For awhile now, you might've heard some strange rumblin' way off in the distance. This hammerin', clankin' and poundin' is just the clappings of some new Disney thunder...BIG THUNDER.
Those folks out in "mining country" have been hard at work for some time, ankle deep in blueprints and plans, models and drawings. Most Disneyland tenderfoots probably aren't aware of what's going on out there where the "east" meets "west." Since groundbreaking in October, 1977, 1/3 of the structural steel has already been erected, and underground plumbing and storm drain lines are nearing completion.
In these early stages, it takes a lot of experienced, creative an dflexible people get a mountain out of the ground. Jim Daniel heads up the Big Thunder outfit as its General Superintendent, and is by no means a newcomer to mountain building. Jim was involved in the construction of Space Mountain, and has put in some long hours on America Sings, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln and Walt Disney Story. His responsibilities revolve primarily around the communication and coordination aspect of construction, and he has his hands full with keeping the lines open between Disneyland, WED/MAPO and outside contractors.
From the electrical standpoint, Jerry Hefferly, Electrical Construction Superintendent, fuses together all the loose wires in this department by supervising and inspecting the installation of conduit wiring and equipment, while synchronizing its progress with WED and other crafts involved in the job. Jerry, a Space Mountain and Matterhorn veteran, feels that "construction projects are really a team effort involving practically every group in our Company as well as outside contractors and vendors." This group of electricians are installing the power lines for the facility, telephones, Ride Control System, sound system and fire alarms, and work in cooperation with architects, show effect and air conditioning personnel.
The Surveyor for the new attraction is Pat Carpenter, whose duties lie in the area of structural and utility layout. Pat feels that the Big Thuder project is "more involved
that Space Mountain (one of several Disneyland construction sites in which he was inolved) because of the complication of the ground layout."
Over in the Staff Shop, and often in a hut behind the Parade Building where walls and mountains of desert clar are forming, Staff Shop Supervisor Rod Merfield has been performing the unique task of making rocks. Rod says that Big Thunder requires "more rock work than ever before," and that "no one else has ever attempted such detail." Rod and his staff of latherers and plasterers are presently shaping steel rebar (3/8" steel wire) into amazingly accurate and detailed creations which will form the enitre terra cotta terrain of Big Thunder.
These are just a handful of the hundreds of people now involvved and to-be-involved in the creation of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. As construction progresses, representatives from WED/MAPO will be at the site contributing their knowledge, as well as the Disneyland Maintenance staff who will take over the mountain's "preservation" after construction is completed. Obviously, we're not out of the mountains yet. |
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