BACKSTORY (September 2, 1979—Present): This attraction replaced the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. The town you pass through at the end of the ride (Rainbow Ridge) was a part of the previous attraction, and many of the animal animatronics throughout the attraction were originally from Nature's Wonderland. Remains of the Rainbow Caverns are seen during the first lift.
The attraction was an outdoor roller coaster based on the concept of a runaway train careening through an abandoned mine complex. Designed by Imagineer Tony Baxter and ride design engineer, Bill Watkins, the concept comes from Baxter’s work on the runaway mine train segment of Marc Davis’ Western River Expedition showroom, Thunder Mesa. The design is based on the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Across the way is Big Thunder Ranch, a Frontierland version of a petting zoo. At Halloween, this area becomes The Halloween Roundup. At Christmas,Big Thunder Ranch hosts Santa Claus & his reindeer and is called Reindeer Roundup.
Starting in 2009, guests could celebrate special occasions at the Celebration BBQ, located inside of the Big Thunder Ranch area. Entertainment was provided by Woody, Jessie, and a cast of talented cast members. A delicious family-style bbq meal was served as well. This concept ended in January 2016 to make way for Star Wars Land.
For awhile now, you might've heard some strange rumblin' way off in the distance. This hammerin', clankin' and poundin' is just the clappings of some new Disney thunder...BIG THUNDER.
Those folks out in "mining country" have been hard at work for some time, ankle deep in blueprints and plans, models and drawings. Most Disneyland tenderfoots probably aren't aware of what's going on out there where the "east" meets "west." Since groundbreaking in October, 1977, 1/3 of the structural steel has already been erected, and underground plumbing and storm drain lines are nearing completion.
In these early stages, it takes a lot of experienced, creative an dflexible people get a mountain out of the ground. Jim Daniel heads up the Big Thunder outfit as its General Superintendent, and is by no means a newcomer to mountain building. Jim was involved in the construction of Space Mountain, and has put in some long hours on America Sings, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and Walt Disney Story. His responsibilities revolve primarily around the communication and coordination aspect of construction, and he has his hands full with keeping the lines open between Disneyland, WED/MAPO and outside contractors.
From the electrical standpoint, Jerry Hefferly, Electrical Construction Superintendent, fuses together all the loose wires in this department by supervising and inspecting the installation of conduit wiring and equipment, while synchronizing its progress with WED and other crafts involved in the job. Jerry, a Space Mountain and Matterhorn veteran, feels that "construction projects are really a team effort involving practically every group in our Company as well as outside contractors and vendors." This group of electricians are installing the power lines for the facility, telephones, Ride Control System, sound system and fire alarms, and work in cooperation with architects, show effect and air conditioning personnel.
The Surveyor for the new attraction is Pat Carpenter, whose duties lie in the area of structural and utility layout. Pat feels that the Big Thuder project is "more involved that Space Mountain (one of several Disneyland construction sites in which he was inolved) because of the complication of the ground layout."
Over in the Staff Shop, and often in a hut behind the Parade Building where walls and mountains of desert clar are forming, Staff Shop Supervisor Rod Merfield has been performing the unique task of making rocks. Rod says that Big Thunder requires "more rock work than ever before," and that "no one else has ever attempted such detail." Rod and his staff of latherers and plasterers are presently shaping steel rebar (3/8" steel wire) into amazingly accurate and detailed creations which will form the enitre terra cotta terrain of Big Thunder.
These are just a handful of the hundreds of people now involvved and to-be-involved in the creation of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. As construction progresses, representatives from WED/MAPO will be at the site contributing their knowledge, as well as the Disneyland Maintenance staff who will take over the mountain's "preservation" after construction is completed. Obviously, we're not out of the mountains yet.
