K.I. & Miami Valley Railroad gives a nod to history

The wail of the train whistles, the sound of the wheels and axles as they churn, and of course the steam, are all woven into the fabric of the sights and sounds of Kings Island.

Kings Island’s two steam trains are among its oldest and most popular attractions, opening with the park in 1972, and designed around the 4-4-0 American styled “General” engine which was built in 1855 in Paterson, New Jersey by Rodgers, Ketchum & Grosvenor Locomotive and Machine Works and was the subject of The Great Locomotive Chase, also known as Andrews’ Raiders, in 1862, in northern Georgia during the American Civil War.

Steam train enthusiasts today can see the General locomotive at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History in Kennesaw, Ga.

For those unable to make the trip to Georgia, or if you’re someone with nostalgic longings for the days of steam on the railroad, Kings Island’s trains offer a ride through history, close to home.

The Blue No. 12 engine, also known as the “Kenny Van Meter”, and the Green No. 19 engine, also known as the “Lew Brown” are 36-inch gauge – or more commonly known as narrow gauge.

Instead of being coal or wood fired, both engines are propane gas fired but the 400-gallon boilers on each engine provide plenty of capacity to make them real authentic steam-spitting locomotives.

The engine weight of approximately 50,000 pounds, combined with the boiler pressure of 185 psi, gives a starting tractive effort of slightly more than 5,000 pounds.

The return journey to the Losantiville station in Rivertown features a recreation of what western civilization was like in the 1800s. It was common back then for towns to have a bank, a gunsmith, a combination physician-surgeon-dentist-undertaker, and a general store. But the heart of the town was the railroad. Without it, the townspeople couldn’t get the supplies needed to survive.

Each morning before Kings Island opens, the train crew prepares the engines for operation at the engine house, which is located near the Losantiville station. The work is very detailed and time consuming, taking about 75 minutes to complete, and includes checking each of the 27 grease points and three drip oilers, blowing steam to clear out excess water and greasing the track.

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