Author

Mark Eades

Touring London’s Tower Bridge

by Mark Eades March 23, 2020

It’s a landmark known the world over, and no, it is not “London Bridge” and it is not falling down. It is London’s Tower Bridge. I took a tour with my family one afternoon while in London.

The Tower Bridge has seen from the Tower of London.

We previously saw this view of the Tower Bridge while touring the Tower of London, where we saw the Crown Jewels, a torture chamber, and where a monarch once slept.

London’s Tower Bridge over the River Thames.

We also saw it while taking a boating tour on the River Thames.

Tower Bridge from very close to the Tower of London.

It is an interesting bridge in that is really a combination of a cable suspension bridge on each side, while the center portion is actually a drawbridge.

Tower Bridge construction history details.

It’s an old bridge, but it is also a marvel of engineering and construction. Dedicated on behalf of Queen Victoria by the Prince of Wales way back in 1894.

Traffic on Tower Bridge.

The bridge has been around for a while, but it still carries both vehicular traffic and human pedestrians (dogs too!) on it. No, those vehicles are not on the wrong side of the road. They still drive on the left side of the road which is the right way to do it there.

Stairs to the top of Tower Bridge.

There are two ways to get to the top of the Tower Bridge where, yes, you can walk across the top connections between the two towers. They do have a lift, but limit it to those with strollers, wheelchairs and the disabled.

Some construction details.

More construction details.

This was an impressive bridge at the time it was built. Lots of concrete and more used. A lot of manual labor too.

The view from the walkway.

The Tower Bridge offers a unique view of London.

Looking down through the glass panel at the bridge road below.

There are glass panels in the walkway where you can look down and see the traffic traversing the bridge below.

Is that a foot I see?

The foot of my eldest son looks like it is stomping on a boat floating on the Thames. That particular boat is short enough that they do not have to raise the bridge, which can only be done with a permit filed weeks in advance. Or at scheduled times listed by the bridge on their website. Those are all by permit too.

Of course, I had to sit on that glass and have my photo taken.

A self portrait.

Yes, you can sit on the glass. In addition, there is a mirror above the glass section so you can take your own self portrait with your camera. Also, would you believe, people get married up there too! None were happening at the time though.

Now to go down the stairs.

Going back down is on the opposite tower, but it is also a few steps and again, the lift (an elevator to us Americans) is only available to those with strollers, wheelchairs or the disabled. Now on to the old engine room.

Boilers in the engine room.

When the Tower Bridge was designed and built, coal-powered steam engines were the way to power the drawbridge. That took a lot of heat and steam on both sides of the bridge. This is one of the boilers. Of course, they don’t use steam now. But the old engine rooms are available to view.

A coal scuttle.

The coal that created the steam in the boilers had to get to the engine room, and it was via one of these coal scuttles on a set of rails. Notice how it can tilt and dump its load of coal into the room before returning for another load.

Flywheels for the cables.

These enormous flywheels were part of the huge steam engines that would pull the cables, lifting the drawbridge.

Specialized tools.

The specially built steam engines required specially designed tools for the regular maintenance needed to keep a steam engine running. Steam engines do need a lot of maintenance.

More of the engine room.

Water pipes, pumps and other equipment in the engine room of London’s Tower Bridge.

London’s beautiful Tower Bridge at dusk.

We started our bridge tour around 3 in the afternoon. Granted, it was February and the days are shorter, but the entire tour took more than two hours. So when we were finally done, it was late evening and the lights on the bridge were on and visible. A beautiful sight from the other side too.

London’s Tower Bridge at night as seen from the Shard.

That night we went up to the top of “The Shard,” which is London’s tallest building. From there you get great views of London and particularly the Tower Bridge.

I hope you enjoyed this tour of Tower Bridge.

In case you missed it, the first stop on my London tour was Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.

Looking down through the glass panel at the bridge road below.

March 23, 2020 3 comments

Big Ben England London Tower of London vacation

The Power of the Tower Part 2 – The Crown Jewels and torture

by Mark Eades March 17, 2020

The Tower of London is known for another thing, it is the location where England’s Crown Jewels are kept and safeguarded. And therein lies a tale. Click here to read the first part of the visit.

The building in which the Crown Jewels of England are kept.

It is an imposing looking building, with a fascinating history, and some diamonds and more. The Tower of London is located on the banks of the Thames, which I went boating on in a previous post.

A Raven stands guard at the Tower of London.

But it takes more than a Raven to guard the tower.

Royal Guards marching to their post.

Now where are these troops marching to?

Ravens have had a home at the Tower for centuries.

No, these Ravens are not the guards. But they patrol the grounds too.

Getting ready to change the guard.

They change the guards on duty around the main tower building regularly. Their precision in step and changing posts is fascinating to watch.

Guards on duty have a place to stand, but they do not have to stand still.

The guns the guards carry appear to be quite real and quite lethal, unlike the ancient cannons posted here.

At times, the guards pace, at times, between the two guard shacks, one of them only at a time. The other maintains a vigilant watch.

Armor for guards and knights from the past on display.

If this was a movie, the old armor would come to life if called upon.

Really cool armor.

Can you imagine having to wear this while fighting or on guard?

Looks quite masculine.

The armor is just as impressive up close, and a man had to be in really great shape to wear it, much less fight while wearing it.

An armored knight and his armored steed.

Well not quite. The steed is a really cool statue. All of this is on one of the floors of this Tower of London building.

Another kind of armored knight and steed.

Really impressive in size up close.

More of the tower’s old defenses.

Lots of older cannons that used to be placed in different eras around the tower, or used in conflicts.

A really cool golden statue.

The lion is a big symbol in England.

The Crown Jewels.

These are just part of the displays of Crown Jewels safeguarded and on display at the Tower of London. This is a borrowed photo as no photos were allowed to be taken inside the vault where the jewels are housed and displayed. And yes, the crown was actually worn by the monarch. In a previous post, I visited Westminster Abbey, where many monarchs were crowned.

The rack.

In the old days, people who tried to steal the jewels, or do other deeds that ran counter to the crown, would be put on this torture device, or worse.

A way to hang people very uncomfortably.

Some criminals or political prisoners could find themselves being hung out on this thing and tortured.

A nasty torture device.

This looks really bad. All the torture devices were on display in the area where they were used. You guessed it, the dungeon of the Tower of London.

Ravens on guard.

Of course, over the centuries, the Ravens have seen a lot of history at the Tower of London.

The head Raven.

This guy was yelling at me to not get to close. But he did pose for this wonderful photo.

The Tower Bridge.

I would visit the Tower Bridge the same day as the Tower of London visit. That’s in the next post.

March 17, 2020 2 comments

London Tower of London vacation

The Power of the Tower of London – Part One

by Mark Eades February 27, 2020

The Tower of London actually comprise more than the famed tower. It includes an early palace where the country’s monarchs resided. Officially, it is called Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London. Located on the north bank of the Thames near the Tower Bridge.

Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, also the place where the Crown Jewels are kept and safeguarded.

The palace and tower was first built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The grounds were also used as a prison from 1100 until 1952.

It was a gray day when we visited here. But it still had a decent number of visitors. You can tour on your own, or take a guided tour.

This is a tour guide, in character, leading a guided tour.

As you enter, you can’t help but notice statues of some lions on the left.

They represent some of the animals brought to the grounds by monarchs in the past. Also nearby were various instruments of war.

I wonder if the members of Monty Python were inspired by this?

Besides a prison, place of torture, and home to the Crown Jewels, it was also home to a variety of monarchs – some willingly, some not. And some died or were murdered here.

Nice rooms with a view if you can get them.

The entire grounds are surrounded by a large stone wall – to either keep the riff-raff out, or the elite in.

It would have been difficult to climb these walls way back then.

But it is just like a small city inside the grounds.

