imported>Davidng913: /* Former locomotives */Since 72 is scrapped it counts as a former locomotive

2025-03-14T02:28:24Z

Former locomotives: Since 72 is scrapped it counts as a former locomotive

New page

{{Short description|Heritage railway at Dollywood}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox attraction
| name = Dollywood Express
| image = Dollywood train.jpg
| caption =
| location = Dollywood
| section = [[Dollywood#Areas of the park|Village]]
| status = Operating
| cost =
| soft_opened =
| opened = {{start date|1961}}
| closed =
| previousattraction =
| replacement = 
| coordinates = 
| type = [[Heritage railway]]
| manufacturer = Baldwin Locomotive Works
| designer = 
| model =
| theme = 
| music =
| height_ft = 
| height_m = 
| drop_ft = 
| drop_m = 
| length_ft = 
| length_m = 
| speed_mph = 
| speed_km/h = 
| sitearea_sqft = 
| sitearea_sqm = 
| gforce =
| capacity =

| vehicle_type =
| riders_per_vehicle = 
| rows =
| riders_per_row = 
| participants_per_group= 
| audience_capacity = 
| duration =
| restriction_ft = 
| restriction_in = 
| restriction_cm = 
| single_rider = 
| pay_per_use = 
| accessible = available
| transfer_accessible =
| assistive_listening =
| cc =
| custom_label_1 = Website
| custom_value_1 = {{URL|1=https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/rides/Dollywood-Express|2=Dollywood Express}}
}}
{{Dollywood Express}}
The '''''Dollywood Express''''' is a {{RailGauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[Narrow gauge railways|narrow-gauge]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/searchdb.php?country=USA&state=TN |title=Steamlocomotive.com - Surviving Steam Locomotives in Tennessee |access-date=2016-08-10 |archive-date=2016-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829035553/http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/searchdb.php?country=USA&state=TN |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Heritage railway|heritage railroad]] and [[amusement park]] attraction located in the [[Dollywood]] amusement park in [[Pigeon Forge, Tennessee]].

==Description==
It runs along a 2.5 mile loop-to-loop track from the Village to the top of the mountain Dollywood borders to the north. It is pulled by two ex-[[White Pass & Yukon Route]] [[2-8-2]] "[[2-8-2|Mikado]]" type [[steam locomotives]], each burning five tons of coal each day. It is the oldest attraction in [[Dollywood]], opening at the theme park "Rebel Railroad" in 1961. It is also one of the signature attractions at Dollywood, appearing in almost all advertising.

==History==
===Rebel Railroad===
In 1957, North Carolina real-estate developer Grover Robbins opened a [[Amusement park|theme park]] between [[Boone, North Carolina|Boone]] and [[Blowing Rock, North Carolina|Blowing Rock]] called [[Tweetsie Railroad]] with ex-[[East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad]] [[4-6-0]] #12. The park was an instant success. In 1961, he acquired two [[USATC S118 Class]] 2-8-2s from the White Pass. The success of Tweetsie prompted him to send one of them, #192, to the [[Smoky Mountains]] of [[East Tennessee]] for a second theme park, called Rebel Railroad. The other, #190, was sent to Tweetsie and still operates there.

===Gold Rush Junction===
In 1966, Robbins renamed the attraction '''Gold Rush Junction''' and a western-style "shootout" was added at the midway point in the ride, allowing the locomotive to stop and "cool its heels". In 1970 the [[Cleveland Browns]] football team bought the attraction, but the locomotive and cars retained their colors and text.

===Silver Dollar City Tennessee===
In 1976, [[Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation|Jack and Pete Herschend]] bought Gold Rush Junction, renaming it Silver Dollar City Tennessee, making it a sister park to its [[Branson, Missouri]] attraction [[Silver Dollar City]]. The ride was renamed again. This time, instead of a minor text change, #192 was given a complete new look. She was painted black instead of Tweetsie green. It was also fitted with [[balloon stack]]s to give it a more western look. In 1977, the ride acquired 3 new locomotives from the WP&YR, #70, #71 and #72.

