- Six Flags Railroad (Six Flags over Texas)
The
Six Flags Railroad is the only attraction still operating fromSix Flags over Texas ' inaugural 1961 season.Fact|date=November 2007 Two engines transport guests on a one mile journey around the park, with stops at two stations located on opposite sides of the park. Both train engines were originally built at the turn of the century for asugar cane plantation inLouisiana . Engine #1, known as the "Green Train" (due to its color scheme) or the "Mary Ann," was built in 1901 by theAmerican Locomotive Company . The smaller engine #2, known as the "Red Train" or "Lydia," was created for the plantation in 1897 by thePorter Company .The engines were later rebuilt for $50,000.Fact|date=November 2007 The "Mary Ann"' was renamed the "General Sam Houston" and the "Lydia" was renamed the "
Mirabeau B. Lamar " in honor of these Texan heroes.Fact|date=November 2007 The rebuilding also involved several minor changes, including the conversion of the wood-burningsteam engine s to oil-burning steam engines. Photos of the original engines can be found at the train station in the 'Texas' section of the park. As of the park opening 2006 Six Flags closed one of the engines (prior to it breaking down) & named the last train to the "Charles Jefferson Patton".Fact|date=November 2007The railroad continues to run at the park daily, operating much the same as it did more than 40 years ago when the attraction first opened. Six Flags maintains the trains as close as possible to their original specifications. In fact, despite a popular movement to transform theme park railroad engines from steam-powered to the newer
diesel -powered trains for lower maintenance and operating costs, Six Flags Over Texas has resisted, to favor a more authentic experience.Fact|date=November 2007 Retired railroad workers first ran the train at Six Flags Over Texas. They would often roast peanuts and fry bacon on the firebox door.Fact|date=November 2007References
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