WDW RailRoad... Backwards???

[Lou Mongello]

Well, not really backwards...

But the WDW railroad supposedly traveled counter-clockwise (as opposed to its normal clockwise direction) during the construction of Splash Mountain in late 1991/early 1992. However, I'm having trouble confirming that fact with little more than repeated quotes on various web sites.

If they were constructing the new attraction and station, why would it have to go in the other direction? And was the track completed all the way around? If not, what happened when the train got to Frontierland?

Thanks for the assistance!

[marty3d]

I went to WDW in Nov 91 and March (maybe April) 92. I know I've never taken the railroad where it ran in any other direction than clockwise. However, I can't say 100% if I rode the RR on those 2 occasions (but if I did, it was running clockwise).

[Lou Mongello]

Yeah.. this one is tough to confirm... I get mixed reactions... some people swear they rode it counterclockwise, while others vow that the train ran backwards when it go to Frontierland (see where I'm going with this?) That's why I need actual confirmation.

Thanks for the post!

[Distriv]

The Trains did indeed run backwards. How do I know? I rode them! This was put into effect during the construction of Splash Mountain. As you most likely know, the WDW Railroad travels through Splash Mountain, so durning constrution the Frontierland station was closed and the trains only traveled from Mainstreet to what was then Mickey's Starland.

[Lou Mongello]

Thanks, Dis!

I recently received confirmation from a WDWRR engineer, who also gave me a detailed explanation of how and why the trains went backwards. Knowing virtually nothing about trains myself, I was unaware that the trains could go backwards for such a long distance.

Thanks for your help in confirming this long-standing rumor, which we now know to be true!