Disneyland Railroad

Walt Disney on the Disneyland Railroad - www.WaltsApartment.comThe Disneyland Railroad (along with the Disneyland Monorail and the Disneyland Viewliner) was privately owned by Walt when Disneyland first opened. The company that operated them was RETLAW (Walter, spelled backwards.) It wasn’t until the mid-1980’s that the Disney Company took control of RETLAW’s operations in the park.

The Disneyland Railroad consists of five locomotives: #1 E. P. Ripley (1955), #2 C. K. Holliday (1955), #3 Fred Gurley (1894), #4 Ernest S. Marsh (1925) and #5 Ward Kimball (1902). All engines are real steam locomotives that burn atomized liquid fuel in the firebox to boil water that is fed from the tenders. Some guests think the engines are just props and adding water from the water towers is just for show – but they’re the real thing!

There are four stations: Main Street Station, New Orleans Square Station (formerly Frontierland Station), Toontown Depot and Tomorrowland Station.

Listen to an early Disneyland Railroad narration spiel:

Items of interest:

  • A new era…
    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, ...
  • 1961 Disneyland recreated…
  • An Emperor at Disneyland
    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 ride in ...
  • #4 Ernest S. Marsh
    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 ...
  • Walt and the CP #173
    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 ...
  • Lilly Belle 2
    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 ...
  • Happy Anniversary #5 Ward Kimball and Lilly Belle
    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. At ...
  • Walt Disney’s Kalamazoo hand car
    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
  • Salvador and Walt
    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 ...
  • Disneyland opening day attractions…
    This is the list of opening day attractions, according to “The Story of Disneyland” The Story of Disneyland 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Exhibit Autopia Canal Boats of the World (Storybook Land Canal Boats) Casey Jr. Circus Train Disneyland Street Railway Dumbo the Flying Elephant Explorer’s Boat Ride (Jungle Cruise) King Arthur Carrousel Mad Tea Party Main Street Cinema Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Penny Arcade and Shooting Gallery Peter ...
  • J.F.K. at Disneyland
    Here’s an October 1959 photo of John F. Kennedy‘s only visit to Disneyland. He was the the Senator of Massachusetts at the time and was here with the President of Guinea, Ahmed Sékou Touré.
  • Tomorrow with Tom Snyder – Ward Kimball at Grizzly Flats
    Ward Kimball shows Tom Snyder his collection of toy trains, train related memorabilia and his full-size steam locomotives and rolling stock at his “Grizzly Flats Railroad“… Tomorrow with Tom Snyder – Ward Kimball at Grizzly Flats
  • Order of the Red Handkerchief
    On May 28, 1960 the ‘Rainbow Caverns Mine Train’ reopened after an expansion to the area and the attraction was renamed the ‘Mine Train through Nature’s Wonderland’. During the rehab, the green trains were repainted to the familiar yellow that we recognize in photos today. The ride operators that opened the original attraction on July 2, ...

A Grand Circle Tour on the Disneyland Railroad – September 4, 1990 – 6:30a


The Disneyland Railroad (originally the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad) is narrow gauge (36″ between the rails) and operates five live steam locomotives.

Locomotives:

#1 C. K. Holliday

Named after Cyrus Kurtz Holliday (1826-1900) who founded the Atchison & Topeka Railroad in 1859.

Overall length:  35 feet, 4 inches
Approximate weight:  23,200 pounds
Fuel type:  #2 bio-diesel
Boiler pressure:  150 psi.
Cylinder size:  10″ x 16″
Valve gear:  Stephenson
Driver diameters:  36″
Tender capacities:  550 gallons of water and 250 gallons of fuel
Wheel arrangement:  4-4-0 American
Stack type:  Diamond
Builder:  WED Enterprises
In service date:   July 17, 1955
Builder plate #:  12544
Original owner:  Retlaw Enterprises
Park service date:  July 17, 1955
Scale:  5/8th


#2 E. P. Ripley

Named after Edward Payson Ripley (1845-1920), the first president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1895.

Overall length:  34 feet, 10 inches
Approximate weight:  22,500 pounds
Fuel type:  #2 bio-diesel
Boiler pressure:  150 psi.
Cylinder size:  10″x 16″
Valve gear:  Stephenson
Driver diameters:  36″
Tender capacities:  550 gallons of water and 250 gallons of fuel
Wheel arrangement:  4-4-0 American
Stack type:  Cap
Builder:  WED Enterprises
In service date:   – July 17, 1955
Builder plate #:  12555
Original owner:  Retlaw Enterprises
Park service date:   – July 17, 1955
Scale:  5/8ths


#3 Fred Gurley

Named after Fred G. Gurley (1889-1976), President of the Santa Fe Railway from 1944-1957 – who approved the relationship between Santa Fe and Disneyland.