Check out the cobblestone street inside the grounds.

Time to go inside the living quarters for the monarchs.

I wonder if the bricklayer lost his head after completing this job?

Of course the king and queen had regally appointed quarters.

The life of luxury in the 1280s.

And they must have a “king-sized” bed in their chambers.

A royal bed upon which to do royal things at night.

Look at the prices King Edward paid to have that bed built.

Though they could be quite ruthless in their rule back then, the royals were also religious.

A private place to pray and atone for one’s sins was for made for the royals.

Since a King lived here, there had to be a throne room upon which the King could sit and receive visitors and other courtiers.

Only the best windows for the royalty living in the Royal Palace.

Some beautiful handiwork on this set of stained glass windows in the Royal Palace.

That’s it for our visit to the Royal Palace living quarters.

Don’t get dizzy going down these steps.

It will be onward to the rest of the grounds, some areas we were not allowed to take photos. But it is a fascinating place.

Here is a link to a visit to Westminster Abbey.

Click here to go Boating on the Thames.

February 27, 2020 0 comment

England London vacation

Boating on the Thames

by Mark Eades February 19, 2020

This part of the visit to London found several of us taking a trip on the Thames. If you missed the previous post about Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, click on this sentence to go read it.

We don’t want to pigeonhole you, but you’re a pigeon.

We found this guy in the parking lot for the boats.

I’d say it has an eye on the Thames.

So we set off down the river and the biggest thing dominating the first part of the journey is the London Eye.

One really tall Ferris Wheel!

The pilot of the boat moved us over to the Eye to give us a better feeling for how massive it really is.

Is that building bulging in the middle?

Some of the newer office buildings have some unique architecture.

This bridge does not appear to be falling down.

This is not the bridge you think it is.

Everything old is new again.

But London also makes use of its older buildings, repurposing them. In this case, an art museum.

Older buildings sit alongside the river Thames for miles. But sometimes the new mixes in with the old.

To be or not to be?

The Old Globe still regales theater goers with regular performance.

A very old pub. I had the meat pie. Meh. Neighborhood pubs were better.

Purportedly the oldest operating pub in London. It’s more like a tourist trap now.

This old ship was in dry dock as a crew was replacing a lot of the wood, using centuries old techniques.

It takes two elevator trips to get to the top. There’s a bar at the top too.

The Shard, the tallest building in London. Yes, we went to the top later that evening.

The authentic London Bridge.

Sing along with me now…”London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down.” Actually this one is not. The one that was sinking was sold to a crazy American, who took it apart and rebuilt it in Lake Havasu.

I guess English architects like a bulge in their modern buildings.

Another office building with unique architecture.

One of her majesty’s warships, check out those guns.

Yet another one of her majesty’s warships. They were available for tours, but by the time we got back ashore, it was 5 p.m.

Tower Bridge.

Finally, the visual icon on the river Thames. Not it’s not the London Bridge, it’s the Tower Bridge. We will get up close and up on top in another post.

This guy joined us towards the end of our journey on the Thames. So long for now. Where’s the nearest pub?

Want to visit the Tower of London? Here’s the link to Part One of that story.

February 19, 2020 0 comment

Big Ben Churchill England London vacation Westminster Abbey

A visit to London’s Westminster Abbey and Big Ben

by Mark Eades February 17, 2020

The family and I took a trip to Europe recently, visiting both London, Paris and, of course, Disneyland Paris.

We rented a flat in London, it was just north of Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. It was a nice flat with a kitchen, three bathrooms, four bedrooms and a living room. Enough to fit the 10 of us plus a grandkid. The only drawback? It was on the top floor, a total of 83 steps by my wife’s count, and no lift (elevator to us Americans).

Our view from the living room of our London flat. Wouldn’t it be cool if there were chimney sweeps dancing across those rooftops?

Since we arrived in the evening, we didn’t really do much but settle in and explore around the area a bit that first night.

