Disneyland August 1958, Pt. 1

This glorious image from August 1958 shows the colorful attraction posters and Mickey Mouse entrance floral just as the E. P. Ripley is pulling into the Disneyland Main Street Train Station.



In Town Square, Vesey Walker is conducting the Disneyland Band as guests relax on the surrounding benches. Below, White Wing Trinidad Ruiz pushes his cart down Main Street, collecting the horse puckey from the Horse Drawn Streetcars.



Last image for today is a shot of the Monsanto House of the Future, perched atop its concrete foundation off Central Plaza.



I’m glad plastic homes never caught on, aren’t you?
 
See more Disneyland photos from my collection at my main website.

Monorail Expansion, October 1961

This October 1961 image shows a banner heralding the expansion of the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System. In June of the same year, the Disneyland Monorail became a genuine mode of transportation. With a 2.5 mile track expansion, Disneyland Hotel guests could board at the hotel and begin their park visit by exiting the sleek comfort of their Monorail car at the Tomorrowland station. Did you know department: The Disneyland Monorail was the first in the U.S. to run adjacent to a major traffic artery.



At the end of the day, guests could return to the Disneyland Hotel and sip adult beverages at the Monorail Lounge that weren’t available in the park. Guests had the option to purchase two different types of tickets: the traditional ticket to Disneyland park (disembarking in Tomorrowland) or they could stay on for a round trip. Not only was the track extended, but trains grew from three cars to four cars and the fleet grew to three Mark II trains with the addition of a yellow Monorail.

With a time machine and a bag of quarters, you could make a good profit hoarding the 25¢ Disneyland Guidebooks available at the Disneyland News stand!



This previously posted June 1961 shot shows the entrance tunnel on the right side of the Main Street Train Station, draped with the same banner. My OCD tendencies have been satisfied!



The Grand Canyon Passenger Car shown here was eventually converted into the Lilly Belle.



So many great vintage paper items here!



Another previously posted 1961 shot showing the edge of the banner on the left side tunnel:



LATE ADDITION: A few readers have tried to figure out what text was covered up in the first shot. Most likely it matched what was on this display board: "First On Earth    Flying Saucers.”



See more 1960s Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

Disneyland Opening Day Celebration!

On the anniversary of Disneyland’s Opening Day (July 17, 1955), I will post an assortment of shots from one of my favorite attractions: the Disneyland Railroad. The above Genuine FauxD© shot shows the time lapse tower from Opening Day as well as an assortment of highly collectible (at least today they are) vintage cars! Walt Disney’s oft told quote made before the Park was completed was this:

I just want it to look like nothing else in the world, and it should be surrounded by a train.



This 1956 image captures the joy of Disneyland. The E.P. Ripley is waiting at the Main Street, U.S.A. Train Station and in front, the little boy is proudly displaying his souvenir for the day, a pennant with Tinkerbell!



I was one of those Park nerds who would arrive WAAAAAAAY before opening, just to see the train pull up, see the smoke, and hear the whistle toot, letting guests know of its impending Grand Circle Tour around the Park. I would do my best to hustle through the turnstiles to board that first train and at least take it as far as the Frontierland/New Orleans Depot. Below is another 1956 gem:



See any hats or souvenirs you’d be interested in purchasing from The Disneyland News stand?



An undated 1950’s Genuine FauxD© shot of the Main Street Station:



A closeup of the Colorado Rockies passenger car, complete with summer bunting:



While on the topic of Walt quotes, according to Ward Kimball, Walt made this statement about the design/comfort of the cattle cars that were part of the original Disneyland Railroad fleet:

I want all the people inside those cars to feel the way the cows feel, looking out through the slats on a real cattle train!



Mission accomplished! These passengers look more like prisoners than Park guests in this 1956 shot:



A contemporary view from July 2008:



While I can’t say for sure when my next visit to the Park will be, I can guarantee you that this is the first thing I will be looking for upon arrival!



See more Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

Maybe Martin Monday

These two vintage Disneyland images were undated, but the guidebook held by the little boy in the first shot narrows it down to 1956/1957.



I just love little clues like that!



A second detailed view shows the E.P. Ripley as it leaves the Main Street Train Station for another Grand Circle Tour:



This second consecutively shot was the reason I bought these two slides. No, not because of the cool retro sunglasses this lady is wearing…



No, not because of the vintage Disneyland leaflet she is holding (is there ANYTHING less than $3 at the Park anymore?!?)…



The reason: the possibility that this little boy selling the Guidebooks could be actor/writer/musician/comedian Steve Martin.



It’s blurry…it doesn’t show his face, so there’s no way to confirm it. But there’s also a possibility that it is. Thus, Maybe Martin Monday.

See more Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.

Disneyland Railroad: Frontierland Depot, 1970s

It’s hard to pick between the Main Street Train Station and the Frontierland/New Orleans Square depot; I love ’em both! Today we will spend some time at the latter, starting with this June 1971 shot of the E.P. Ripley. If my collection only had the corresponding shot that this little boy is snapping!



Moving ahead to August 1977, the Ernest S. Marsh rides overhead on the wooden trestle:



Back to the Depot and more August 1977 images. I remember the first time I took the Grand Circle tour in this caboose; boy was it hot in there!



A great shot of the Depot itself:



The Disneyland Railroad crew is just about the friendliest!



I am so glad this photographer loved the DLRR as much as I do.



The Ernest S. Marsh pulling into the Depot…



and then exiting:



Followed by #3, the Fred Gurley:



…which just happens to be pulling the Lilly Belle V.I.P. car:



A closer look before we exit the 70s:



See more Disneyland Frontierland Depot photos at my main website.

Welcome to Disneyland, June 1971

The 1970’s are a rarely covered decade at Disneyland. Thanks to a recently acquired batch of slides, I can address that in the next few posts! It is always a thrill to me when I arrive at the Park and the Disneyland Railroad is waiting for me at the Main Street Train Station. A closeup of the E.P. Ripley as it blows smoke from the stack. Better hurry if you’re going to make it!



In June 1971, the Santa Fe logo was still featured on the caboose:



It doesn’t look like our 1971 photographer made it on the train. Instead, they may have taken the horse-drawn streetcar.



See more Disneyland photos at my main website.

That Sense of Arrival

You know you’re getting old when…yes, I often reminisce about the good old days. Guilty as charged. This July 1964 image of the Tomorrowland Depot at Disneyland brings back the memories of the anticipation stepping off a train at your destination used to bring…or the excitement of waiting at the depot for your loved one to arrive. Here’s the E.P. Ripley, aka #2, pulling into one of the least photographed depots at the Park.

Main Street’s Train Station, also July 1964:

The Frontierland/New Orleans Square stop, September 1964:

And the final station in the Grand Circle Tour quartet, the Fantasyland Depot, in all its Tournament Festival glory, circa 1950s:

What about today? I still photograph trains (or trolleys in this case) arriving/departing, as seen here in San Diego:

In Chicago:

…and waiting in Baltimore:

What about you? Do you still get excited at the tracks, or have you joined the ranks of the jaded who don’t think about the luxury of being able to travel? Perhaps the lockdowns will restore that sense of joy, once they get lifted.

See more Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.