Disneyland's Mark Twain Riverboat - Walking with Walt #2

We continue or walk around Disneyland with the backstory and history of the Mark Twain Riverboat on the Rivers of America. The Mark Twain was part of the Retlaw Railroad, the Disneyland Railroad which was owned by Walt and Lily Disney, not by WED or the Disney Studios. These were their "personal toys".
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The Mark Twain is a 150-ton, 28-foot-high, 105-foot-long riverboat, which departs every 25 minutes on "The Rivers of America" in the Frontierland section of the park. The waiting area is made to resemble a real riverboat loading area, with cargo deliveries sharing space on the dock.
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A Mississippi steamboat was included in the plans for the first Disney amusement park that was to be built across the street from his Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. This smaller park was abandoned in favor of the much larger Disneyland, but the plan for having a riverboat attraction was retained.
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The Mark Twain was the first functional paddlewheeler built in the United States in fifty years. The decks were assembled at the Disney Studios at Burbank, while the 105-foot hull was constructed at Todd Shipyards.
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Joe Fowler, Disneyland's construction supervisor and a former navy admiral, insisted on creating a drydock for the ship along what was to be the Rivers of America. Walt Disney, dismayed at how much land was taken up by the massive excavation, referred to the drydock first as "Joe's Ditch", and then later, "Fowler's Harbor", the name by which it goes by today.

[@randallhawkinson4727]

Great tour! It just occurred to me that the many times I had been to D'Land, I never rode on the Mark Twain! Went out to Tom's Island, but never rode the boat. I haven't been back since the early nineties and now the place is too darn expensive on my retirement pay, ('cause I still have to get there....) and the foreign tourists run amuck. When I first was there in 1966, the Columbia ran with the Mark Twain and I remember it passing by the Island. It was the ticket book years and my brother (18 yrs older), who took me there for my 11th birthday, only could afford the C tickets for both of us. I remember having to make that dreadful decision of what I wanted to go on and what we would have to leave behind. Thanks for the memories!

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Randall Hawkinson My first trip to Disneyland was in 2011. My oldest daughter took me there a couple of months after my mom passed away. My daughter was making arrangements to move to LA then. She had already been to Disneyland a couple of times, so knew the way. When my daughter was a little girl, she wanted to visit Disneyland every time we passed through Anaheim.. Never did.. long story, and I don’t want to bring up a painful past. She just always wanted to go to Disneyland, and have me buy her one of those chocolate covered ice cream bars, in the shape of Mickey’s head. That was her dream. So.. there we were.. in 2011.. By then, she was 26 years old. We found a place to sit, and I bought her that Mickey Mouse ice cream bar! Dreams do come true!

[@markraymond3886]

I’m loving this series. I never got into toy trains but my dad loved anything from that era, including the toys. I remember when he hauled us out to see the Freedom Train in 1976. Disneyland was always my favorite place to visit and I loved riding the train. My dad felt he had to educate anyone willing to listen about steam power. The thrill of his life was riding in the jump seat of the locomotive. Your enthusiasm for the details is a joy. Can’t wait for your episode on the mine train, it was my favorite ride as a kid.

[@ToyManTelevision]

HI Missed your post. Oops. Sorry. THANKS for listening to us ramble.

[@larryarcher4502]

As usual your research and your commentary are exceptional love hearing the history keep up the good work thank you very much.

[@gregsmith1719]

Very nostalgic Dale, Thanks! I miss the mine train, too.

[@bcgrittner]

That was fun. That's the first time I heard the story of the Twain sinking. During opening week in '55, they also found out that the soil in the riverbed was way too porous. They had to keep adding large amounts water. The entire river channel was then made of concrete. My first trip to Disneyland was late 1963. I was eleven. Dad bought the tickets. While riding the Twain there was a string band playing. There was an older black gentleman playing a 6 string banjo - the only 6 string banjo I have ever seen. When the mine train passed by the Twain the train operator and the pilot of the Twain exchanged whistles with the Shave And A Haircut routine. To this day ( 2020 ) I find that amusing.

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s great!!! What a time. The 69s at Disneyland

[@davesquire4943]

One day about 50 years ago, I spent a ride on the Mark Twain just watching the engine and the valve gear work. I was talking to the engineer, and I asked him if he ever got to 'open her up'. He said that if they went faster, they'd get out of synch with the narration. Then he looked around, and said "Wait a minute'. When the narration ended, he reached up to the throttle and screwed it open about 3 turns. The paddle wheel picked up speed and you could hear the exhaust pick up. He kept an eye on the shoreline and then reached over to the reverse lever and horsed it over to full reverse. Water went everywhere as the boat slowed. A quick close of the throttle, reverse lever back towards center and we drifted nicely into the landing. It was pretty cool; I suspect it wasn't the first time he'd done it

[@carlsorensennb7c750]

Thank you again

[@ToyManTelevision]

Carl Sorensen NB7C love this place.

[@johnnyjames7139]

I love standing on the deck of the Mark Twain and watching those long piston rods work in the cylinders and listening to the exhaust steam go up the scape pipes to atmosphere. There is a peacefulness about that propulsion system.

[@ToyManTelevision]

THe ride was one of the most popular until about 1970. Then slowly it become "bland". If we had to pick out top 5 it would be on it for sure. Like you say, a REAL steam riverboat. All the steam mechanism. Only Disney would have done that.

[@jeanneuzarhudson8207]

Cracking good yarn. No, actually y'all are spot on. Wonderful job on the video and the research. Carry on with this Massive Pursuit of Screwing Around. Greg and Jeanne

[@ToyManTelevision]

HI. Working on the monorails right now...

[@trishstefanuk5619]

One of my favourite channels, thank you

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks right back

[@sjrr124]

Thanks for another great video Dale and Karyn!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks and UR welcome!!!!

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Thanks!!

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Very entertaining! Enjoyed it, so glad you two share your (screwing around) adventures

[@ToyManTelevision]

THANKS!! More coming too. Sunday we are on the Monorail.

[@46619TAB]

Happily the riverboat and Tom Sawyer's Island were replicated and plused at WDW. The riverboat is another 'take a load off' must do, and after touring the boat I prefer a spot aft to watch the passing scenery and the paddle wheel propelling the boat. Who ever said Tom Sawyer's Island is for kids only is wrong Wrong WRONG, it's for kids of ANY age and is a great place for exploring, imagining and just screwing around!! BTW, at WDW the steam train runs thru Splash Mountain and affords a view of a portion of the attraction and the People Mover [attention Mr Marrow, Mr Tom Marrow lol] runs thru Space Mountain with a great view inside too. Another VERY well done video, thanks Karyn and Dale!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

We need to get on down there!!!!!! Gators and riverboats!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

46619TAB wish they would bring back the people mover at Disneyland. Great ride and the tracks are mostly still there. Bring it back!!!

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Hey, Terry! I couldn’t agree with you more... We all are kids again, when visiting the Disney Parks. We do have plans to visit Disney World in the near future!... as I love the Orlando area, and want to visit again! Thanks for watching!! :D

[@46619TAB]

Karyn Felix-Angell - Disney World is The Happiest Place on earth, I'm told Disneyland is as well but we haven't been there yet....depending on one's tolerance for ignorant parents with ZERO parenting skills which for us dictates the time of year we visit. We usually plan our 2 weeks for September after schools are back in session or about 3 weeks before Christmas before schools are out for the holiday break. A suggestion - we ALWAYS spend the first week at the Grand Floridian Hotel and the second at a different Disney Park hotel. Speaking of riverboats, Raymond has been on the internet which is rare for him if he isn't doing legal research. Santa left us round trip tickets Chicago to Nawlins in a bedroom sleeper on Amtrak's City of New Orleans, we leave the second week of March 2018, two days to get there, three days there and 2 days to get back [Santa ate the cookies I made for him and took the bag of carrots AND the entire bottle of Makers Mark AND the glass!}. Raymond's found www.americancruiselines.com/cruises/mississippi-river-cruises?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5fSzu4PI2AIVUJ7ACh3ruwjnEAAYASABEgINlfD_BwE and is suggesting we should make the return trip from Nawlins to Memphis [where we could board the northbourd City of New Orleans] aboard the line's new America paddle boat in a stateroom with a balcony and awesome views www.americancruiselines.com/small-riverboat-cruise-ships/america# AND an additional cost of 8 days AND 9K. He's NUTZ but a riverboat cruise is on the bucket list and because of my heart I only a few years left so maybe. LOVE your videos, more please!!

[@gregsmith1719]

Well, I watched it again, Dale . I really miss Disneyland when I was a kid. Tom Sawyer Island and the Mine Train were everything to me then. Now, I heard you promise to make a video of the Rainbow Mountain Mine Train!... and I'm going to hold you to it. God bless.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Greg Smith we may need to go back and do some research. And screw around a little. .

[@kirknitz8152]

I still have some Disneyland ride tickets. I kept them so I could use the next time. The A tickets were for the shooting range and the omnibus ride etc from the front gate back to the courtyard to the castle and tomorrowland.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Me too. First 2 years they had you pay per ride. Then they went to the ticket book and it became disney lore overnight. At first just A B C tickets. Then they added the D for the new rides and rides Walt owned, like the railroad. Then when they built the Matterhorn they added the legendary E ticket. ( the staff cafeteria at Disneyland is called the Eat Ticket)

[@ggsumner1947]

I'm really liking this series on Disneyland. You must have hours of research and personal interactions along the way, filling us in on the creation and history the park.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Gary Sumner mostly lots of screwing around! Seems like that. Fun!!!

[@ggsumner1947]

Doing what you enjoy is always fun. Thanks as always.

[@terrygold8191]

Hi I am former cast member at Disneyland just to let you know Disneyland is a theme park not a amusement park Magic Mountain is an amusement park it has no theme running through it where Disneyland has themed lands such as frontierland tomorrowland and fantasyland I'm enjoying your videos keep up the good work

[@michaelgmoore5708]

Yes Terry Gold is right. I was at Disneyland in 1955. Ward Kimball, Top animated for Walt had a huge operating collection of toy trains worth millions. After Ward died, the collection was auctioned off by mainly the Toy Train Collectors Association in Strausberg, PA. It should have been donated to be on display at Disneyland. Many prominent big time collectors thought so too. You trains are model trains also and can be scale also. American Flyer trains are the most realistic toy trains evér made as stated on the 1957 American Flyer catalog by the A.C. Gilbert Co. Gilbert invented the famous Erector sets.since 1913. There is the A. C. Gilbert Museum in Salem, Oregon. Go there if you can, a lot of history about Gilbert not many people can even imagine.

[@kylebuchmann9761]

Thank you guys so much for the video's 😊

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Thank You for watching!

[@FutureRailProductions]

Great episode! I can't wait for the episode on the Mine Train. It's kind of sad that such a wonderful train ride was taken out. Maybe if I had a time machine I would go back and try to save it. Just like move it to a different location or something.

[@ToyManTelevision]

They just finished the restoration of the one in the video. WOW. THe D 23 group has it at Griffith Park and the LA Live Steamers Looks great. SO SMALL!!!!! I remember it being some what big. NOPE. About 3 1/2 feet tall to the top of the stack. 30 inch gauge. Hum... BAchmann???

[@cabravo31]

You guys are awesome. I’m getting the couple narration vibe from Epcot’s Horizons from you guys. Very enjoyable, thank you!

[@williamgreen9307]

You to are so cool and you put out awesome videos so thanks for the videos

[@ToyManTelevision]

William Green gee thanks!!!! We have some cool stuff coming. Next week monorails.

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

William Green Thanks!

[@TooManyHobbiesJeremy]

Great video, never knew about the Mark Twain.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Really interesting. I think Disney would have built “Disneyland” across from the studio. But when he saw that steamboat at Greenfield Village he needed a bigger place that could hold a riverboat. It might have been there would not have been a Disneyland if not for the Mark Twain.

[@rohnerw]

Yes!!! You must go to Greenfield Village. Has been decades since I was there, but would really like to see you video feature it! And, thanks for the spotlight on the riverboat. I do remember it from my visit to Disneyland, many again, decades ago. Wonderful Video!!!

[@trainzguy2472]

Big thunder mountain is probably my favorite ride in the whole place!

[@michaeltaylor9977]

It is a lot of fun to ride this. You know Walt and Lilly had their 30th wedding anniversary in the park before it opened to the public. Guests were treated to a ride that evening. That was after Lilly & Joe Fowler swept the decks before receiving its first passengers. I also got to ride the Columbia (2009) I think.

[@royreynolds108]

Some tidbits: the MARK TWAIN's engines are Corliss valve gear; the original jungle river boats had two wheels with rubber tires that ran in a track for a guide just as at 6-Flags at Arlington, TX. They had electric motors and batteries for propulsion at both locations. When 6-Flags ride was dismantled the boats were sold and some of them went to Natchitoches, LA others went to Jefferson, TX with outboards for power and the wheels removed.; the sidewheel steamboat at WDW actually worked and was the only walking beam steamboat in operation at that time. I was the relief engineer on a 50 foot wood fired, wooden hulled steamboat on Caddo Lake in East Texas and West Louisiana between 1995 and 2000. She was named the Graceful Ghost and the person who had her built was Lexie Palmore who spent 9 years on the Delta Queen culmanting as the only woman steamboat pilot on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The Graceful Ghost displaced about 20,000 lbs and drew 18 to 22 inches of water. The engines were 4 X 16 inches and turned about 15 or 16 rpm cruising. She only needed a crew of 2--pilot and engineer. Her valve gear was a very simple Stephenson with straight links.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Roy Reynolds amazing!!! I know so little about steam and river boats. Love the look. Love the function. Love the concept. The history. We are planning a return to the Delta King just for some good times in Sacramento. Thanks for all the information

[@robynfreeman1201]

My faher built the boiler, for the Mark Twain, which is still working, there is a small silver and aqua plaque, Dixon Boiler Works, Los Angeles. Also built the boilers for engines 1 and 2, now retired, for the Disneyland ra>lroad. )

[@ToyManTelevision]

COOL!!!!!!!!!! We are planning a show on Arrow, the company that built many of the rides. Had no idea the trains and the Mark twain were built right there. Wonder if Dixon is still in business.

[@FunAtDisney]

Interestingly there use to be an actual engineer on the Mark Twain that operated the boat from that lever you showed, in fact they were part of the same department as the railroad. They would throw the boat into reverse as sort of a break (common in boating) and then when the bow line was put on they would put it back into forward which would hold the boat tight to the dock. I believe this all changed and the brake was added after a tragic accident that killed a guests back in 1998 on the other ship, Columbia. When the river was shut down for the building of Star Wars Galaxy Edge (we saw the entire process over that time) the Mark was not really a restaurant but was used as an outdoor seating area to bring your food and snacks over from other areas. It was actually very nice and being they could not put on the Fantasmic nightly show on the river it became a wonderfully peaceful area at night as it once was years ago.

[@tom7601]

Great fun! :-)

[@ToyManTelevision]

tom7601 wow yes!!

[@DRGW485]

Thank you for another fun and informative video. I do want to clarify one item about the Mark Twain operations. Dave Squire who commented previously alluded to the fact that the “Engineer” who stands on the bottom deck is actually running the boat with the throttle and reverser to make the boat go and stop the boat by reversing the paddle wheel. If you hang out down there you can actually watch them work and speak with them as the boat goes around. I believe that the “Pilot” in the Pilot House does govern when the boat leaves by communicating with the “Engineered” but downstairs is actually doing all the real work. There was one time when I was riding the Tom Sawyer rafts and the motor died setting us adrift into the path of the Mark Twain which had to do an emergency stop to keep from running us over. Thankfully they eventually got the raft motor going but it was rather strange watching that big boat barreling down on us.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Ive never seen them stop or reverse the paddle. They can, all the controls are right there at the back, bit we've not seen anyone use them. The can stop the boat with the brake in the wheelhouse. One of the shots of us "going around" was actually us parked!! But as the paddle still goes round and round, you can't tell we are not moving.

[@DRGW485]

Toy Man Television you might be right about the brake but I have stood down there when the boat is running and spoken to the Engineer as they work the throttle above their head and the reverser like a steam locomotive.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Ive just never seen that done. The controls are there for sure. I have a shot in the show. Now I want to go ride again....