Westminster Abbey. This side of the church faces the Thames. Notice the construction fence and the scaffolding – lots of work happening on the exterior of the ancient structure.

The next day, our first stop was Westminster Abbey.

Gray clouds everywhere in London, just like I’ve heard it is. Cold, yes. But inside, warmer.

The weather for London met every cliche in the book. Gray, foggy and wet. Not really rain, just wet, at times.

All the stone work makes one wonder how this magnificent gothic church was built way back in the olden days.

Look at the archways, wow!

A lot of the stone and statues were carved by hand – no 3D printing here.

Reaching to God. No this is not Big Ben.

Multi-stories and stone steps to get to the top.

Little statues with some meaning to the church. None are exactly alike.

Figurines by the dozens above the massive main entrance doors.

I suppose this held a lit torch back in the day. Look at the detail on the bottom.

This was also by the front door.

This is not a Catholic Church, but a lot of the same symbolism.

Mary and son Jesus as depicted by this statue between the two front doors of the main church building.

Don’t hide your eyes, that’s me about to enter Westminster Abbey.

Okay, time for me to enter the church. No photos allowed inside. So the next bunch of photos are from the outside courtyard and an area that has something to do with war units.

Construction of this church began in 1245, and was started by King Henry III. It is absolutely gorgeous, awe-inspiring and more inside the church. It has many sections. A place for a choir. A massive organ and more. It is also a functioning church and conducts regular services. It is also a site where there are many famous and not so well known personages buried in the crypts of the church. Of the United Kingdom monarchs, 17 of them are buried there.

An outside corridor. Look at the wear on the stone pavers.

This is a corridor outside the church after exiting the tour. By the way, you can go with a group, or they give you audio devices that you can play as you choose in each section. The audio guides were excellent.

I’d hate to have to clean those windows.

The stained glass throughout has a lot of detail. I believe these panes represent different United Kingdom military groups. But then my memory ain’t what it used to be. Again, this is not in the main church.

The only noise here is that of the fountain.

The church is a great place for quiet meditation as is this courtyard.

A biographical mural about St. John the Divine.

An ancient mural depicting the life of St. John the Divine. He figures high in the church’s history.

It took several hours to tour the church and the courtyard, plan at least three hours. Five is probably better if you want to be thorough. There is a cafe for food.

The door is not very tall. People were a lot shorter back then, or always had their heads bowed.

Another unique feature, the United Kingdom’s oldest door. Inside the Abbey. I don’t think it is actively used these days.

What a smart man.

Look at all his achievements. He’s here somewhere.

Well, time to go back outside and wait for the family.

Those twin towers were likely built by hand. Wow.

Intricate details everywhere, and each statue is different.

Gold leaf too, I guess Walt Disney learned about how long it lasts from structures like this when creating the small world facade.

Big Ben is inside that Clock Tower.

Okay, lesson time. The official name of the tower in which Big Ben is located was originally the Clock Tower, but it was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. Big Ben is the name of the bell you can hear when it rings. As you can see, the tower was surrounded by scaffolding as they work on refurbishment of the structure and Parliament. Kinda like attractions at Disneyland.

And the skies are still gray.

Another view. Parliament is on the other side. It, too, was surrounded by scaffolding.

The pigeons don’t care who they sit on and do their “duty.”

There are statues of famous people in United Kingdom history in a nearby plaza such as Gandhi.

The man who watched over England and London during WWII.

No visit to London would be complete without seeing the statue of Winston Churchill.

If you get to London, be sure to see Westminster Abbey, and afterwards, find a neighborhood pub to enjoy a pint or two.

Here’s a story about a trip on the River Thames.

And here’s the first part of a visit to the Tower of London.

February 17, 2020 2 comments

IAAPA Imagineer TEA theme parks Uncategorized

Some Thoughts on the 2019 IAAPA EXPO and more

by Mark Eades December 3, 2019

Another November and another visit to Orlando to attend the annual IAAPA Expo, 2019 edition, and some reflections on what I saw this time and more.

