Modeler's Resource - Pics of the Hong Kong Disneyland Trains

aftx · Post by **aftx** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:07 am

Post your photos of the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad!

Last in a series on this theme: Just wanted to start a thread where the only real purpose is to post pictures of the Hong Kong Disneyland trains, stations, and equipment.

Please post your pics of the Hong Kong Disneyland operations here, even if you've posted them elsewhere under other topics and categories. Might make a good resource for modelers.

First up: I visited HKDL in Nov 2007 and, quite amused by the diesel-electric-steamer as it purred down the line, took some average photos. Again, had I known about this forum I would have put more effort into it! Here are some pics of the Frank G. Wells, HKDLRR #3. It seems to be consistently attached to the same set of cars, and their car names are featured from head to tail -- California, Burbank, Glendale, Los Angeles and Anaheim. I also got some pics of the station and the Lilly Belle model in the lobby.

The train was only running from Main Street Station to Fantasyland, and then backing up, to avoid construction on It's A Small World.

Todd Schannuth

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:37 am

Thank you, for the pictures and info. A diesel-electric steamer?

BruceBergman · Post by **BruceBergman** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:35 pm

Roy wrote:Thank you, for the pictures and info. A diesel-electric steamer?

Yeah, I'd love to know more myself. Is this the dreaded "Steam outline" with a diesel engine hiding in the tender?

They can do it right in every other park, why not this one?

It costs almost as much to make a fake steam engine as it does to restore a real one. The operating and maintenance costs are far lower (which is why revenue roads dumped Steam for Diesel-Electric in a heartbeat) but so is the value in operating it.

--<< Bruce >>--

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:50 pm

BruceBergman wrote:...Is this the dreaded "Steam outline" with a diesel engine hiding in the tender?...

It sure looks like it. What's the point, here? The noise and smell of this abomination must be similar to a big rig truck. The Chinese don't get enough of that, every day of their lives?

I wonder if the entire drive is in the tender, like some oversized Tyco Chattanooga Choo-Choo. It certainly contains the prime mover and generator. The only question is: which wheels are actually connected to the traction motors?

Locoboy5150 · Post by **Locoboy5150** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:56 pm

The locomotives for the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad are steam outline and diesel powered. They are made by Severn Lamb, the same company that made the steam locomotives for the Disneyland Paris Railroad. I don't know if they are diesel hydraulic, diesel electric, or whatever, but they are not steam powered because of budget reasons. Or at least that's what the rumor mill said at the time that the park opened.

As far as steam outline locomotives go, they are nice looking, but a bit strange in some ways. I never ever got used to shrill, high pitched British sounding whistle sounds coming from American looking locomotives. That always seemed strange to my eyes and ears during my visits to the park.

I believe that the drive wheels are the tender wheels, hence the huge trucks on all the tenders. I'm not positive about that though.

Roy · Post by **Roy** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:24 pm

Locoboy5150 wrote:...I believe that the drive wheels are the tender wheels, hence the huge trucks on all the tenders...

I had to adjust the gamma to see the tender truck detail. Clearly, they look like locomotive trucks.

Caleb · Post by **Caleb** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:55 am

Aftx would you say that they sound like the Animal Kingdom engines? I recall someone say that the AK locomotives sounded like a parking lot tram and I would have to agree. Also would you say that the whistle sounds alot like the AK locomotives? They were both made by severn lamb so I assumed that they would sound alike. Thanks for the great pics!!!

Locoboy5150 · Post by **Locoboy5150** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:41 pm

Caleb wrote:Aftx would you say that they sound like the Animal Kingdom engines?

I'm not Aftx, but I have ridden the HKDLRR numerous times. The locomotives sound nothing like those used on the Wildlife Express at Animal Kingdom because they have sound units.

S. Towler · Post by **S. Towler** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:53 pm

I believe that the sounds used on HKDLRR are actually recorded tracks off DL's C.K. Holliday.

coasterkev · Post by **coasterkev** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:44 pm

I heard a that there is a law in some countrys that no longer alow Pressure vessils to be used for transpertation. if this is ture then they would not have had a choice but to not use steam. or to have a small layout with only one station like in Tokyo Disneyland.

If im am wrong please let me know.