The Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland

[BigThunder]

Here's an update on my HOn30 version of Nature's Wonderland:

The first problem in building a model railroad based on this classic Disneyland attraction is coming up with the motive power to pull the trains. The idea with HOn30 is to use N scale parts and mechanisms so that you don't have to build everything from scratch.

The prototype NWRR trains were pulled by small, 0-4-0, industrial type locomotives like those built by Porter in the early 1900s. They weren't real steam engines, but ran on electric power. Their bright paint schemes, square headlamps and other period details made them look like engines from an earlier era. To make matters even more complicated for the would-be modeler, the engines were not built full scale. Each was just 11' long and a little over 4' wide.


WED drawing of a NWRR locomotive.

Unfortunately, there is not a single N scale 0-4-0 on the market at this time that would make a suitable 'donor' for a NWRR locomotive. What's a Disney train geek to do?

If I just want something that captures the look and feel of those little engines without being an exact replica, whole new possibilities open up.

Atlas imports a great running little N scale 2-6-0 Mogul. Not the correct wheel arrangement by a long shot, but with a little cutting, painting and rebuilding one could turn this:


Atlas N Scale Mogul

Into this:


Nature's Wonderland here I come.

Not an exact replica, but close enough to the cute, chunky looks of the original NWRR locomotives. Close enough for me anyway.

This is going to be a fun project.

[Lost Boy]

That looks so cool. This should be a very fun project, and a lot of work but it will be worth it. Keep us updated and thanks for sharing all this with us.

[IndianaRudison!]

Very cool stuff you're working on!
Thanks for sharing with us young ones!

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by Lost Boy

That looks so cool. This should be a very fun project, and a lot of work but it will be worth it. Keep us updated and thanks for sharing all this with us.

Thank you and my pleasure. I'll keep posting on this thread and try to answer any questions as the railroad progresses.

Just doing the research and planning on this has been a lot of fun so far. By the way, if anyone has old photos (especially of sites along the route) or other info on the Mine Train, I'd love to see them. There's no such thing as too much information for a project like this.

[Triton]

Thanks for the great post, I loved the ride and the rainbow caverns were the best part. It should have been a continually plussed project like the jungle cruise, a lot of thought and time went into that attraction and walt disney himself was plussing that attraction up, little by little.

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

BigThunder: They're now selling Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific model train sets at Disneyland. Have you seen this? Not Disneyland RR, the one from Holmby Hills where Walt sits on top of the train rather than riding in it.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaAdventurer

BigThunder: They're now selling Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific model train sets at Disneyland. Have you seen this? Not Disneyland RR, the one from Holmby Hills where Walt sits on top of the train rather than riding in it.

Of course, only a different paint job on the engine keeps it from looking like the C.K. Holliday!

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaAdventurer

BigThunder: They're now selling Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific model train sets at Disneyland. Have you seen this? Not Disneyland RR, the one from Holmby Hills where Walt sits on top of the train rather than riding in it.

I know. And as Steve says, all it needs is a paint job to be the C.K. Holiday.

My Nature's Wonderland will have a short bit of the DLRR running across the North end and it would be nice to have one of the trains there as a static display. Hmmm.

[Oswald the Rabbitt]

I can't wait to see how these come out . I was born in '86 so I never got to see this but I would of loved to, and Frontierland needs more attractions

[Nautilus]

Originally Posted by BigThunder

By the way, if anyone has old photos (especially of sites along the route) or other info on the Mine Train, I'd love to see them. There's no such thing as too much information for a project like this.

Here's a photo...



This photo created the spark for my own NWRR model project. The amount of detail and color this photo shows got me interested in Nature's Wonderland and inspired me to build the model (or to contiune building the model )

[BigThunder]

^Thanks Nautilus! That's a great shot of the whole Living Desert area. It must have been taken from up on the Pack Mule trail.

[thrax]

thank you so much for the pictures

i recently herd the ride thru on "a musical history of disneyland"
how i would have love to have been on this ride, unfortunatly i am to young to have been on it

[BigThunder]

Here's the updated plan for my HOn30 model of the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland:



If you compare it to the actual WED layout of the attraction you can see the compromises and selective compressions I've had to make to get the whole thing to fit in my 8x5' space.



I'm pretty happy with it overall, but I wish I had room to include the Mark Twain in front of Cascade Peak as I had planned. Oh well, I did fit in a short bit of the DLRR - though it runs a lot closer to my Nature's Wonderland than it ever did in real life.

Next up: construction!

[Steve DeGaetano]

Wow, I'm really impressed with your concept and especially your graphics! Great job!

[BigThunder]

Originally Posted by Steve DeGaetano

Wow, I'm really impressed with your concept and especially your graphics! Great job!

Thanks Steve. Coming from the 'Dean' of Disneyland train aficionados that is high praise indeed.