Photo courtesy: Themed Entertainment Association

The TEA Booth

First of all, the TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) booth was always crowded. Not just at times they were making announcements, such as about the THEA Awards. But, almost all the time. The booth needs to be about twice the size it has been with more chairs.

That said, it was great meeting up with so many folks in the business looking for their next project gig.

I do wish more booths had seating so folks could just visit and network — and rest their weary feet.

The characters from the Garfield comic strip. Garfield’s creator gets paid very well. Photo by Mark Eades

Proper Pay for Creators

I met with a few young folks, fresh out of college or about to graduate, and talked about a variety of things – including how to break into the business. During that discussion I talked with one young writer who had gotten a few small writing assignments and I inquired about the pay rate.

Let me tell you, it was not enough. By the time that person would have had to pay for all of Social Security and Medicare, and then would have made less than $12 an hour. Shame on the person and company that paid that ridiculously low amount.

I’ve heard similar stories from a few starting (starving) artists too.

I’m not saying that inexperienced folks should be paid as much as high end experienced creative talent, but the pay should at least be more like at least $17 an hour after paying the government mandates.

I also think that TEA should give lessons on things like how to understand the tax consequences of getting paid via a flat rate that does not cover those things, and the resulting hit on income taxes.

The artists and writers are the creators and should be compensated fairly for creating attractions for companies that are the ultimate revenue and attendance drivers of folks visiting themed entertainment venue. They should either get paid more or get a part of the gate.

I know these businesses expect a return on their investment, but maybe better deals would offer some kind of profit sharing. In the movie and TV businesses those that create share in the money those items make mostly through something known as residuals. Maybe there should be a consideration of the same thing for the theme park business.

The IAAPA Expo 2019 Floor. Photo by Mark Eades

Total Solutions

Many companies at IAAPA offered “a total solution” to theme park design. The “one-stop” shop that has become so vogue. All these businesses are like mini versions of Walt Disney Imagineering was back when they were WED/MAPO.

From a contracting standpoint that can make sense, but it doesn’t always work. Often, by the time the finished product opens (be it a ride, attraction, land or more), it sometimes seems like it doesn’t really work as originally conceived – to the bitter disappointment of everyone, including the public and a company’s bottom line.

That is partly the fault of the company doing the hiring. Everyone buys into the concept as it moves along through the design, production and construction pipeline. It seems, sometimes, that no one says “wait a minute.”

Several times in my years in and around the business, I’ve heard people say “we should have taken a step back.” Well maybe companies should think about hiring an independent person or persons whose sole job is to be that “step back” person, and point out issues they can see as they are not so close to the project to begin with.

Catching the problems in the various stages before they lead to something that doesn’t work right at all when it opens to the public should be an important adjunct function. The themed entertainment business is littered with failed rides, shows and more because everyone involved was too close to it and could not see that they were no longer on the yellow brick road to success.

Saying goodbye to IAAPA Expo 2019. Photo by Mark Eades.

I’m a curmudgeon truth sayer

Yes, I’m saying all these things because I’m a bit of a curmudgeon and in my two careers (in theme park design and then covering them as a journalist) I’ve seen a lot of these. Maybe that’s the consulting business I should start: Nothing but the blunt truth, whether you like it or not. Think of how many cruddy projects I would stop in their tracks!

Those are my thoughts coming out of IAAPA 2019. Feel free to comment with the unvarnished blunt truth. Or hire me to tell it to you.

December 3, 2019 0 comment

children Harry Potter theme parks Universal Hollywood Universal Studios

Flying on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure

by Mark Eades November 27, 2019

Roller Coasters do not have to go hundreds of feet in the air to be a thrilling ride, and the newest ride based on the Harry Potter movies at Universal Orlando in Florida proves it.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which recently opened at the Islands of Adventure theme park, shows that thrills and storytelling can be combined on a coaster-style ride – and can be delivered without over burdening the human body.

