Talk Disney Video Player More Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Videos

Thar's Gold in the Big Thunder Mine! Or at least there was... Some time in the late 1800s, gold was discovered on Big Thunder Mountain in the American southwest. Overnight, the small mining town of Tumbleweed was established and the Tumbleweed Mining Company staked their claim. Mining was prosperous and an extensive line of mine trains were set up to transport the ore. Unbeknownst to the settlers, the Mountain was a sacred spot to local Native Americans and was cursed. Before long, the settlers' desecration of the mountain caused a great tragedy, a flash flood, which befell the mines and town and they were abandoned. Some time later, the locomotives were found to be racing around the mountain on their own, without engineers or a crew. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was founded in the old mining camp to allow tourists to take rides on the possessed trains.

  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a rollicking runaway train of a roller coaster that rushes through the gold-mining town of Tumbleweed in the Frontierland area at Magic Kingdom Theme Park.

A ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad provides mild but wild thrills to those aboard—from big kids and teens to adults not up for the really big thrills found on the other 2 Magic Kingdom "mountain" attractions: Space Mountain and Splash Mountain.

But this ain't no kiddie coaster either. Climb aboard, partners, and you'll be warned to "hang onto your hats and glasses 'cause this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness."

Listen to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad wheels chug-chug, then ratchet and race across seemingly rickety tracks. Swoop around sweeping turns and tear up rolling hills that dip or drop into canyons and caverns, slip under a booming waterfall or swish through the ribs of a dinosaur skeleton.

The steam whistle blows-another curve is coming up Better hold on!

And keep your eyes open, there are spectacular sights through the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad gold-mining camp and cactus-scattered desertscape. Be on a lookout for critters. A bleating billy goat guards a mountain peak. A family of opossums hangs overhead at the entrance to a cave. Bats, chickens and donkeys complete the Old Western-themed scenes.

Dismissing the fact the Tumbleweed saloon's in danger of sinking, the townsfolk gather in their favorite watering hole to cash in their current riches for a raucously good time before heading for drier digs.

Wait, not everyone's here. Have you seen Cousin Ed? There he goes! Clad in his longjohns, he's caught up in the flood and is spinning through the waters while sitting in his bathtub. Doesn't he look surprised!

For some added fun, take a ride in the daylight, then again under the night sky. You might catch something you didn't see or hear with each trip you take on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Facts:
Date Opened: November 15 1980 

Ride Length = 3 minutes  25 Seconds

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Abbreviated BTMR, was built in 1980 and is approx. 2,780 feet long. The trains consist of Five 5-car trains, 6 riders per car.  Ride time is approx 3 minutes, 32 seconds with a average speed of  30 mph.

The names of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad trains are:
 * U.B. Bold
 * U.R. Daring
 * U.R. Courageous
 * I.M. Brave
 * I.B. Hearty
 * I.M. Fearless

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Hidden Mickeys:
Just before you roll back into the station, there are three rusting gear wheels on the right-hand side of the track that form a Mickey.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Guest Policies:
 For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure.
 Expectant mothers should not ride.
 Due to the nature of the experience, service animals are not permitted on this attraction.
 Guests must transfer from their wheelchair, motorized scooter or ECV to board the ride vehicle.
 Guests with young children may take turns experiencing attractions. See a Cast Member for additional information.

Search TalkDisney for more information on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: