Overview

Guests with Park-to-Park tickets or Annual Passes will have the unique opportunity to time travel with Doc Brown from Back to the Future. The Back to the Future Time Train connects Islands of Adventure with Universal Studios Florida.

Design Characteristics

The Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group is the manufacturer of the Time Train. Although the locomotive has the appearance of the Central Pacific locomotive #131 used in Back to the Future 3, the ride system is actually a modern funicular ropeway. The system consists of a steam locomotive, a specialized coal wagon, and three passenger carriages. During the journey, guests experience time travel “at 1.21 gigawatts” (as Doc says) between Ancient Rome and The Lost Continent.

Other Design Features

Distance: 2,218 feet

Gauge: 1,800 mm (5 ft 10 ⁷⁄₈ in)

Ride duration: 4 minutes

Average speed: 7.6 miles per hour

Number of trains: 2 trains (they pass each other at the midway point)

Ride capacity: 168 passengers per train (or 336 passengers per cycle)

Theoretical hourly capacity: 2688 passengers per hour

Interior and exterior materials: aluminum and glass-reinforced plastics

Passenger car “windows”: a curved video screen that hides the off-stage areas of the resort. It shows one video on the way to The Lost Continent and a different video on the way to Ancient Rome. The Rome Symphony Orchestra recorded the music, including the theme of Back to the Future.

Journey from Ancient Rome to The Lost Continent

The Ancient Rome Train Station is modeled after the Forum of Nerva (with the boarding platform in the middle of the courtyard).

As the train departs towards The Lost Continent, the video sequence in the compartments begins with the logo of U.S.F. (The University of Scientists and Futurists). Next, Doc Brown is seen in front of the Time Train at the Ancient Rome Train Station. He says, “We have got to go to The Lost Continent, to the lost city of Atlantis! Get ready for time travel at 1.21 gigawatts...not in the DeLorean but in my Time Train!” The next part is a duplication of the other video. As the scene changes to Atlantis, Doc explains the legend of Atlantis. There are graphics to go along with his descriptions so that guests can better visualize what happened. Around 1600 BC, a major earthquake shook the island of Thera, triggering a volcano to erupt millions of tons of rock, ash, and gas into the atmosphere. Next, there were large tsunamis that were able to wipe out entire islands. Atlantis was the largest and most elaborate of these. We are arriving decades before the natural disasters. Doc then begins to describe the lay-of-the-land with all of the attractions, dining locations, and shops. As the train arrives at the actual station, Doc ends with one last remark, “When you are ready for time travel again, I will be ready for you!”

Journey from The Lost Continent to Ancient Rome

The Lost Continent Train Station is modeled after the above artist rendering of what an Atlantis building might look like if it was discovered underwater.

As the train departs towards Ancient Rome, the video sequence in the compartments begins with the logo of U.S.F. (The University of Scientists and Futurists). Next, Doc Brown is seen standing in front of the Time Train at The Lost Continent Train Station. He says, “We have got to go to Ancient Rome! Get ready for time travel at 1.21 gigawatts...not in the DeLorean but in my Time Train!” He climbs into the Time Travel locomotive with the clocks already set. After turning some dials, he puts the green “presto log” into the boiler. On the display, the speedometer ramps up and then gets to the 88 mph that is needed for time travel. The flux capacitor is also seen. The lights in the compartment slowly dim then turn back on as the time travel begins. As the scene changes to Atlantis, Doc explains the history of ancient Rome. There are graphics to go along with his descriptions so that guests can better visualize what happened. Doc’s description includes the rise of the empire, the spread of Christianity to the city by the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the war featured in Gladiator. As the train arrives at the actual station, Doc ends with one last remark, “When you are ready for time travel again, I will be ready for you!”