[@trainroomgary]

Cool story about Disneyland, a lot of history. Greenfield Village is close to my train room. I have a video about the round house and Detroit and Lima RR. 😎 • Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂

[@ToyManTelevision]

trainroomgary planning our trip there. Dang we want to see that. More all the time.

[@badbiker666]

You should definitely visit The Henry Ford if you can. It is the only reason, besides the Detroit Zoo, to visit the Detroit, MI, area. I grew up there and had annual passes so I visited nearly every weekend for many, many years. The Henry Ford encompasses both The Henry Ford Museum AND Greenfield Village. Want to see everything? Give yourself a week!

[@sallywhite1012]

Great video. Found it really interesting and loved the humour of you both. Newly subscribed from South Australia.

[@kerridillon3120]

I'm just crazy about these Disney videos that you do so excellently! When I moved to California from NJ in 1973 at age 19, the ticket books were in use. "E" tickets were aways at a premium! I remember most of the original rides & watching them being replaced is like losing a piece of the original Disney that originated with Walt! Your videos are so entertaining, professional & really make my day! Can't wait for next week! Happy New Year Dale & Karyn! Hubba hubba!!

[@johnnyjames7139]

The boiler of the Mark Twain as well as the two boilers for the E. P Ripley and C.K. Holiday were built by Dixon Boiler in L. A. Two friends and I had our 15" gage Shay boiler built by Dixon also. Sadly, Dixon no longer exists but the boilers keep working.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup!! I find it amazing they built this stuff at Disneyland. But the boilers need experts. They also hired an LA company to build many of the rides, Arrow. They sent them so much work that before Disneyland even opened they bought Arrow. Arrow developed the tube track roller coaster for the Matterhorn. And went on to build these for many parks. Most of the roller coasters at Magic Mountain were built by Arrow. In other words, Disney built most of the rides at Magic Mountain. Hows that for fun!?

[@lauricarlson7867]

Mark twain river boat is my favourite classic to ride disneyland rairoad live Disneyland resort in Anaheim California good morning to you as well have a magical day today

[@ToyManTelevision]

That and the train for us. Walt's toys!!

[@bubbaskywalker3129]

Great video Toy Man!

[@trucktalkvideos]

What a great video

[@wonderfultoys9076]

I loved everything

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!! Fun stuff coming up too!!!

[@Captain_E0]

Wow I just found your channel and have been up watching almost all night. I especially love your Disney railroad videos. If you could ever get to Florida I'd love to see you do some videos on the Walt Disney World Railroad and maybe even the one at Busch Gardens Tampa.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Plan for sure. We can get into the shop in Florida. The Disneyland shops are sooo hard to get into. We got lucky.

[@tjorgensen2007]

Wow. The last time I was in Disneyland was when Indiana Jones ride opened up. I was the guilty one that had stopped the ride when my baseball cap flew off my head. The ride stopped, lights came on and we were told to sit still until the crew escorted all the riders to the exit. I later found my hat at lost and found with a big oil spot on it. They told me it was found in the middle of the tracks that had caused the stopping of the ride for a little over 20 minutes.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Happened to me on the tower of terror. A kid unhooked his seat belt. Lights, rids slowly came to a stop. Kid re fastened his belt and we got a free ride!!!! Right on kid!!! Do it again!!!!

[@ernie6927]

Hi, I just watched your Disneyland train videos and this one. They are all great . I enjoyed them and all the great back story you found. Great job! They must have changed the Mark Twain controls. It's been a couple of years, but when I was up in the wheelhouse there was no mention of a brake. I also spoke with the operator downstairs back by the pistons. He showed me how he controlled the speed with a big overhead valve that let the steam from the boilers into the pistons. He would put the gearshift into reverse to stop it at the dock, then go to neutral at the dock. Forward for leaving. I was just on a week ago, Feb 2019, but I didn't notice whether anyone was operating the throttle vave and the shift lever or not. I need to pay attention next time. It does cut out a crew position.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Yes they can throttle and use the reverser from the stern. While we were riding we ride most often at the stern and no one around at all. And the big wheel just kept turning. Some of my shots of the wheel were taken while we were tied up!

