T-bone

It is still to be announced by the park, but info came in today about a new Tiger Presentation at Dreamworld, so a quick google search confirmed it was in the works. http://ozworks.net/news-display/new-shows-for-dreamworlds-tiger-island,25 Incase it is removed from the website, here is the article. What do we think? Has the current tiger presentation run it's course?

So with the parks apparent desire to reduce carbon emissions and to keep things quiet for the animals, I have to wonder how long until Vintage Cars are shut down..

Well I hope they plan on switching to some sort of bio-diesel to achieve their low emissions target, and not the regular diesel they used for the steam trains... There's so much wrong with that article / press release that I don't know where to start, what a serious load of hogwash. I'd have more respect for them if they just came out and said that it was for cost cutting measures than I do reading that.

For anyone that is interested, there is a petition going around to save the steam engines. http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/dreamworld-theme-park-gold-coast-bring-back-the-steam-trains Whether anything will occur as a result of this petition is a different story, but I am happy to see that there seems to be interest in these locomotives outside of the Theme Park community.

Even Kenny visits a GOOD theme park on his day off...

Well that is True, it could have been closed Sea World style, so I give them credit for spending the money to do it, however regardless of how you look at it, it is still a major bastardisation of a park original attraction. All that said, the attraction is now closed, RIP Cannonball Express, 1981-2013, and with that goes a large part of the parks soul.

Given the history of these locomotives, I do not want to see them scrapped or sold to a society or owner where they will sit outside and rust away. I'd like to see someone get them who knows their history and has the expertise to restore them and to fix their ailments. One good society for them to go to would be the Bundaberg Sugar Railway society, but I understand they are still struggling after the floods, and wouldn't be in a position to take them on. I won't lie, there have been talks that there are interested parties looking to purchase atleast one of the locomotives, I won't name names or societies, but there is interest in them outside the park. Knowing Dreamworld though, they will insist on turning these machines (which still have plenty of life in them) into "themeing", which is just incredibly sad.

I am surprised there's no fan rage because Snowy River Rampage wasn't a finalist...

It has been mentioned a few times that the Perry (the green loco) is destined to become a display piece (similar to Little Puff), and will find a new home out the front of Central Park station where the crocodile statue is. Nothing Has been said about the Baldwin engine though. That said, nothing is in concrete regarding their future.

Just an update. Word is that after a small delay, the new diesel locomotive is to start revenue service from next week, with Steam operations finishing on Monday. Ofcourse subject to change if other delays occur, but it is what they are aiming for. If you want one last ride, time is running out.

If I recall they tried a Halloween event at Sea World a few years ago, it only lasted a season so there's the answer on the popularity of that event.

I guess that means RCW finally concedes defeat on this matter? Take it in guys, this doesn't happen all too often..

And you pay how much for the use of Google Maps? There are other mapping solutions out there if you MUST have the latest imagery..

Sure, that may be the case, but your wording in your original post on the subject made it seem like you were referring to the Maintenance Diesel loco that is at Dreamworld, not at the Puffing Billy.

I applaud you for wishfull thinking, but no, it is not what is happening. Not sure if you are referring to the Diesel engine which sits out the back of the shed, but if you are, it doesn't run for revenue service, it is a maintenance vehicle for when the track is being worked on, and it is not themed to any Thomas the Tank Engine characters.

This is Dreamworld remember, Dreamworld don't spend money on back ups and "what if" situations, let alone getting a new custom locomotive built to sit in the shed on the odd chance that the boiler on one of the steamers unexpectedly explodes...

The Perry (Green) is now out of use, sitting in the back of the shed, the new train was out for all to see at the front of the shed today, then they also have a small diesel train which hauls maintenance cars, then there is of course the Baldwin (Red) which will run until the end. Staffing cutbacks are the reason the train finishes just after 4pm and doesn't operate during lunch time.

It and Vintage Cars are now weekend operation only, but to their credit, the railway closure was supposed to be for line maintenance before the new loco arrived. Who knows if weekday operation will return with the new loco.

