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The stars on the wheels were Dick Carmell's idea. We were sitting on five gallon buckets repainting the wheels one night (the injectors used to dump on them and change the color of the Rustoleum paint), and he suggested the stars. I took it one step farther, and although I'm not particularly fond of them today, I painted the cranks black. I'm sure Dick was thinking of his California days since Disney's engines had stars on the wheels. As to the straight stack, I think that was just a reaction to the very poorly done balloon. If they would have put the same balloon on that Crown did with many other engines, it would probably still be there. But, hey, check the sand dome on #19 and compare it to #119.

So background: KI MVRR used to circuit near/around the lazy river area of the park, this will be of importance later, and did such a circuit until Water Works was built. As well, the waterpark/parking lot is where many have seen/heard Missouri Jane, again this is important for later. I had a tenure as a lifeguard at KI for awhile as I wanted to work the park that I knew and loved. While at the park however, I learned a lot more about waterpark operations and just how the whole place operates. I also was trained as a lifeguard so I did the bobbing head motion, this is also important. So the first occurrence happened when it was overcast and it was pretty slow. I was at the scanning area after the mushroom, with a clear view towards the tube shed. While I was scanning (Bobbing my head up and down mind you) in the corner of my eye I swear I saw a tall man, in bib overalls (akin to what train engineers wear), walking briskly towards me as if he was trying to get somewhere quick. He was about maybe 7-9 feet away minimum. I bobbed my head again and looked down towards where he was coming from (not taking my eyes off the water but you can notice things coming by, by looking down the water) and he was gone. This was within just a moment, no chance for him to have moved away or past me at all. Remember how the train went in this area? Just so happened that this area is again next to where the train used to operate around the same curvature that a conductor would walk! Later on that same week mind you, we went down for weather and everyone was at the entrance of the river. As we were standing there I hear, clear as day, "Hey OP!" in a feminine voice. Now, this voice came from up towards the walkway going to the children's areas. Two female guards were making their way down to our area and I decided to just wait to see what they say. So, they come down, I ask them hey what did you want? They did not hear any voice calling my name, nor did they call out for me. Mind you, I've been coming to the waterpark since 2004, I worked at the waterpark for about two years at this point, I know when people call my name. This was honestly creepy as I know of the Missouri Jane stories, but I haven't heard of the name calling before. I knew in that instant, that had to be her, and after the "engineer" sighting it only solidified my opinion that the waterpark is the most haunted part of the park period. Mind you, I have had a few paranormal experiences, uneasiness at battlegrounds, burial sites, but never have I ever seen a full body apparition and heard a voice call me at any point ever after this. Just some food for thought: it is believed that storms with electricity can help facilitate the capacity for ghosts to manifest. Also, water could also help that in some circles. I know this is probably more like a page in a book, but there was a lot of details that need to be said. I never felt like I shouldn't be at the park, nor that any entities didn't like me being there. Rather, it was more like they were showing themselves as hey we are here too.

Be sure to check out the latest KIC Podcast: Episode 12- KIMVRR: The Early years, with special guest, Denis Larrick (kimv1972) here.

Easy, Mean Streak. With how violent it was, it's the only ride I've ever been glad it was over.

^Not true - historically it would appear they had an allocation for the fall purchases and then another allocation for those wishing to purchase in the spring as the park was opening up. Last year they allowed Fast Lane purchases after March 2020. There were 2 different windows that opened up after that time on KI's website. I know 12 people that purchased all season Fast Lane on KI's website on July 7, 2020...I know this because I saw the window open again and texted my friends that wanted them and I went back and looked at the date of the text. One immediately jumped in their car and drove to KI to purchase to only be told that they could only purchase online, so they bought it online while at KI standing next to the Fast Lane booth.

I understand that there are two types of Fast Lane season passes (park specific and platinum), but I am trying to warn people to read the fine print because based on the crowd restrictions, all of the Cedar Fair platinum pass season long Fast Lane allocation has been sold out (since early July) and until crowd restrictions are lifted, the only season long Fast Lane passes that will be sold are park specific and even with that KI has sold all of those too as has CP. Once Cedar Point opened last year, the platinum pass season long Fast Lane allocation was sold out chain wide and the $850 pass being sold at Cedar Point was only good at Cedar Point and many people bought it there to only find out it wasn't good at KI. Despite me warning them they were park specific, I know several people that were burned by this. Based on the crowd restrictions, Cedar Fair has sold all of the allocations of platinum season long Fast Lane and as of right now all that is being sold are park specific if they haven't met their allocation. Unless every park can open this year with no restrictions, I do not expect to see platinum season long Fast Lane passes being sold this year. That is why when passes went on sale for this year that you could not purchase platinum Fast Lane as an add on at any park. I am simply trying to warn people that because of the pandemic to read the fine print and not assume that if they can add a season long Fast Lane to their platinum pass from another park to make sure it is good chain wide. For example, I do not believe you would see platinum season long Fast Lane being sold at one park and not another - either the allocation is available and will be sold at every park or the allocation has been met and is not being sold anywhere.

