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Originally opened in 1963 by former Cedar Point President George Roose, the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad provides not only an easy way to get from the Main Midway to Frontiertown and return, but also is a nice relaxing ride featuring views of Sandusky Bay and several of CP's incredible roller coasters! It also features a visit to the small town of "Boneville". Boneville's claim to fame is everyone that lives there is well, dead!!! The town is populated with skeletons at different businesses that include everything from an undertaker, a blacksmith, a lumber mill, and lots of other goofy businesses! This train not only gets you to different places in the park, but will also make you laugh as well, and has been doing so for the last 50 years! If you head up to the top of the Main Midway, you'll see the Funway Station which is where you'll board the train. Most of the photos included here were taken in late June 2013, and this section of the travelogue was also included as part of a Road Trip travelogue covering this trip. I felt it was important to include this in this travelogue as this was one of the biggest attractions celebrated at the park this year. Included here are a collection of photos that cover a nice ride on the CP&LE from the Main Midway to Frontiertown, and don't worry, you'll see "Boneville" a little later as well. Enjoy... |
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CP&LE's Funway Station located at the top of the Main Midway. |
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A view of stand-up coaster "Mantis" located near the Funway Station. |
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One of the CP&LE's two passenger trains that run on the railroad, this one lead by 2-4-0 Steamer #22 - "Myron H.". |
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Now onboard the train, departing the Funway Station, heading for Frontiertown. |
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The CP&LE's yard and shop building, located next to the Funway Station. You'll see more of this facility a little later! |
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A flat car loaded with ballast along with some new ties for some future trackwork on the CP&LE. |
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CP&LE Locomotive #7, a Plymouth Locomotives Works product is the railroad's yard engine. This is actually a diesel-powered unit
that is decorated to look like a steamer.
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Yard tracks on the CP&LE that merge with the mainline just west of the Funway Station. |
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Two views of the first of four roller coasters that the CP&LE runs next to, this one being the 310ft-tall "Millennium Force" coaster. I have
rode this coaster many times over the years, and there is nothing like it on earth. It is 93mph High-Speed Rail!!!
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A view of Sandusky Bay from the railroad. The road in the foreground is Perimeter Road which connects the main parking lot with
additional lots for the Soak City water park and CP's two on-site hotels and camper facilities. |
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The second coaster you see on your ride on the CP&LE is "Maverick". Open in 2007, this coaster features tight turns and
high speeds and leaves you wondering what you'll experience next, I highly recommend it!
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The 105ft-tall lift hill on Maverick.
This entire ride and experience is like nothing else in the park,
it gives a feeling you're traveling a lot faster than you might think! |
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Another view of Maverick with the third coaster you see on this route now coming into view, "Mean Streak"! |
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Shortly before arriving in Frontiertown, the train goes over a road crossing used only by employees that features a small
signal shanty and a wooden caboose on a piece of panel track!
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A closer view of CP&LE Caboose #C-2341 located near the Maverick coaster. |
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LEFT: Arriving at Frontiertown Station! RIGHT: The Photo Express building next to the Mean Streak coaster.
You would pick up an on-ride photo from Mean Streak from inside this building.
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A Railway Express Agency cart loaded with some freight waiting to go on the next freight train outta Frontiertown, so to speak!
It's probably gonna be there for awhile considering the CP&LE exclusively only transports passengers!
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Mean Streak, the third coaster you see along the route of the CP&LE. Built in 1991, it was constructed using 1.7 million board feet
of Southern Yellow Pine. They call it Mean Streak for a reason, this coaster is big, fast, and MEAN! You need to ride it!!!
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After walking through these gates, welcome to Frontiertown!!! |
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