CP & LE history question

The 1963 video reminded me of a question I've always wanted to ask about the history and operating pattern of the CP&LE railroad. When I first went to Cedar Point in 1980, there was a long crossover track that ran ran from about where the MF brake run is across the Frontier Trail to join the track coming from Frontiertown around where the non-working station (edit: Cedar Junction) is along the Trail but heading back towards Frontiertown (in other words, it could be used to turn a train around). It appeared to no longer be in service but it certainly looked to have been used at some point in the past.

My guess was the original (1963) incarnation of the CP&LE had trains go around this loop at the main midway end and that there must have been another loop at the still to be developed Frontier Town end (I assume back then, the train just took you out, through Boneville, and back with no station at the far end since there was nothing else out there as I understand the history). If so, then the track along the perimeter road and MF didn't exist. The loop I presume existed at the far end would have gone through the heart of what became Frontiertown and it would then make sense that the developement of Frontiertown caused the rerouting of the railroad to essentially its present path (no need to comment on the minor changes to accomodate MF and P2007).

So, does anyone know for certain? Frontiertown came four years later in 1967 so if I'm guessing right, that operating pattern didn't last long and I'm surprised that crossover track was still there 13 years later (and even later - could it have lasted until MF was built?).

Another interesting thing in 1980 was the main midway station was two tracks and, although there was no platform for the second tracks, CP had for some reason acquired a bunch of old Rio Grande Railroad narrow-guage flat cars which were stored there with their old Rio Grande markings still visible. I really wish I had photographed them back then. *** Edited 8/31/2006 2:25:20 AM UTC by Larry Stone***

The original loop worked with the original main midway station, which was down the midway, closer to where the Sky Ride entrance was.

http://www.cplerr.com/cpg143/displayimage.php?album=4&pos=6

As far as I know, there was that additional loop that created a smaller circuit and went from about the "Working on the Railroad" scene of Boneville across the current beginning of the Frontier Trail, near Millennium Force, and back into the main circuit on the other side. I'm not sure exactly, however, how that part of the circuit was utilized.

http://www.cplerr.com/cpg143/displayimage.php?album=4&pos=8

*** Edited 8/31/2006 2:07:36 AM UTC by DBCP***

Wow - great links Doug. I didn't remember the frontier lift building being so ugly. LOL!! I still miss taking the "buckets" over to Frontiertown. It'd be really cool if they were able to put them back in over MF. Not sure where the other station would go though.

I never remembered the train taking that path. That's part of the reason why I like going into the Town Hall. History is cool!!

Heres thew park map from 1966 http://www.rollercoasterfreak.com/CP_Brochures/1966_pg_map.jpg

Judging by that... however accutate it is... the train seems to goin a sort of figure 8... one loop with the sation and then just after the BRAND NEW marina another loop starts with all the theming which was later removed just like every other bit of cp theming

There are some pictures of the theming in the link below.... kinda interesting

http://www.rollercoasterfreak.com/CP_Brochures/1966_pg_inside.jpg

hope i was able to help

Thanks. Great information from all of you.

Interesting thing I noticed going through the rest of that album you referenced is photo 10 (Maud L in front of Wells Fargo scene). Unless I'm misremembering where that is or the photo is flipped, the train is going the opposite direction compared to today.

That map makes me revise my thinking though. Or maybe not. My thought was one loop was from Cedar Junction through the station and back to Cedar Jct. But that map makes it look like where Cedar Jct. is was just a curve. So why call it Cedar "Junction". So maybe the map is just someone guessing.

Anyway, having it be two loops with a single track section in the middle makes sense when you consider that originally (I assume) there was just one station and a continuous ride out and back. Think of it operating more like a roller-coaster does. One train is in the station loading while the other is out on the course. As the first train approaches, the other departs, and the first arrives, unloads, and loads. No need for a continuous track like today as only one train would be out at a time.

I can help... ;)

After many hours of talking with Ex-Crew members, Current crew members, and old records etc... that I have found, here is a map of all the track locations of the Railroad since opening day 63' that I have put together. The original mainline of opening day is in red, and with anything else, I will be more then happy to explain.

http://www.cplerr.com/images/originaltrackpb.gif

:)

Cool! Too bad it's not still that complex...

This thread at CP&LE site linked to above answers a lot of questions: http://www.cplerr.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23

Thanks for all the quick answers. *** Edited 8/31/2006 4:05:12 AM UTC by Larry Stone***

Wow. I'm not normally intrigued by that kind of history, but that discussion was actually very interesting.