Time Warp at Canada's Wonderland. Skip it and hit the funnel cake stand next to it. It's so bad, I'd ride the SLC next door twice before I ride this once. Honorable mention to Corkscrew at Cedar Point. Something about those cars/restraints just bends my spine in a very uncomfortable way.

When the ride reopened without the loop, the on ride photo moved to the loops former location.

I could see both WWC and perhaps the railroad being tied together with the overall Mystic Timbers theme. Wouldn't need animatronics or anything like that, but some static elements to tie WWC into the Miami River Lumber Company, and parts of the railroad that are close to MT/WWC having the same.

It was always just before the start of the lift.

I would be cool to see it incorporate a logging theme. I shared this a while ago when I was talking about incorporating MT theming into the train.

I have 3 personal things I want to return Phantom Theater The Keggers King Cobra I know people will think I'm nuts for wanting KC to come back but I like to keep an open mind. The Surf Coaster is coming out so it might prove to be a comfortable alternative to the stand up model. I don't want anything huge, just something close to KC's stats. Georgia Scorcher is a pretty small stand-up and apparently people love it.

Yes, there are sections delving pretty deep into the development of the waterpark through the years. The story behind why it was built in the first place is one of the most interesting in the whole book, in my opinion! I can’t wait for you to read it! I’m curious about your paranormal experiences? I know you’ve mentioned it before on here, but I don’t think you’ve ever gone into detail.

https://kicentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Episode-12-KIMV-RR.mp3 Robbie (CoastersRZ) and Brad (IndyGuy4KI) are joined by Denis Larrick (KIMV1972), who worked on the Kings Island and Miami Valley Railroad in 1972 and 1973 at Kings Island. -Highlights include some stories from Dennis`s time running the trains those first two seasons. Please share with us your thoughts on this podcast. Or if you have any additional questions for Dennis. Dennis has contributed several posts in the Amusement Park Railroad thread. If you have not had a chance to read that thread, I strongly encourage you to do so. Especially if you are a rail fan. Thanks again to Denis for being our guest on this podcast. Let us know if you have any thoughts for subjects for future KIC Podcast episodes. Robbie CoastersRZ

13 so far, but I have a good reason for that. I work two jobs and it's hard for me to get down there as often as the regular fanboys on here.

To paraphrase, with the preventative measures we're taking appearing to be highly effective, why don't we just throw them out with both the baby and the bathwater? You're also lumping the actions of many somewhat independent governments into one evil "the government". Michigan is taking different actions than Ohio, such as not implementing a COVID-19-only-comes-out-at-night curfew, for example.

And finally, the infamous Kenny Van Meter standing in the cab of "his" engine, the "Tecumseh". Again the wood is horizontal but the whistle was moved from behind the bell (where it showered everyone in boiling water, turned the blue paint into orange stripes, and screeched and gurgled whistle signals). I'm guessing it was taken in May 1972. Hey, what happened to Mystic Timbers and the White Water Canyon? It sure was nice and quiet in the enginehouse back then.

I have only gotten one (1) ride on Orion in 2020 with sweet @VortexBFForever, I am unsure how many rides I will get in 2021 due to living in Nashville Tennessee or going to college at Murray State University (Go racers), but I hope to get more than just one ride in 2021. I don’t want to start a debate about COVID-19 here, but I have parents in the dangerous age range for the virus, and I want to keep them safe. I am forever thankful they let me go to Kings Island even just once in 2020, I am forever thankful for this awesome community, and keep up the awesome work y’all! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

As someone who delights in accruing unconventionally high ride counts, I took Orion's 300-foot plunge 219 times. I don't have all-season Fast Lane, for those of you who may be wondering, though every once in a while I buy it if I have friends visiting and getting it too. 60 of those times were in the same day, as I did a day-long marathon on August 10 to pay homage to my previous day-long marathon on Vortex on August 9, 2019. Dare I say it, but Orion could be the first ride to match my Vortex ride count (1221 1/3), if my 334-ride WindSeeker count doesn't get there first!