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- Parktimes Railroad Article - Highly detailed article regarding the Six Flags Railroad
Six Flags Railroad
The Six Flags Railroad is the only ride from the park's inaugural 1961 season still operating, making it the oldest continuously-operated ride in the park. Although the Six Flags Railroad opened with the park in 1961, the trains used date back much further (see below). The railroad not only provides a relaxing, scenic way to get to the opposite side of the park, but also supplies guests with views of the park not accessible from other rides or walkways.
It's also possible to get an idea of how much the park has expanded over the years, simply by looking at the railroad's track. When the park opened in '61, the train completely encompassed the boundaries of the park (with plenty of room to spare in various locations). Since then, the park has expanded considerably past the railroad's boundaries, meaning that every area past a train crossing wasn't part of the original park.
History of the Trains
The Six Flags Railroad operates two trains, the red train and the green train. The red train, also known as the Charles Patton, was manufactured in 1897, while the green train, or the Larry Cochran, was created in 1901. The locomotives were made for the Enterprise Plantation, a sugar cane plantation in Louisiana.
Both trains were acquired by the park from the family who owned the plantation under a lease agreement, and have been transporting park guests rather than sugarcane ever since. The park eventually rebuilt the engines, switching from wood-burning steam to oil-burning steam, but little else about the engines has changed. This is particularly noteworthy at a time when most theme parks have converted their trains to the more-efficient and less-costly (but less-authentic) diesel engines. Six Flags over Texas has resisted such changes, allowing guests to take a historically authentic train trip not only through the park, but also through time.
Boomtown Depot
The Boomtown Depot is one of the stops along the Six Flags Railroad, appropriately named due to it stopping in the Boomtown section of the park. The Boomtown station was added when the Boomtown section was added in the early 60s. The addition of Goodtimes Square in the 70s resulted in a new Goodtimes Square station replacing the Boomtown station. The railroad station returned to Boomtown in 1997 to make way for Mr. Freeze.
Texas Depot
The Six Flags Railroad's other stop is in Texas near the Texas Giant. When the park first opened, the Texas station was the train's only station and the train only made round-trips.
Photos
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A fun ride, but the theming has seen better days. Because the train stops at 2 stations, it is a great way to get to the other side of the park.
MY RATING: 2 stars
Comment Posted: January 15, 2011