. Great Vid!

[@SirWillow]

LOL oh my good ness yes. I was actually joking with the gentleman who was robbing that day that I was already dressed and ready to do a show. But that wasn't outlined in our proposal that we submitted, so it was a definite no go. But there as a lot of it that felt like coming back "home"

[@timbaghurst4066]

Do you still have all of the footage of the cab ride? If so would you be able to upload it just a question the cab ride was my favorite part of it...well all of it was my favorite XD!

[@SirWillow]

yes. I keep almost all of my footage, and did from that day. So yes, I could upload a complete ride around the tracks from the cab. :-)

[@timbaghurst4066]

@@SirWillow Okay that would be really cool you know like for most people you don't often see a real cab ride on the FSDL so that would be great to see!

[@SirWillow]

Maybe I'll try to get that put together to post in the next week or two then. :-)

[@timbaghurst4066]

@@SirWillow That would be so cool I have always wanted a cab ride video that is longer then 4 minutes!!!!!

[@SirWillow]

Will a 20 minute long ride satisfy the itch? :-P

[@railhunterproductions]

Awesome!

[@jamesdurkin1857]

I believe a diamond stack is also considered a cabbage stack, but I may be wrong.

[@adean1987]

No, a cabbage stack is a very specific term, referring directly to the unique round “cabbage” like shape of the Rushton patent spark arresting smoke stack. You can research all types of steam locomotive smoke stack and cinder catcher designs with the aid of google. It’s amazing how many designs there were over the years.

[@joshuaharper4439]

Hi, I was wondering if you could tell me the accident that Silverdollar city just had with their train with the cars falling over how is it that the cars fell over but the wheels are still on a track I believe I seen that right thanks

[@SirWillow]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaCXapqfrduKo68

[@TheRealMr.Higgbottom]

Before the invention of the forced draft blower system like steam locomotives steam ships had to use exhaust steam to create the draft

[@railhunterproductions]

14 could use a wash!

[@jtrains310]

Cool

[@ianstandefer6876]

Where is 43 at

[@TrevlynTheTrainiac]

In the roundhouse where Andrew and Noah were talking

[@SirWillow]

It's the one sitting on the side in the roundhouse. I have some more clips I didn't include that will likely come later, including some about it

[@raymondleggs5508]

German built engines

[@SirWillow]

some. others are from Czechoslovakia. and the diesel switch engine is fully American.

[@Mr.Harland91]

Six flags st.louis our locomotive is bigger

[@SirWillow]

bigger doesn't mean better. :-P LOL

[@Mr.Harland91]

@@SirWillow that's right if you want the best fuel mileage smaller is always and a lot more fun

[@noahsarcweldingllc5095]

3 foot gauge crown locomotives are quite a bit larger how ever the #14 has the same size cylinders 10" but the drive wheel's are 20" smaller and the axle loading is much higher thus making the #14 have significantly higher tractive effort which means that even though its smaller it will easily out pull a crown.

[@Mr.Harland91]

@@noahsarcweldingllc5095 wow I never knew thanks 😊

[@KieraCameron514]

His idiot guidance counseler said trains won't exist? So, one of the top most energy efficient modes of transport won't exist? The type of transport which makes extremely efficient use of the land won't exist?