Hagrid appears during the ride on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Islands of Adventure/Universal Orlando. Photo Courtesy: Universal Orlando.

While going through the highly detailed (and long) queue line, visitors eventually view a video (in a mysterious cavern) where the character Hagrid, along with the help of Arthur Weasley, father of Harry’s friend Ron, are trying to charm and tame the rambunctious motorbikes so that we Muggles can ride them.

The motorbikes have a sidecar attached to them and riders riding together have to decide whom is in the car and whom gets to hold onto the handlebars during the magical journey.

Securely restrained in, (this is a Muggle theme park after all) the train of motorbikes is launched out into the Forbidden Forest. This is the first of seven times riders are launched as they whiz past a variety of magical creatures, some of which can be dangerous.

Enchanted motorbikes head up a hill on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at the Islands of Adventure theme park. Photo Courtesy: Universal Orlando.

At one point the motorbike goes up only to lose power as it nears the end of track. The ride goes backwards into a cave where more creatures threaten riders. After another dose of some more of Hagrid’s magic, which finally works, launches the motorbike train forward again on the finale of the ride where you finally see the creature Hagrid wanted riders to see.

The speed of the motorbikes hits nearly 50 mph as it banks and careens around the Enchanted Forest. But while it is fairly fast on the nearly one-mile journey, the turns are all well banked just like Disneyland’s Space Mountain.

Besides powered launches, there are also many moments when the motorbikes are deliberately slowed down for key story/show scenes – only to be magically launched onto another portion of the journey.

Gary Blumenstein, Creative Director for Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. Photo Courtesy: Universal Orlando.

Universal’s creative team, led by Creative Director Gary Blumenstein, have topped previous efforts at the park. Gary, who worked with me during our time together at Walt Disney Imagineering, successfully weaved a unique Harry Potter experience throughout this attraction with loads of details taken from the movies based on the novels by J.K. Rowling.

I can only hope that we will soon hear an announcement about this coming to Universal Studios Hollywood here in California so I can ride it again without taking a cross-country jet flight to Florida.

November 27, 2019 0 comment

Disney Disneyland Imagineer Railroads steam locomotives theme parks trains

Disneyland Mine Train Restoration underway

by Mark Eades May 16, 2019

The “abandoned” Mine Train that was once part of “Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland” sits by the Rivers of America in 2010. Photo courtesy: George Kissinger.

Remember when the mine train engine sat like an abandoned railroad by the Rivers of America at Disneyland?

It was removed in 2010 for a then newly imagined Rivers of America, and was replaced with a rockslide on the abandoned rails.

A rock from a “rockslide” now sits on the abandoned tracks of the “Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland” by the Rivers of America at Disneyland. Photo by Mark Eades

Those of us who go back further, remember when it was one of the locomotives on the “Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland” attraction at Disneyland. That was removed in 1977 to make room for “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”

The Mine Train travels across a trestle in “Bear Country” on the “Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland” in Frontierland at Disneyland. Photo courtesy: The Disneyland Resort.

The rails alongside the Rivers of America and two of the tunnels from the attraction are still there, but the engine and two cars were sent to an outside storage area owned by Disney.

Then, in 2015, they were sent to Walt’s Barn, to be restored by the Carolwood Foundation and put on display there. But there were some contractual issues that needed to be resolved between the foundation and the Walt Disney Company before anything could be done.

The wrapped up Mine Train waits for a restoration in 2015. Photo courtesy: Ed Romero.

Finally, in December 2016, an agreement was reached and the foundation started devising a plan to restore the engine and cars to their former glory, as written in this story by me for the Orange County Register. There were further delays in finding someone to do the work, but that person and their company was identified and the work is starting.

A member of the Carolwood Foundation holds up the sign that used be on the side of the engine from Disneyland’s Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland. The engine and two cars will be restored by the foundation, and eventually put on display at Walt’s Barn in Griffith Park. Photo courtesy Ed Romero.

The work is being done by Tim LaGaly and his company, TJL Construction, Inc. in Burbank.

