Erie Lackawanna
Railfan.net 'erielack' E-Mail List Photo Archive

judyk.jpg   Original: 1163 by 777 pixels - Current: 1163 by 777 - 100%
                          Try your mouse wheel too!

Previous Image - dragster.jpg myronh.jpg - Next Image

From: "Paul R DOT Tupaczewski" paultup AT optonline DOT net
Date: Tue, 20 May 2003 22:57:50 -0400
Subject: My vacation (no real EL content, but some related to past discussions)
"judyk.jpg" - image/jpeg, 319970 bytes, 1163x777 (24bit)

Several months ago, we went off on a short thread about rollercoasters
and their tie-in to the EL/Erie/DL&W. Well, I just got back from a
mini-vacation (4 days) to Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky, OH,
the self-proclaimed "roller coaster capital of the world." (with 16
coasters, this is technically true... :)

Attached are three shots of the park's superb 3-foot gauge railroad.
Though the passenger cars are "amusement park quality" (open sides,
etc.) - they do have arch bar trucks (with roller bearings!) - the
locomotives are all pure live steam. They usually operate with two
2-4-0s, the "Myron H." - a 1942-built Vulcan engine - and the "Judy K."
(named for Cedar Point's CEO's wife, Judy Kinzel), a 1990s-built engine
by some Midwestern builder (can't remember the name). Both engines are
kept spit-polish clean - refer to the attached photos. And they burn
coal! It's a very neat feeling to be in an amusement park, and seeing a
live steam locomotive getting watered under a wooden water tower! They
have another steamer that I always see in the shop, but haven't seen it
outside. A fourth steamer, a 2-6-0, is now stuffed and mounted in the
park. There is also a small Plymouth switcher, decorated up to look like
a tiny 0-4-0.

Oh, why did I go out to the park? To ride the new "Top Thrill Dragster"
rollercoaster. It launches you from 0 to 120mph in 4 seconds, then
shoots you up a 420-foot-tall tower (both of these numbers are world
records for a roller coaster). The "dragster.jpg" image is what I looked
like on this ride (try not to laugh too hard!) - I'm the one on the
right in each image. :)

If anyone has questions about Cedar Point's railroad, please E-mail me
off-list so as not to tie up the group with non-list-related chatter -
thanks!

- Paul


judyk.jpg

Click Here or on the corner X to close this window.


    All photos are the property of the original photographer unless otherwise noted and are to be used for personal viewing purposes only.

    The use of these photos on any website or other distribution media is strictly forbidden without the express consent of the image copyright holder.

    Linking directly to this page is permitted as long as "Railfan.net Erie Lackawanna Email List Photo Archive" is creditted on the linking page.