The history and heritage of Disneyland
In 2006, at the National Fantasy Fan Club convention (known as NFFC until 2009, when they changed their name to the ‘Disneyana Fan Club’,) Tim LaGaly gave this presentation of the work he and his crew did to restore the long-neglected Disneyland Lilly Belle VIP coach. Car #106 ‘Grand Canyon’ was originally part of the…
The history and heritage of Disneyland will always be special to those who love what Walt Disney created. As a new era dawns over Disneyland, the park is being changed more than fans have ever seen in 60 years. The Star Wars Land expansion caused the demolition and removal of many historic buildings on property,…
Emperor of Japan Michinomiya Hirohito (1926-1989) is primarily known to America for surrendering to allied forces during World War II in August 1945. 30 years later on October 8, 1975 he and his wife, Japanese Empress Dowager Nagako, visited Disneyland during a trip to the United States. The couple were the first high-profile guests to…
The Disneyland Railroad #4 Ernest S. Marsh was named after Ernest Marsh, president of the Santa Fe Railway from 1957 to 1967. He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on January 10, 1903. In 1918 he went to work for Santa Fe and worked his way through the ranks to replace Fred Gurley as President on…
The photo on the right IS Walt Disney, but he’s NOT posing next to his miniature live steam engine CP #173 Lilly Belle – it’s actually a composite photo of the miniature and a full-size image of Walt. This synthesized photo was created by a MAPO employee who combined Roger Broggie’s photo of Walt and…
This engine, Lilly Belle 2, was going to be the 2nd locomotive at Walt Disney’s “Carolwood Pacific Railroad“. Walt’s CPRR was a 1/8th scale miniature live steam railroad that Walt built around his home in Holmby Hills. The engine was started in 1950 by Roger Broggie and was conceived as a 4-6-0 (two pilot/front wheels…
On February 15, 2006 at 7:30am at Disneyland, the newest engine to the Disneyland Railroad was dedicated as #5 Ward Kimball. On the same day the Lilly Belle VIP parlor car was re-dedicated after being off the line for many years. In attendance was Betty Kimball, the wife of the new locomotive’s namesake, Ward Kimball….
Here’s the Kalamazoo handcar at Fullerton Railroad Days in 2012. Walt Disney on the Kalamazoo handcar in front of the #2 E. P. Ripley
Although this isn’t even NEAR Walt’s apartment, Walt’s Carolwood Pacific Railroad may have been the start of Disneyland. Here we see Salvador Dali with Walt Disney admiring the #173 Lilly Belle miniature live-steam locomotive. It has been said that Walt’s love of trains, and people’s interest in coming to his Carolwood Drive home to see…