Recently, John Patrick Burke, a former show set designer for Walt Disney Imagineering contacted me about his work on the original Big Thunder Mountain attraction. Here are his memories, which were inspired by the photos on the left and right from the Daveland archives:
Looking back at Frontierland at Disneyland, I'm reminded of some of my favorite icons that are now missing, like Cascade Peak with its roaring falls; the old Nature's Wonderland train with its native furry passengers that have been removed. Leaving Big Thunder's exit, I look across to Beaver Creek and noticed the old Big Thunder Mine scene that once occupied the Nature's Wonderland cave is also now gone and wonder why? Originally, back in 1978 after Nature's Wonderland was being removed and parts of it were relocated to Big Thunder, like the town of Rainbow Ridge and many natural inhabitants, the old train trestle was brought up. Most of it was being dismantled, but I was asked by Big Thunder creator Tony Baxter about the old train tunnel at its end and if I could do anything with it. I suggested doing a mine scene to complement Big Thunder and did a few sketches. Instead of natural logs as in Nature's Wonderland use, I suggested using milled wood Timbers to match Big Thunder's mining construction through out the new attraction. A short trestle was constructed and track laid down on its upper deck for use by the authentic mine cars. One was a very rare shovel nose end dumper with spoked wheels and wood under carriage. A hoisting post and beam were added for raising and lowering by old wood blocks and tackle, an ore bucket down to the waters below where a row boat was once sitting. Wood ladders were fabricated and fastened to the trestle, so that the miners could climb up and down to the cave from the boat. While the Beaver Creek was drained we also rebuilt the jumping fish which had been silent for some time. There sure were a lot of sun glasses and Polaroid cameras in the drained pond. The themed lighting was also upgraded for the new mine scene, and at night one could see the flickering lanterns throughout the scene which was quite scenic and helped attract your eye to the jumping fish. All the natural trees and growth from Nature's Wonderland helped frame in the entire scene. In about 2006, I noticed the whole scene had been removed and the vegetation cut way back. It looked like a forest fire may have wiped out all of the mining scene. The ore cars were gone as was the wood trestle they sat on. The landscaping and overgrowth were now all cut back or gone. Recently I was told the scene had been removed rather than rebuild it, which seems very sad, much like the fate of the Cascade Peaks. While they are rehabbing Big Thunder this year maybe they can restore this missing Big Thunder mine scene in the old tunnel above the still jumping fish.
John Patrick Burke grew up in the Mojave desert in California, surrounded by old abandoned gold and silver mines. He joined the WED model shop after graduating from art school in 1972. His first projects included the Walt Disney Story, America Sings and Space Mountain before applying his trademark show set design, often involving skillful arrangements of authentic antique props, to all four Big Thunder Mountain rides, all four Indiana Jones attractions, three versions of the Jungle Cruise and many other classic Disney attractions. JP also designed the original Pinocchio dark ride and parts of Splash Mountain for Disneyland. In addition, JP was also the tracker and artifact buyer of all the antique show items. Disneyland's Splash Mountain Load /Unload building and Toad Hall were a few of his Architectural contributions for Tony Baxter.
UPDATE: A Daveland reader noted that the trestle was victim to a 2006 windstorm, with a fallen tree that damaged the trestle.
One time we went to Disneyland and had a crowd of 18 people with us—WOW! My favorite part of that trip was watching the cast members’ faces when they asked for the number of people in our group and we said “18.” Quite a few jaws dropped, though I’m sure there have been bigger groups than that at the park.
My family and I went last March (2009) and had a blast! It was just the four of us, which is pretty unusual. It was my mom, my dad, my brother, and me. My mom had gotten exhausted early on in the day and went back to the hotel. It was about 11pm on our last day at Disneyland. Originally my dad wanted to leave the park, but my brother and I convinced him to let us go on one more ride. We chose Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which has always been one of our favorites (the goat chewing on dynamite reminded us of our dog, may he rest in peace, which was one of our favorite parts). We got on the attraction and all was going well until we entered the tunnel where the rocks are “falling.” The train stopped and everything got quiet. I turned and looked at my brother and smiled. This was the first time we had ever gotten stuck on an attraction before (we were on our ninth trip), and it just so happened to be one of our favorites. Luckily we were in a train full of funny people that all liked to talk, so we all chatted and cracked jokes for about ten minutes (or so it seemed) until a few cast members came to let us out. We were able to walk through th eattraction next to the tracks and take pictures/videos. Now that's what I call Disney magic! Sadly both the videos and pictures were lost when my dog chewed up the memory card, but I will always have the memory!
Former Disneyland Cast Member and friend Matthew (aka "Amazon Belle") is a frequent and welcome commenter on my blog. He gave me some great info on the series of photos below.
Hello again Dave and all you wonderful Daveland readers!
The gentleman with all the keys is the Working Lead that morning. His name is Mark (I'm checking with my friend Chris "mind like a steel trap" Lamberth to get his last name). Mark was still working Big Thunder when I started there in 1986. This is a morning track inspection and the gentleman and woman with him may be from WED.