It would give MDMC a run for its Thrill dollar...

At the moment the 4 engineers who drive said engines conduct maintenance to the engines, cars and track. They also clean the the engines. The park hasn't had a dedicated set of staff for track maintenance, to refurb and rebuild the trains, or cleaners to keep them schmick for a few years now. Granted it does take a while for the engines to build up enough steam to depart, but that usually takes an hour. Yes they are expensive to run, there's no doubt about that, and I get their reasoning for the change, however it would be nice if they were bought out once a month for a "Steam train Sunday", heck even charge a up charge for it or source volunteers to run them, surely that would be better than letting perfectly fine pieces of machinery sitting there to gather dust? That's my thoughts anyway.

Richard, you do make a fair and good point. 4 less full time staff on the books when they can just chuck one of the underpaid button pushers in the seat would be their biggest push for this change. A major shame that it has come to this though.

True that. I get that these things aren't cheap to run, there's a whole lot of costs associated with keeping them going, so I get the change, however part of me can't help but wonder how the hell the historical non for profit railway societies such as the one out at Woodford and Bundaberg (plus the many others) can keep their trains operating when a multimillion dollar organisation that is supposed to be about the escape of everyday can't? The permanent loss of these engines from the park is a major significant loss, and once again shows management are more than happy to cut ties with their own history to save a few $$$. And since Joz asked. The engines run standard and readily available boiler equipment, valves and other gear. I could be wrong, but the most expensive and hard to come by parts would possibly be the boiler and the wheels, that said not impossible, and with the wheels you'd just have to find someone to manufacture, not an impossible task. Both engines are also in reasonably decent shape. And a quick history lesson, the Baldwin (red) engine was believed to have been put into service in 1917 over in France during World War 1, post the war it found its way over at Mackay's "Racecourse Mill" as a sugar train until the 1970's where it was rebuilt for Dreamworld. I could be wrong, but I believe this is a photograph of the engine post retirement in Mackay and before its life at Dreamworld - http://www.westonlangford.com/media/photos/108232.jpg The Perry was built in the 1950's and worked at Bingera Mill in Bundy again as a sugar train. When steam was retired there it was moved to the Goulburn railway museum before being purchased for Dreamworld where it was restored and rebuilt to what it is today. I did some digging and I believe this is the engine back in its Bundy days - http://www.westonlangford.com/media/photos/108005 So as you can see, between them both they have quite a history.

I know it has been discussed before on these boards, but since it doesn't really fit into the other threads where it has been discussed, I thought I would create a new one. It has been rumoured for a few months now, but we finally have some concrete information that Dreamworld is replacing and retiring their historic Steam Trains, in favour for a Diesel look alike. I'll save you all a history lesson on the current engines (Perry and Baldwin) however I will say that one is a World War 1 veteran, so it will be a massive shame to see them scrapped, or as is the parks current trend see them sitting offstage, rotting away. Here's 2 pics of the new locomotive as snapped by a fellow Parkz member. It is rumoured the new engine will start full time operation towards the end of September, so make sure you get your last rides on the existing steam locomotive before then. What is everyone else's thoughts about this?

To be honest, I'm going to go against the grain and say don't worry about a fast pass for Radiator Springs Racers. There is always a mad rush and long queue for a RSR fastpass, and they obviously run out very quickly, then ofcourse there is a wait before you can use it (if you are unlucky that could be a several hour wait). Instead if possible I'd say do the running of the bulls to the attraction if you are there first thing, and use the normal queue first to soak in the queue line atmosphere, then if you wish to ride the attraction again, and if you are happy to split up your group on the ride, I would suggest the use of the single rider line, which during my time there was just as long as the fast pass queue however without the need for a fastpass. I do agree with DJ/Alex, if you are going to ride the ride, you must use the standard queue at least once to just give you time to marvel and take in the incredible detail that was put into the project. That's my 2 cents anyway.