Tim LaGaly of TJL Construction, Inc. stands by some of the metal pieces from the Mine Train that he is working on for the restoration. Photo by Mark Eades

But it also takes money. With that in mind, the Carolwood Foundation has launched a funding drive to raise $150,000 to fully restore the engine the cars, and even build a new tender, that held the actual motor and batteries for the train. (Though this restoration will not include a working motor nor batteries.)

The Mine Train engine sits in a storage bin at TLJ Construction, Inc. waiting for restoration work to start. Photo by Mark Eades

Here is the direct link at www.carolwood.org/contact and click on the donate to donate to this effort via PayPal. But people can also write a check made out to “The Carolwood Foundation” and put “Mine Train Resoration” in the memo space. Checks may be mailed to Carolwood Foundation, PO Box 2208, Toluca Lake, CA 91610, Attention: Larry Boone.

Some of the metal parts to the Mine Train that have all ready been restored. Photo by Mark Eades.

The foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit foundation, so donations may be tax deductible. It also operates and cares for Walt’s Barn, which is located at the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Griffith Park. The Barn is open free to the public on the third Sunday of each month.

Bill Barbe (left), president of the Carolwood Foundation, along with Tim LaGaly of TJL Construction, Inc. show of the undercarriage for the Mine Train cars to four members of the Order of the Red Handkerchief led by their president, Scott Fleener. Photo by Mark Eades.

Recently, members of the Order of the Red Handkerchief visited to see some of the progress being made. Members of the order used to work the original attraction and include a few “Club 55ers” such as Ron Dominguez. The order is also helping with a financial donation and expertise from their time working the attraction.

Bill Barbe, president of the Carolwood Foundation, shows two members of the Order of the Red Handkerchief some of the wheels to the cars of the Mine Train. Photo by Mark Eades.

Besides money, foundation president Bill Barbe says they are looking for additional items to help with the restoration. Those items include a Drive Wheel, an oiler for the wheels, color photos, particularly of the controls for the engine, and good color photos of the tender.

The smokestack and part of the roof for the Mine Train. Photo by Mark Eades.

They would also like either receive a donation of, or borrow the following, so they can do a 3D scan of them: an original bell, an original whistle, and a number plate. All three have been purchased at Disney auctions, mostly through the Van Eaton Gallery.

“If those who own them could either let us have them on loan for display, or to borrow so we can make a 3D scan of them to reproduce for the display, that would be terrific,” said Bill adding, “We’re trying to make this as authentic to the original as we can.”

Anyone who has these materials can contact Bill via email at: waltsbarn@carolwood.org, or send him a snail mail to his attention at: Carolwood Foundation, PO Box 2208, Toluca Lake, CA 91620.

A wood siding from one of the rail cars for the Mine Train, it is completely rotted and will have to be replaced. Photo by Mark Eades.

Unfortunately, most of the cars that followed behind the engine and tender were made of wood, and the wood has rotted to such a condition that it will have to be replaced. The underlying metal carriage and other metal parts, including the wheels, are in good shape and refurbishment of all of them is underway.

Part of the wood that was once part of the rail car that was part of the Mine Train. Photo by Mark Eades.

Bill also said they would like a couple of the rails from the original attraction to set the engine, tender and cars on when the work is completed. Anyone who visits Disneyland can still catch a glimpse of those rails along the Rivers of America, but there are also some rails in the two tunnels that are not really visible and hopes to get a couple of them.

A tunnel through which the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland still exists at Disneyland in Frontierland. Inside the tunnel are rails from the original attraction. Photo by Mark Eades.

May 16, 2019 3 comments

aging children Daddy Zone fatherhood Las Vegas parenting parents

Adventure in the Daddy Zone – Red Rock Canyon in Nevada

by Mark Eades April 18, 2019

The vista at Red Rock Canyon in Nevada. Photo by Mark Eades.

