Reliving Fond Memories
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Cub Pilot

My New Assignment

The Mark Twain hasn’t changed much since it was christened in 1955. Only now they don’t serve mint juleps on board (I wish that would come back!) or have as many jazz bands playing on the small stage (Though the River Rascals appear from time to time). But the King of the Rivers of America is still steam powered and strong.

I had always wanted to sit in the pilot’s house of the Mark Twain. But, over the years, the opportunity never came up. I came close a few times, but others were already up there, or the group I was with didn’t want to bother. This was frustrating for me, because I this was one of the few “things�? left to do at Disneyland. I would have a full scorecard after I piloted the Mark Twain.

One lovely September afternoon I finally got a chance. The sky was clear, the park sparse. Climbing about the boat, I went up two flights of stairs taking me above the “Texas�? deck. A CM was standing by the polished door marked “private�?. I asked her if I could go up to the pilot’s house. She said it wouldn’t be a problem, but asked me to wait a moment. She was relieving another pilot. When the other pilot came out the door, she ushered me into the last place I hadn’t personally experienced in Disneyland.

Inside the wheel house. The Cap’n is a bit shy.