===Dollywood===
In 1986, [[Dolly Parton]] became part owner of the property, and the park was renamed [[Dollywood]]. The train ride itself was renamed to ''Dollywood Express''. After the 2004 operating season, the park removed the balloon stacks, which were proving to be unpopular and gave the locomotives a new coat of paint. Since the removal of the balloon stacks, the locomotive's paint schemes have been constantly changing.

==Equipment==
===Locomotives===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Locomotive details<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dollywood Express Steam Train - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee|url=https://www.trainchasers.com/dollywood.html|access-date=August 19, 2024|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Theme Park Trains|url=http://amusementpics.com/TPTDW.html|access-date=August 19, 2024|language=en-US}}</ref>
! Number !! Images !! Type !! Wheel Arrangement !! Builder !! Built !! Serial Number !! Former !! Status !! Notes
|-
| 70 || [[File:Dollywood Express No. 70 aka "Cinderella", August 2007.jpg|150px]] || Steam || [[2-8-2]] || [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] || 1938 || 62234 || [[White Pass and Yukon Route]] || Operational || Nicknamed the "Cinderella".
|-
| 71 || - || Steam || [[2-8-2]] || [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] || 1939 || 62257 || [[White Pass and Yukon Route]] || Stored, awaiting restoration ||
Nicknamed the “Beatrice”.
|-
| 192 || [[File:Dollywood Express 192 Owens Farm.jpg|150px]] || Steam || [[2-8-2]] || [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] || 1943 || 69427 || [[White Pass and Yukon Route]] || Operational || Nicknamed the "Klondike Katie".
|}

===Former locomotives===
{| class="wikitable"
! Number !! Images !! Type !! Wheel Arrangement !! Builder !! Built !! Serial Number !! Former !! Status !! Notes
|-
| 72 || - || Steam || [[2-8-2]] || [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] || 1947 || 73351 || [[White Pass and Yukon Route]] || Scrapped || Used as a parts source for engines No. 70 and No. 71.
|-
| [[Southern Railway 107|107]] || [[File:DollyWood Express 3.jpg|150px]] || Steam || [[2-8-0]] || [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]] || 1887 || 8869 || [[East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway]] || Sold || No. 107 was removed from display and sold to the [[Knoxville and Holston River Railroad]] as of January 22, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Engine 107 departs Dollywood, exchanged for Hurricane Helene relief|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/engine-107-departs-dollywood-exchanged-173223350.html|author=Hope McAlee|access-date=January 23, 2025|language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

==Train maintenance==
When the park is closed during part of the winter every year, the Dollywood maintenance crew usually follows a checklist to maintain the trains and keep them in pristine, working condition. According to Dollywood, the trains are sanded down and repainted every year, the running boards are replaced, brake systems are overhauled and other basic repairs are made where necessary. The train repair crew even contours the wheels if needed to ensure that patrons of the attraction can have a smooth, bump free ride.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=George|title=Dollywood Express Overhauled in Off-Season|url=https://insiders.dollywood.com/dollywood-express-overhauled-in-off-season/|access-date=2021-02-05|website=Dollywood Insiders|language=en-US}}</ref>

Along with the regular maintenance performed every year on the locomotives, the train repair crew also overhauls the engine on the locomotives every ten years to ensure the trains operate properly. The locomotives are also winterized at the end of their yearly maintenance to ensure that they are protected from the cold in the park's offseason.<ref>(From Dollywood's Blog Website) "The engines are winterized and readied for any maintenance and overhaul. They get a major overhaul about every ten years. This is an overhaul year."</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Trains|United States}}
*[[Frisco Silver Dollar Line]]
*[[Rail transport in Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]]
*[[Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad]]
*[[Tweetsie Railroad]]

{{Clear right}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/rides/dollywood-express/ Official website]
*[http://hawkinsrails.net/preservation/dolly/dolly.htm HawkinsRails Dollywood Express page]

{{Dollywood}}

[[Category:3 ft gauge railways in the United States]]
[[Category:Dollywood]]
[[Category:Heritage railroads in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Narrow-gauge railroads in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Railroads of amusement parks in the United States]]
[[Category:Western (genre) amusement rides]]
[[Category:1961 establishments in Tennessee]]

Dollywood Express - Revision history

imported>Davidng913: /* Former locomotives */Since 72 is scrapped it counts as a former locomotive