Auctionsinternational.com has a complete 1939 12 inch gauge amusement train for sale that was stored for all these years. Apparently they don't have many railfans visit the site as the highest bid so far is $5,000.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I could have fun with that. Love the flathead motor. Cars look very rough except for the one.
It's a National Amusement Device (NAD) train - you can go straight to the listing here. I think it is bigger than 12" gauge; I had it in my mind that NAD trains were 24" gauge, and the pictures of the track on the trailer look like it is probably that size. It's up to $5600... it will be interesting to see what it sells for. Right now, it is a bargain compared to this NAD for sale on DLS.
Thanks for posting this!
It looks to be in reasonably decent shape cosmetically. Can't really tell how the wheels look.
I seem to remember the NAD trains are 24" gauge...more than a few parks have replaced them with the CP Hungtintons over the years. I maintained, managed, and was the head engineer of our local park railroad using CP Huntingtons. We ran about 2 miles through the woods, along a ridge, down by the creek/lake, etc. Nice ride and NOT and amusement ride. Our "neighbors", also owned and managed by the same County Parks department was originally 16" gauge with the Miniature Train Company/Allan Herschel products but converted to 24" gauge for the CP Huntingtons circa 1970. Surprisingly, there is still a lot of Allan Herschel/MTC parks, tools, and "paraphernalia" sitting around between the two railroads.
Good Lord that is an ugly engine,to me anyways.Here is what an amusement park train should look like.
Dan
I remember going to Hesston back in the 70s when we lived in Chesterton, Indiana. Back then they had a mogul and the shay running, and they were building the smaller lines. My dad has 8mm video of the trains. 
Originally Posted by Dan986:
Here is what an amusement park train should look like.
Dan
Seriously? That thing is butt-ugly too.
Now HERE's an amusement park train:
WOW - that's really cool! I'd love to see this project on American Restoration.
1939 World's Fair should add some cache to it but conditionwas listed as poor to fair.
Originally Posted by smd4:
Originally Posted by Dan986:
Here is what an amusement park train should look like.
Dan
Seriously? That thing is butt-ugly too.
I was going to let is slide,but I was amazed you find this engine"butt-ugly".I always considered it a beautiful streamlined live steam engine.Oh well,to each his own,I guess.
Dan
Attachments
Images (2)
Dan, that video you posted with the streamlined engines-double headed no less!!!- is great. Thanks for posting it.
Nick
Originally Posted by Dan986:
Originally Posted by smd4:
Originally Posted by Dan986:
Here is what an amusement park train should look like.
Dan
Seriously? That thing is butt-ugly too.
I was going to let is slide,but I was amazed you find this engine"butt-ugly".I always considered it a beautiful streamlined live steam engine.Oh well,to each his own,I guess.
Dan
Those are Wagner 14" gauge Amusement Park steam locomotives. I must also admit that the Wagner locomotives were not really noted for their "beauty" however, there were VERY reliable, and could bark pretty loudly under load. Eliot Donnelly (yes, THAT Donnelly) had a Wagner 14" gauge Hudson powered train set & railroad in the "back yard" of his 20+ acre Lake Forest estate. When Eliot passed away, quite some years ago, his wife gave the entire Wagner railroad, track and all, the the Heston Steam Museum, over in Indiana (that is the train in the video posted above).
Originally Posted by CNJ 3676:
Here's a Miniature Train Company G-12 still in service at Keansburg Amusement Park in New Jersey.
Bob
Growing up in Chicago, The Lincoln Park Zoo had a ATSF War Bonnet version. Too bad I cant any pics.
Originally Posted by Dan986:
Good Lord that is an ugly engine,to me anyways.Here is what an amusement park train should look like.
Dan
I have many memories riding that train at Kiddieland land as a kid
Found this, suzukovich. Apparently, it predates it Warbonnet livery...
Caption:
Mechanix Illustrated, November 1950.
Ape Engineer Ling Wong is a baby orangutan at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. Placidly wearing an engineer's cap, gloves and goggles, Ling squats on the Diesel engine of the "Zoo Line," the kids' own train, and it would be hard to say who's having the most fun. Ling used to work for the Chimpanzeelvania Line.
Originally Posted by Mill City:
Found this, suzukovich. Apparently, it predates it Warbonnet livery...
Caption:
Mechanix Illustrated, November 1950.
Ape Engineer Ling Wong is a baby orangutan at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago. Placidly wearing an engineer's cap, gloves and goggles, Ling squats on the Diesel engine of the "Zoo Line," the kids' own train, and it would be hard to say who's having the most fun. Ling used to work for the Chimpanzeelvania Line.
I remember when they closed the ride down. I always wondered what happened to the train. What did you use for a search key word?
Key phrase: Lincoln Park Zoo train. Too bad that the OGR machine saw fit to compress the photo.
Originally Posted by Mill City:
Key phrase: Lincoln Park Zoo train. Too bad that the OGR machine saw fit to compress the photo.
Just found these thanks. The train now is in NC
http://kiddielandtrain.com/Lincoln_Park_Zoo/index.htm
Attachments
Images (3)
Great photos, suzukovich. While searching, I ran across a few early images from The House of David of Benton Harbor Mich. They stirred fond memories of a long ago family vacation visit. Here are a few...
Cant forget these...
Here is the one at Midway Park in Maple Springs NY.
Here's a recent video some may find interesting. It discusses the current state of the miniature railway Eden Springs, formerly House of David. Sadly, you will note, that much of the original amusement park has fallen derelict.
