Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad 50th Anniversary

Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad 50th Anniversary. The Cedar Point and Lake Erie Railroad (C.P. and L.E.) was opened in 1963 by George A. Roose, then president of Cedar Point, Inc. Although narrow gauge steam engines were difficult to find, Roose searched the country, finally locating two engines (Maud L. and Albert). The duo of steamers was purchased and refurbished in time for the summer of 1963., Today, Cedar Point amusement park/resort has five steam-powered locomotives and is one of the few amusement parks in the world that still uses real coal-fired steam locomotives. Albert was once used to haul sugarcane deep in Louisiana, while Judy K., Myron H. and George R. were acquired separately from other parts of the country from railroads involved in industries from mining to making bricks. The assortment of locomotives now make their home in an old-fashioned engine house at Cedar Point where a full-time railroad superintendent personally cares for the antique beauties., The C.P. and L.E. Railroad is a traditional favorite for guests at the park. Last year alone, 1,842,696 guests rode the train. More than 110 million guests have ridden since 1963! The 15-minute train excursion encompasses a two-mile trip over bridges and through a land of "Old West" animation. Guests must be at least 46 inches tall or accompanied by a responsible person to ride., In 1992, a special honor was given to Judy Kinzel, the wife of Richard L. Kinzel, former president and CEO of Cedar Fair, L.P., when the newly rebuilt Jack Foster engine was renamed Judy K. for her., In 1970, when the C.P. and L.E. Railroad was one of only two ways for guests to go to Frontiertown, the lineup of locomotives gave more than 4.5 million rides, the highest yearly ride total in Cedar Point history., Myron H. - No. 22 , Builder: Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. , Year Built: 1922 , Type: Originally 0-4-0T , Original Owner: Wayne Coal Co., Clay Bank, Ohio , Original Use: Coal mining, George R. - No. 4 , Builder: H.K. Porter Co., Pittsburgh, Pa , Year Built: 1942 , Type: Originally 0-4-0T , Original Owner: Carbon Limestone Co., Hillsville, Pa. , Original Use: Limestone mining, G.A. Boeckling - No.1 , Builder: Davenport Locomotive Works, Davenport, Iowa , Year Built: 1927 , Type: Originally 0-4-0T , Original Owner: N&S Coal Co., Pittsburgh, PA , Original Use: Hauling Coal, Judy K.- No. 44 , Builder: Vulcan Iron Works, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. , Year Built: 1923 , Type: Originally 0-4-0T , Original Owner: John Marsh Inc., Lansing, Mich. , Original Use: Unknown, Albert No. 3 , Builder: Davenport Locomotive Works, Davenport, Iowa , Year Built: 1910 , Type: 2-6-0 , Original Owner: J.B. Levert, St. John Plantation, St. Martinville, La. , Original Use: Sugarcane transport