Gatorland Express - Orlando, FL
Gatorland is a very unique animal park in Orlando, FL. It features many different species of alligators and crocodiles of all different sizes, leading the park to call themselves "the alligator capitol of the world." Along with the popular large reptiles, Gatorland also features different species of wild cats, birds, tortoises, reptiles, and of course it's very own train!
The Gatorland Express, originally named the Ol' Iron Horse Express, opened at Gatorland in 1965. The original train was a gasoline powered replica of an American-style steam locomotive, called the Iron Horse and ran along a 24-inch gauge track. It was manufactured by Allan Herschell back in 1965 for the park. Gatorland claims that this was the first amusement park ride in central Florida. The original ride began in a wooden station located along the first alligator pond. As the train departed directly out of the station, it traveled over a bridge above the home of the giant reptiles.
Gatorland postcard featuring the Ol' Iron Horse chugging out of the station and over the gator bridge.
Gatorland postcard featuring the Gatorland Express chugging out of the original station.
The Iron Horse operated at Gatorland from 1965 until September 24, 2000. The original locomotive was retired, most likely due to the lack of ability to find parts to fix the old train. The last Allan Herschell Iron Horse train was last manufactured in 1971. A lot of old park trains are often sold, or dare I say it, scrapped, after they are no longer operational.
Luckily, Gatorland saw the historic value of their old locomotive and decided to put it on display outside the main train station of the park. Now, the original train sits under it's own shelter where visitors can get their picture taken with the old girl, reminiscing of it's time on the rails!
The original 1965 Iron Horse locomotive on Display outside the Gatorland Train Station.
The train ride was not forgotten at the end of the 2000 season. In 2001, a brand new red train was purchased to pull the Gatorland Express! This red locomotive was built by a company called Custom Locomotive who manufactured a variety of gasoline powered trains. This company only produced a small amount of trains so finding one to ride is quite rare. The particular train at Gatorland is called a "Mason," named after the real Mason Bogie steam locomotives that were once used on narrow gauge railroads in the United States. The Mason Bogie steam locomotives were known for their ability to navigate sharp turns with the locomotive and tender attached on one chassis. The new red Mason train on the Gatorland Express could ride along the same 24-inch gauge rails as the former Allan Herschell Iron Horse while providing a more comfortable ride with wider seats and a ride-in cab for the engineer.
The Gatorland Express chugging along the outskirts of the park.
In 1991, Gatorland underwent a major expansion. At that time, the railroad was relocated to operate around the larger pond with the Swamp Walk in the middle of the park. An additional station was added near the new Smokehouse restaurant as well.
The Gatorland Express now chugs throughout the park, along the outskirts of the animal exhibits, including the deer yard. Riders can gain a unique perspective of the park's history along the narrated ride while getting a glimpse of the park's other attractions including a zipline and off-road adventure.
The remnants of the original train station and trestle over the alligator pond near the park's entrance.
The Gatorland Express chugging through the park.
Whether you're a fan of alligators, crocodiles, trains, or all of the above, Gatorland is a must-see adventure on your next trip to Orlando, Florida! Don't miss a ride on the Gatorland Express and make sure you snap a selfie with the Ol' Iron Horse!
The Ol' Iron Horse and I back in 2019.