Another place Dad and I visited while in Las Vegas is right outside of town on the west side – Red Rock Canyon. It was one of the other places we visited while there including the Pioneer Saloon, the Seven Magic Mountains, and the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and its Botanical Cactus Garden.

The desert tortoise in an area set aside for them at the Red Rock Canyon visitor center. Photo by Mark Eades.

It’s a very pretty place, and what’s neat is they have an area devoted to desert tortoises.

Anyone seen the hare? Photo by Mark Eades.

I’m not sure if this tortoise is smiling at me or what.

A geodesic dome home near Red Rock Canyon in Nevada. Photo by Mark Eades.

Near Red Rock Canyon are a couple interesting residences.

Now this is cool. Photo by Mark Eades.

I would have loved this house as a kid.

That’s quite a cliff to climb. Photo by Mark Eades.

Some visitors to Red Rock Canyon come to climb the rocks.

Rock climbing anyone? Photo by Mark Eades.

Some folks make it to the top!

Some beautiful scenery. Photo by Mark Eades.

It’s very pretty around here.

My what red rocks you are. Photo by Mark Eades.

I wonder if anyone is home in there? I don’t think I’ll try to find out. Photo by Mark Eades.

More beautiful scenery. Photo by Mark Eades.

It’s an eerie, yet beautiful part of the Nevada desert. Photo by Mark Eades.

Joshua Tree! Photo by Mark Eades.

Some blooms in the desert of Red Rock Canyon. Photo by Mark Eades.

We found a little friend in Red Rock Canyon. Photo by Mark Eades.

Time to say good-bye to Red Rock Canyon and this Adventure in the Daddy Zone. Photo by Mark Eades.

Well that’s the last of this Adventure in the Daddy Zone. Traveling with Dad is always fun. He enjoys getting out and seeing different things. Till the next time.

April 18, 2019 0 comment

aging children Daddy Zone fatherhood Las Vegas parenting parents

Adventure in the Daddy Zone – Chocolate and Cactus

by Mark Eades April 15, 2019

When Dad and I visited Las Vegas, I told him we were going to go check out some of the other things around the town. We had all ready visited the Pioneer Saloon and the Seven Magic Mountains. Now it was time to visit the Ethel M Chocolate factory and its Botanical Cactus Garden.

This is where they make the chocolates at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory in Las Vegas. Photo by Mark Eades.

Here’s my dad on the self-guided tour of the chocolate factory. Those folks behind him are working on some chocolate candies.

The chocolate wall behind my dad represents what you might get in an actual box of Ethel M Chocolates – though a lot smaller.

Ethel M is known for its high end chocolates that include some with liquor in them. Anyone want to buy me a box or two?

Dad in the Ethel M Botanical Cactus Garden. Worth the trip, especially in the spring! Photo by Mark Eades.

After visiting the chocolate factory, and not purchasing any chocolates because, well, they are a bit out of our price range, we went out to visit the Botanical Cactus Garden. (Though I was sorely tempted to get some of the chocolates with whiskey in them.)

Many of the cactus were in bloom!

Spring time is a great time to visit a cactus garden as many of the cactus were in bloom!

Colorful!

There were many colors of the rainbow in the cactus garden.

An explosion of yellow!

Yucca, yucca, yucca.

This looks like a barrel of fun.

Steer clear of these cholla cactus. Their thorns have barbs and are a challenge to remove.

Of course, no visit to a cactus garden would not be complete without a stop to see our old friend the cholla cactus. Dad and I both got stuck by one of these once. It was all Dad’s fault.

More color in the cactus garden.

Things could get a little prickly in there.

But the prickly cacti also bloom.

Lots of color around the prickly ones.

Even more yellow buds.

Lots of color everywhere.

The stately Saguaro.

Of course, we had to have a little fun too. Dad would not venture into the Cholla Cactus for a photo. But we found a place where he could hang his hat…

The Pop Pop Cactus!

Hope you enjoyed this Adventure in the Daddy Zone!

April 15, 2019 0 comment

Load More Posts