[@ernie6927]

@@ToyManTelevision Thanks for the response. I must not have noticed the big changes. Perhaps when they were down for the Star Wars changes.

[@prowordsmith]

I wish we could have had a tour of the Mark Twain other than isolated static shots.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Towne Comee I was mostly fascinated with the mechanism on the boiler by the time I got an eyeful of that the ride was over!

[@prowordsmith]

So now you gotta go back, take the Mark Twain again and show us around the boat! Your fans demand it! (Does that make it a tax write-off...a business trip?)

[@donnyp683]

If you do your research, the Mark Twain does not have a break. Propulsion and slowing/stopping is all done by the paddle wheel.

[@Kaeto2002]

When you do go to Greenfield Village make sure you also visit The Henry Ford Museum.

[@ToyManTelevision]

We’ve always wanted to see that! Really looking forward to that trip

[@Kaeto2002]

I live 15 min from there. One of the major displays in the museum is the Allegheny Steam Locomotive

[@davehildebrand6960]

Love your videos, keep 'en coming! I'd drink beer with you anytime bro!

[@ryank6931]

Hi am at Disneyland this week

[@ToyManTelevision]

Ryan cool!!!!!! Se if you can get a ride on the CP Ripley. The green #2 loco. Hang around the Main Street station until it cons by and then ask the Engeneer.

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Hope you have as much fun as we did!

[@ryank6931]

hi it sucks out of the four days i was there the E.P. Ripley was not in service due to refurbishment

[@sdj9776]

In early summer of 1975, when I was 8 I went to Disneyland with my parents and my two younger brothers. Because the U.S. Bicentennial celebration was ramping up, everything that had to do with it was popular. So, instead of Mickey Ears, I got a three pointed hat. I was wearing it when we boarded the Mark Twain. A cast member came up to me and my Dad and said, “That’s a really neat hat. Would you like to come up to the wheel house to drive the boat?” I was convinced that I was steering it. I spent the whole ride wasting steam through the whistle. My mom and my younger brothers had gone ahead of us and spent the whole ride wondering where my Dad had gone. She was a little upset until I excitedly showed her my certificate from “piloting the Mark Twain” on the Rivers of America. It was one of the last years that Nature’s Wonderland operated. My favorite rides were both railroads and the Mark Twain.

[@ToyManTelevision]

That’s great!! Find memories. Thanks for sharing

[@sdj9776]

@@ToyManTelevision my pleasure!

[@DanielChannel57]

Fun fact: The self steering part and the fake steering wheel, that's also how the Jaws ride that used be at Universal Studios Orlando used to work.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Oddly I’ve had so many people here on the channel disagree and say oh no you run it from up there and there’s a person in the engine room! Well sometimes there is a person in the engine room but isn’t actually running anything.

[@Mike-tg7dj]

It's on Wikipedia it must be true! I can't help but laugh at that. Another great video. I've been to Disney World but, it doesn't compare to the original. I'm guessing for one thing less humidity in the summer months. We went to Disney World in June and the quote the Raven,"Nevermore"! plus Disneyland is pure Disney, Disney Word has Epcot, Animal Kingdom, etc.,etc. so one can get lost in all of that and miss out on Disneyland with all its uniqueness.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Fall - winter is best. Halloween at the Haunted Mansion!! Or it's a Small World at Christmas. But the temp is like 80 and perfect.

[@garrybaugher8617]

I remember those ticket packs. Never really understood it as kid. Now i see why admission prices are going up at disneyland

[@billgreer870]

If u lived in Texas. U didnt want to come home with one ticket , cause it took 4 days in a car going 55 mph to get there ( forever ) remember how hard that trip was 62 yrs ago . Thk again

[@WardenWolf]

The one question I've always wondered is whether the Mark Twain and Columbia have working rudders. Obviously they run on tracks, but it would make sense for them to have a usable rudder for those times when they need to remove them from the tracks for maintenance.

[@ToyManTelevision]

As far as I know from Mark Twain has none. The wheel simply spins around and it’s not connected to anything and there are no other controls to operate it. Also the paddlewheel is the source of thrust. And no way to direct that so other than the track there’s no way to steer it. The Columbia has a visible rudder. And it makes sense that there would be some sort of control to operate it. But it to seems to only have engine controls. However it has twin propellers and so I would think it should be steered by regulating the throttles.

