Originally published May 3, 2018
When I read that Dollywood re-opened this week ––after being delayed by many weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic––I immediately thought back to a Musings post from two years ago … and that it’s time for an encore with a couple of “additions.” As you’ll read, there’s a distinct “railroad” flavor to this story!
I had heard of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which she founded in 1995 to benefit young children and honor her father, who could not read or write … but had not given it much attention – that is until recently when I happened upon a C-Span telecast from the Library of Congress. Dolly was being interviewed and honored for her Library program, which has given away more than one hundred million books … and now mails them at the rate of one million per month. When a young child is enrolled, they will receive a book each month until they turn five and begin school.
What really got my attention was when Dolly said––and you can see her reading it in this picture––the first book each child receives when they enter the program is “The Little Engine That Could” … one of the first books I was given as a child. When she mentioned this during her interview, I was ready to write … as it naturally leads to Pigeon Forge and Sevier County, Tennessee, where Dolly was raised and is now famous, as it’s the home of Dollywood!
If you know anything about Dollywood, you know that one of the most iconic rides in the amusement park is the steam locomotive-powered Dollywood Express.
For railfans, this is where the real story begins, as these are not recently-manufactured imitations … they––and there are several of them––are genuine historic narrow-gauge locomotives built during the 1930’s and 40’s and acquired from the White Pass & Yukon Route, a rail line which connected the port of Skagway, Alaska, with Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory.
While the railroad was originally constructed during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1800’s, transporting prospectors to the Yukon in their search for riches … its glory days may well have been during World War Two. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the U. S. Army quickly realized that Alaska was vulnerable to attack, yet was still quite isolated and lacked a truly usable land route for moving military supplies to the territory … hence, the decision to quickly build the Alcan Highway, now simply called the Alaska Highway!
Since the new road would go through Whitehorse and would demand a huge quantity of materials and equipment, the railroad was the logical way to get them from the closest seaport, which was Skagway. The White Pass & Yukon had locomotives, but not nearly enough, so the U. S. Army contracted with the Baldwin Works of Philadelphia … who also built the railroad’s earlier locos, to construct an additional 26 units.
To see one of these historic locomotives in action, pulling what is known as the Dollywood Express, take a look at this well-produced video:
I’ve had the joyous opportunity to go to Dollywood on more than one occasion and have stood by the tracks as the train passed by … but have never actually ridden it––but it will be a priority on my next visit.
So, when you have the opportunity to visit Dollywood in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee and ride the Dollywood Express, think about the history of the locomotive that’s pulling your train. And, at least one of these steam locomotives is still coal-fired (I believe it’s the one featured in the video), burning two tons or more of coal every day it operates.
A couple of side notes…
My connection with Dollywood began several years ago through my role as the manager of SiriusXM’s Southern Gospel Music channel, enLighten … as within the Park is located the genre’s Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
Then, I can’t leave this East Tennessee story without a plug for a friend – while, along with so much of everything else, there are numerous places within the Park serving good “down home” eats––if you love good barbecue … I suggest stopping at Tony Gore’s!
You’ll find it a few miles north of Dollywood on Tennessee Route 66 in Sevierville. Hopefully, Tony––who’s motto is “Never trust a skinny cook!”––will be there; if so, tell’em Marlin said hello.
And maybe that’ll be the beginning of a lifelong love affair with trains of all sizes, shapes and colors … just like this writer! And, you too? If “yes,” let me hear from you. Thank you.
YES. My great maternal greatgrandfather built steam locomotives for the Baldwin Compnay in Philadelphia. My paternal great grandfather was a Pullman coach conductor. I have in my secuity box stopwatches from both of them. Unfortunately I do not know to whom each belonged. But I am proud of the locomotive legacy they brought to our family…and the country.