Slide #1: Here You can see the show lighting at the top left that would illuminate the waterfall at the top of "Lift-A" or "A-Lift" or just the first hill past the bat cave. I cannot identify the man or woman with Mark that morning; however, to the immediate left of the woman you can see what appears to be a small cave (between the gap in the railings). In this location you would find an intercom and a panel with a series of buttons that would allow you to start the chain on A-Lift. Interesting fact is there is a door here that connects the top of A-Lift to the top of C-Lift (third hill). You can also see a silver chain hanging down and that was used to hold the door open. Speaking of the chain... you can see it in the trench between the track rails (right side). The other piece that looks like a chain is actually the anti-roll back. The bright white lights above the woman are actually the work lights that were on for track inspections and evacuations (basically when the ride wasn't operating). Those lights illuminate the stairway. Way too much detail... moving on.
Next slide please.
Slide #2: You are now at the base of "B-Lift" (or "Lift-B" for those playing the home game). The approach has the chain on the right side and then transitioned to chain on the left once on the hill. Notice again the anti roll back mechanism.
The winch house (structure with the rope spool near top) you can see the camera near the top of the roof mounted between two vertical boards.
The engine you see here to the right side of frame is a "Donkey Engine" and was one of the many proud findings by Imagineer Pat Burke (whose name we all know is on the suspended box in the queue). See more about Pat over at Disney and More http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2009/07/d-grand-interview-of-wdi-imagineer-pat.html I had the pleasure of speaking with Pat on more than one occasion about the pieces of mining equipment on Big Thunder. He was wonderful! The Donkey engine does not actually pull the trains up the hill but is still a lovely show effect. Speakers are hidden in a box and a "smoke" effect was used at the top to give the appearance that it was working.
Next slide please.
Slide #3: Again more of some of the Imagineers findings out in the desert. Cog wheels and an old gold ore bucket. The electrical outlet on the backside of the timber powers a work light over the center of the track.
Slide 4, Mark and an unknown gentleman walking down from the top of B-Lift. Note that the dynamite shack with the skunks would be behind you and the goat would be to your right. You can also see the rope netting to prevent anyone walking this turn from falling to the tracks below. The track turn you see bottom left corner is headed toward the opossum tree (I can't see any of the opossums though).
Next slide please.
Slide #5: You are now looking at the bottom of the second turn in "Spiral Butte." Above the wooden pulls in the ground you can see the exit from the "Snow Shed." This is the approach to B-Lift in slide 2. B-lift is just outside the cave on your left. The second rail there was to help keep the train on the track as you are picking up some serious speed here. Next slide please.
Slide #6, is a drain... next slide please. Oh... I should say something about that drain. I'm not quite sure but this drain may have been either near the top of B-Lift near the dynamite shack or at the base of "Spiral Butte." Don't ask me why... it just seems a little out of place here.
Next slide.
Slide #7: "Hippity-Hop." this is when the train comes out of Spiral Butte up a hill at great speed and then back down into another cave/cavern (notice the two tracks in the center of the track to keep the train from jumping the track). Looking through that cave you can see the Safety 2 (The larger safety breaks that would stop the train from approaching the Lift-C should there be an Emergency stop (bringing the trains to pre-programmed stopping points on the ride (tops of each lift and in the station) or a "Power Stop" which would stop all the trains on the nearest lift or breaking area (like Safety 2). You can also see they just cut down the willow trees on the left side of the track and the leaves and landscaping rake are visible on the right. You may have some very early 80's pictures as the Park may be closed (Disneyland used to close on Monday's during the winter to do large scale work).
Slide #8: Here you can see Safety 2 breaks in the bottom right of the picture between the tracks. Also, some more beautiful mining equipment and a show scene preparing you for Lift-C where the earthquake and cave-in sequence (now dynamite blast) occurs.
Final slide please.
Slide #9, Welcome back to the station, Main Side (Spur side is closest to the guests). Notice again the wiring going down into the track. Judging by shadows we are still kinda in the morning I think.
Things of notice are the large linear induction motors (the things with the wheels on the front of them) that push the train forward when the break (between the two motors) is released. These linear induction motors are what are used to move the WEDWay Peoplemover in Florida. This was a change from the catapult launch system used on Space Mountain and are quite... compared to all the air compression you hear in the station on Space Mountain.
Finally, Mark Freidrich was an amazing Working Lead and had a lot of knowledge about how that attraction operated. Some felt he wasn't always the easiest to get along with (probably because he was quiet spoken), but I remember he was very well respected by myself, many other Cast Members, and Supervision. AND YES... those keys do open some magical places on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But those are stories for another day.
Thanks for allowing me to bore you with random facts and semi useless information. Please exit out to your right and watch your step.
Always your pal, Amazon Belle
