The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland

[SnowflakeSparks]

A model eh? I suggest HO or N scale, that would be best to work with. :P


And when you finish that, do a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad working model! LOL

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by SnowflakeSparks

A model eh? I suggest HO or N scale, that would be best to work with. :P


And when you finish that, do a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad working model! LOL

I'm building in HOn30 this time around (for those who don't know, HOn30 is HO scale, 1/87, running on N gauge track which scales out to roughly 30" in HO - the exact gauge of the original NWRR).

I'd build Big Thunder too but I can't figure out how to keep the little trains from flying off the tracks...













And neither can Disney. Too soon?

[Nautilus]

Originally Posted by BigThunder

Great minds think alike. What scale is he working in? Edit: Just checked his PhotoBucket site and it looks like On30. Beautiful modeling and he's much farther along than I am.

I started out in On30, moved, sold most of my O scale stuff and am now starting again in HOn30. I liked the larger scale for the detail, but HOn30 will allow me to include more of Frontierland and the RoA in the space I have.

I am indeed working on a model of NWRR. Thanks for lookin at my Photobucket BTW! I am alot further than whats in the pictures, my last update on Burnsland.com was last May! My scale is On30 BTW, its takes up alot of space but you can get more detail. The model that I'm working on is more of a representation of the original ride, not so much a scale model, because compromises had to be made in terms of space, but all the scenes are there.

I'm looking forward to see what you do!

[SnowflakeSparks]

Originally Posted by BigThunder

I'm building in HOn30 this time around (for those who don't know, HOn30 is HO scale, 1/87, running on N gauge track which scales out to roughly 30" in HO - the exact gauge of the original NWRR).

I'd build Big Thunder too but I can't figure out how to keep the little trains from flying off the tracks...













And neither can Disney. Too soon?

Nice! I was thinking of getting a Thomas (curse my childhood obsessions! lol) HO Scale, it seems easy to use.

As for keeping them on the tracks, it might require a custom designed track and modified train wheel vehicles. (depending on how you make them) Which means that on the tracks and trains need to be roller coasterish.

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by Nautilus

I am indeed working on a model of NWRR. Thanks for lookin at my Photobucket BTW! I am alot further than whats in the pictures, my last update on Burnsland.com was last May! My scale is On30 BTW, its takes up alot of space but you can get more detail. The model that I'm working on is more of a representation of the original ride, not so much a scale model, because compromises had to be made in terms of space, but all the scenes are there.

I'm looking forward to see what you do!

I know exactly what you mean about compromises. My new HOn30 version is being built in about 8'x5' so it won't be an exact replica either, but I will pack as much 'flavor' from the original attraction into it as I can. My original O scale plan was much bigger and you can see the compromises I had to make below:



My new plan is similar but I'm adding more of the RoA so I can include a model of the Mark Twain, and I'll also have a small section of the DLRR running just north of the Living Desert (right where it used to be) before it disappears into a tunnel. I realize now that the Geyser Basin and the Paint Pots are in the wrong position in this view. That will be corrected in the new model.

[Steve DeGaetano]

What track planning software did you use? It looks fantastic!

[themur]

Have you used the same program to do your track plan for your HOn3 layout? I would love to see it too!

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by Steve DeGaetano

What track planning software did you use? It looks fantastic!

I didn't. I created track templates in Adobe Illustrator and built the basic layout there. Then I exported the whole thing into Photoshop to digitally 'paint' the scenery. I can now use the templates I created to design just about any layout I want.

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by themur

Have you used the same program to do your track plan for your HOn3 layout? I would love to see it too!

Actually the new plan is still pencil on graph paper. When I get it more finalized I probably do a digital version.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Originally Posted by BigThunder

I didn't. I created track templates in Adobe Illustrator and built the basic layout there. Then I exported the whole thing into Photoshop to digitally 'paint' the scenery. I can now use the templates I created to design just about any layout I want.

It's pretty sweet!

[Datameister]

Extremely cool stuff! Can't wait to see more.

[DisneyIPresume]

Originally Posted by Jacky B

it closed right before my first trip in 1977! Missed it all. Loved the information. I had heard about the ride but new nothing of it.

Thanks. Then no wonder why it closed down.

If it closed in 1977 I should have remembered at least a little bit of it as I would have been 9 then. So I probably hardly ever rode it, which means that not many people rode it either, which means it wasn't a very popular ride.

If only it were open today, I'd be riding it all the time!

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by DisneyIPresume

Thanks. Then no wonder why it closed down.

If it closed in 1977 I should have remembered at least a little bit of it as I would have been 9 then. So I probably hardly ever rode it, which means that not many people rode it either, which means it wasn't a very popular ride.

If only it were open today, I'd be riding it all the time!

It was a very popular attraction in its day, but there is no denying that its ridership declined over time. When it first opened it was an 'E' ticket, but by the mid '70s it was downgraded to a 'D'. By '77 many of the animatronics were broken, dirty and poorly maintained. Strange that it didn't endure like its sister attraction, the Jungle Cruise. Maybe if it had more corny jokes it would have survived.

Also interesting to ponder that Big Thunder Mountain RR has survived much longer than the NWRR Did.

[ATSF&DLRR]

Boy thats going to look great. When are you going to start building it??
The Mine Train Ride was one of the best rides in the 60's.

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by ATSF&DLRR

Boy thats going to look great. When are you going to start building it??
The Mine Train Ride was one of the best rides in the 60's.

Well, the room is finished, the backdrop is in and the benchwork is just about finished.