Overall length:  25 feet, 4.5 inches
Approximate weight:  21,600 pounds
Fuel type:  #2 bio-diesel
Boiler pressure:  150 psi.
Cylinder size:  9″ x 14″
Valve gear:  Stephenson
Driver diameters:  30″
Tender capacities:  350 gallons of water and 230 gallons of fuel
Wheel arrangement:  2-4-4T (Originally a 0-4-4T Forney)
Stack type:  Cap
Builder:  Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In service date:  August 1894
Builder plate #:  14065
Original owner:  Godchaux Sugar Company, Louisiana
Park service date:   – March 28, 1958
Scale:  Full size


#4 Ernest S. Marsh

Named after Ernest S. Marsh (1903-1975), president of the Santa Fe Railway from 1957-1966 and a strong advocate of the Santa Fe and Disneyland relationship.

Wheel arrangement:  2-4-0 (Originally a 0-4-0 Switcher)
Stack type:  Diamond
Builder:  Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In service date:   – April 1, 1925
Builder plate #:  58867
Original owner:  Raritan River Sand Company, New Jersey
Park service date:   – July 25, 1959
Scale:  Full size
Overall length:  30 feet, 10 inches
Approximate weight:  23,700 pounds
Fuel type:  #2 bio-diesel
Boiler pressure:  150 psi.
Cylinder size:  9″x 14″
Valve gear:  Stephenson
Driver diameters:  28″
Tender capacities:  425 gallons of water and 180 gallons of fuel


#5 Ward Kimball

Named after Ward Kimball, one of Walt Disney’s animators. This engine was called the “Maud L” when it was at the Cedar Point Amusement Park.

Wheel arrangement:  2/4/2004
Stack type:  Cap
Builder:  Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In service date:  September, 1902
Builder plate #:  20925
Original owner:  Laurel Valley Plantation, Louisiana
Park service date:   – February 15, 2006
Scale:  Full size
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Overall length:
Approximate weight:  21,000 pounds
Fuel type:  #2 bio-diesel
Boiler pressure:  150 psi.
Cylinder size:  9″x 14″
Valve gear:  Stephenson
Driver diameters:  30″
Tender capacities:

Extraboard

The below info is not specifically about the Disneyland Railroad, but other significant railroad connected to Disneyland…

#173 Lilly Belle

Walt’s first locomotive was named after Walt’s wife, Lillian. Visit Walt Disney’s Barn in Burbank to learn more about the Carolwood Pacific Railroad.

Overall length:  48 inches
Approximate weight:  260 pounds
Fuel type:  Coal
Boiler pressure:  140 psi.
Cylinder size:  2.5″ x 3″
Valve gear:  Stephenson
Driver diameters:  7″
Tender capacities:  6 gallons of water and 10 pounds of coal
Wheel arrangement:  4-4-0 American
Stack type:  Diamond
Builder:  Walt Disney Productions
In service date:   May 7, 1950
Original owner:  Walt Disney
Scale:  1/8th

Disneyland Viewliner (Viewliner Train of Tomorrow)

Sadly, this railroad was dismantled in 1959, after just 2 years in operation, to make way for the Matterhorn, the Submarine Voyage, and the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System. The two six-unit trains went around Tomorrowland and Fantasyland on a figure-8 track, and they looked a bit like car on tracks. They were powered by gasoline engines, and were named the “Tomorrowland Viewliner” and the “Fantasyland Viewliner.” Each consist was permanently connected, so they cars could not be swapped or exchanged. The Tomorrowland consist was named for the planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The Fantasyland consist was named for Disney characters: Pinocchio, Tinkerbelle, Bambi, Cinderella, and Alice.

Overall length:  102 feet, 6 inches (entire train)
Approximate weight:  14,900 pounds (entire train)
Fuel type:  Gasoline
Passenger count:  160
Engine:  Chevrolet 327 V8
Suspension:  Hadco
Track gauge:  30″
Wheel arrangement:  8 drive wheels
Builder:  Walt Disney Productions
In service date:   June 10, 1957
Park service date:   June 26, 1957
Park closure date:   September 30, 1958
Original owner:  WED Enterprises (Walt Disney)
Scale:  1/2