[@WardenWolf]

@@ToyManTelevision There was usually a manual tiller for old sailing ships, where people could operate the rudder directly. It's entirely possible there's no rudder chain but there's still a tiller down in the bowels of the boat.

[@markwelker95]

when i see the mark twain,i think of steamboat willie.....remember.... "it all started with a mouse".

[@conmancrazy2775]

If you go to Henry ford you should go to the Hesston steam museum

[@romans32426]

I took a date to Disneyland in the summer of 1956. It cost me $20 for parking, entry, rides, and food. I was 16 and she was 15. I was in love for maybe 30 days.

[@ToyManTelevision]

30 wonderful days!!

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

Please let me know when you come to Detroit and Greenfield Village I live 15 minutes West Greenfield Village I would love to take you two out for dinner

[@ToyManTelevision]

Kevin Romas h!! We have no plans other than to come there!! We just do stuff on the fly. Fun that way. No idea when we will but we will!!

[@terrygold8191]

Hi I'm a former cast member at Disneyland just to let you know Disneyland is a theme park not a amusement park Magic Mountain is an amusement park it has no theme where Disneyland has themed areas such as frontierland, tomorrowland and fantasyland

[@ToyManTelevision]

Radical concept in 1955!! Now taken for granted. I love the tie to Greenfield Village, also not an amusement park, a museum. Disneyland is the same on many levels, but at Disneyland the "exhibits" are propose built rides. Interesting that CA is also a theme park, but the biggest theme area is an amusement park, Paradise Pier.

[@kylebuchmann9761]

Can you video star wars land 👍😊

[@karynfelix-the-Cat]

Top secret! But as soon as it's finished, and we return.... there will be a video!!

[@Buck1954]

Hated the tickets. Loved the Kids Island because I was a kid.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Everyone still has some unused a and b tickets

[@JerkRice]

This is a great series. Do you know what fuel they use to create the steam that powers the boat?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Not sure. BUT as the trains run on biodiesel that would be my guess.

[@tom7601]

Toy Man Television I agree; it's too clean for Bunker C. In fact, I don't think any existing steam-powered boats or locomotives use Bunker C (No. 6 fuel oil). It fas to be heated to something like 160°F before it will burn properly, and it's very messy, to handle as well as environmentally speaking.

[@microbusss]

I'd build a exact replica of the Mark Twain BUT it would ply the rivers of the USA & actually steer!

[@eddieknox9874]

I wondered how walt Disney ended up from marcelene Missouri to Disney world florida, not much history on that, if any

[@ToyManTelevision]

Eddie Knox gee that span covers his whole life. Pretty well documented, he moved to KC after only 4 years in Marceliene. Stint in the army in wwIi, started his studio in KC and moved to LA in the 20’s. Never moved from there.

[@117N7]

wait why didn't you cover the train at the Africa Park edition in florida?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Haven't been there... YET!

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

do you happen to know what the top speed of the boat is?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Gee no. But about 5 mph. Takes 20 minutes to go around about a mile.

[@joshuatoro8977]

When did they use it as a restaurant I was in Disneyland last May and there was no restaurant on the mark twain it just was a place to come up in your history and me cast members

[@ToyManTelevision]

Not sure. I was reading online that it was being used as a "Tea Room". And some commenters said it was always going to be used that way. Never run again. NICE TO SEE IT BACK RUNNING.

[@joshuatoro8977]

Definitely right on that do you know what happened to the view liners and where did they go? I love your videos on Disneyland and I love your videos on trains they deafly inspired me and my wife to start traveling and see what America has the offer with trains

[@ToyManTelevision]

Not sure where they went. The company that made them made 2 more, one the "Zoo Liner" still runs in Washington somewhere. Was one in Denver as I recall.

[@Mike-tg7dj]

Michigan in the Summer is a lot better than Michigan in the Winter.

[@ToyManTelevision]

True of most of the US. NOT Florida.

[@terrygold8191]

Hi I'm a former cast member of Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park not an amusement park