Remember gender segregated ride crews?

Actually it was not that long ago. Can you remember which rides usually had girl crews and which had guy crews?

Girls: Magnum, Mantis, Mean Streak, Snake River Falls, Space Spiral, Gemini{though guys took over in 1998} Iron dragon, Matterhorn Triangle, Schwabinchen, Train.

Guys: Giant Wheel, Antique Cars, Turpikes, Cads, Sky Ride, Mill Race, Raptor, Wildcat, Power Tower, Blue Streak, Mine Ride, White Water Landing

Some rides changed genders like Cedar Downs and Monster.

I think most of the paddle Wheel captains were guys.

Dt had girls and they wore those remorable orange jumpsuits. Corkscrew was a girl ride as well.

Did you like crews like this? It really doesn't matter to me but it seem strange to see guys on the magnum and girls on the raptor.

I'm sure it caused a lot less drama on the crews, but it doesn't matter to me as long as they're doing their job.

Wow, I had no idea. When were they desegregated?

The crews were blended after a couple of female employees in the Marina filed a discrimination suit. Something about their inability to earn tips because they weren't working the docks because that was a 'male' job.

After that, the only crews that remained segregated were Thunder Canyon and Sky Ride (possibly Wildcat as well), in both cases only to the extent that only men would be deliberately assigned to those rides. Women were not prohibited from working those rides, but as I understand it, they had to ask to go there. I think those are the only rides that still involve heavy lifting.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I personally remember those days. I originally worked on a co-ed crew in 1992 (GCA aka Gemini Childrens Area, which consisted of Junior Gemini-Super Himalaya, Rock Spin & Turn, etc). About a month into my first season I was moved to Magnum, which was all female. Monster back then was an all male crew, as well as Witches Wheel and Dodgems.

I had the great opportunity to work Gemini, Corskcrew, Mean Streak and Giant Wheel my first year. My second year I was only on Magnum.

Some might remember that the sweeps used to be called "Sweeperettes", which I also had a chance to do in 92. That was back when they wore the white polos and the tiny little yellow overall shorts.

It was really weird seeing mixed crews a few years later. Even more weird when I went back to work weekends in 2003 as a sweep and worked on a co-ed crew. I'm glad I got the chance to experience both sides.

I was one of the first "Raptor girls" in 1999.

In 2000, a female worked at Sky Ride cause she liked the work.

I really had to fight to get women to work Raptor (long story). I didn't see why we couldn't. There were two of us females at the beginning of 1999 who wanted to work Raptor, and by golly, we got what we wanted! Plus it was really cool that the TL was fighting for us too..

Do they still segregate the females who aren't anorexic to the CP&LE Railroad? Always noticed that,if you were over 150lbs and a female,you were on the train. it always bothered me for some reason but year after year I have noticed it, I haven't been there yet this year to see though.

MFJedi2,

The park does most of the hiring over the phone... can someone 'sound' fat?

MFJedi2, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??? Is that supposed to be some kind of stupid joke? If it is, it's not funny.

No,it's not a joke. Next time you are there,watch the train when it goes by. It just seems coincidental that all the girls who aren't size 6 or less are on the train. It is a simple observation. I am a plus sized girl so it's not a joke I would make obviously. Look on the back of all the trains or at the station gates, just look next time before you jump all over someone for making an objective observation.

I am not poking fun at all, it simply is what happens at the park. Again,I haven't been there yet this year,but for the past 12 years I have been a season pass holder,I have noticed it each year. I am just questioning why it seems that they always put bigger girls on the train at most every ride op spot?

Um, I worked very close to the train this summer and most of the crew is not overweight. Plus I mean come on, there's overweight people on a ride or food stand or game area or merchandise location. They don't put certain people at certain places based on appearance.

I mean look at me.. I worked sky ride, not the train :)

Back when they still had the older uniforms, they would put 'larger' girls on the train because they didn't make the one piece uniforms in 'larger' sizes (the train people wore different uniforms than normal ride ops back before the uniforms were integrated).

bholcomb said:
I mean look at me...

Do I have to? ;)

MFJedi2 said:
No,it's not a joke. Next time you are there,watch the train when it goes by. It just seems coincidental that all the girls who aren't size 6 or less are on the train. It is a simple observation. I am a plus sized girl so it's not a joke I would make obviously. Look on the back of all the trains or at the station gates, just look next time before you jump all over someone for making an objective observation.

I am not poking fun at all, it simply is what happens at the park. Again,I haven't been there yet this year,but for the past 12 years I have been a season pass holder,I have noticed it each year. I am just questioning why it seems that they always put bigger girls on the train at most every ride op spot?

Not to be insensitive to my friends... but no. Just look at almost any ride: Raptor, Blue Streak, Sky Ride.... to name a few.

bholcomb said:
I mean look at me.. I worked sky ride, not the train :)

When did you become a plus-sized female?

Oh girlfriend I've always been one. *hand motion*

hehe

I have to agree with MFJedi2, at least in the past it seemed that way. I had a "plus-sized" female friend who wanted to work in rides about 10 years ago, but didn't proceed with it because she feared she would get "stuck" on the train.

It just seemed too much of a coincidence that the plus sized girls ended up on the train,again,I havent seen it this year and I was only there once last year,but prior to 2003 I was there 2 or 3 times a month and always noticed the larger girls on the train,yet not on rides like the coasters. I really think they were putting them there on purpose,it just was all too convenient that every female on the train was above average size.

Perhaps some larger people who know their physical activity may be limited because of their weight request to work on the train because of perceived limited physical demand?