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.
Now that we got the negatives out of the way, here are the details that the EarzUp podcast team LOVE about the Disneyland resort, illustrated with the Daveland collection!
1. The entirety of Galaxy’s Edge. Maybe not the cast members saying “Good Moon,” but…Terrence saw this area for the first time about a month ago; he rounded a corner and in front of him was the Millennium Falcon. As a 41-year old man he teared up seeing it because it felt like he was an 8-year old kid seeing something that he’d always imagined. The land is so immersive! From Jason: “Mmmmm…I’ll let it pass…” Apologies for not having a Galaxy’s Edge photo, but still haven’t been there. And no, I’m not really sorry about that!
2. Area music. Music is themed appropriately for each area (with seamless transitions), but quiet enough that it’s non-intrusive to a conversation (unlike at Universal Studios and other theme parks). They do it better than anyone else from the minute you step onto Main Street, U.S.A.
3. Center Street on Main Street, U.S.A. It’s more than just façades; the Painless Dentist and Hotel Marceline have appropriate sounds emitting from them. Little unnoticed details that they didn’t have to do…but they did.
4. The Main Street windows. They are more than just the people’s names; it’s the design, the passion, and effort to make them look like pieces of art that puts them on this list.
5. The Smellitizers. Found throughout the Park, they pump out smells to help with the immersion. Especially love the ones on Soarin’ Over California at DCA! Note: this is not talking about the “Pirate” water on the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction!
6. Still honoring Walt. The candle in the window in his Town Square apartment over the Fire Department. Still showing respect to the man who had the dream and brought it to fruition.
7. Carpet on the Lilly Belle car. They didn’t need to keep it, but they decided to honor the design and integrity of Lillian Disney’s original choices.
8. The Little Man of Disneyland’s House. Located at the base of a tree in front of the Indiana Jones queue. It’s a cute little Easter egg that a lot of people wouldn’t know about, and great for kids, getting them to interact with Cast Members. This is another one I don’t have a photo for; the one here is from The Disney Parks Blog.
9. The Main Street window for Frank Wells. He climbed six of the seven summits in the world. Wells is a guy who in many ways helped to save AND expand Disneyland into what it is today.
10. The Cleanliness of Disneyland. You take it for granted while you’re there, but there’s no trash around. It’s the freshest, cleanest, experience possible.
One more post to go!
See more vintage and contemporary Disneyland photos at my main website.
I was recently notified of a VERY cool exhibit at the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center in Anaheim titled “Muzeo Express.” Mandy, the Exhibitions Coordinator, sent me this information AND a number of photos to let you see a sample of what is on display.
Fans of Walt Disney’s love of railroading are in for a number of exclusive treats from bygone days. This year’s exhibition features magical holiday model train layouts created by the Train Collectors Association and the Toy Train Operating Society.
Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, CA, joins Muzeo for the first time with beloved Disney animator Ward Kimball’s full-sized red handcar from his narrow gauge backyard railroad and an entire room filled with fascinating railroad memorabilia. The cherished collection from Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn in Griffith Park will amaze and delight railfans as will the art of Ward Kimball, Eyvind Earle, and Floyd Norman. This year, in addition to artifacts from Carolwood, we have an extra special treat in store for nostalgia buffs. Come see for yourself!
This photo is a view of a section from our partnership with the Carolwood Foundation in Griffith Park. Shown are a Lionel Mickey and Minnie handcar, scale models of Walt's Carolwood Barn, the Lilly Belle and her caboose, and a scale model of the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland.
This is one of our train layouts by TTOS (You Train Operating Society) volunteer Steve Eastman depicting Radiator Springs in O-gauge.
Here’s a view of a section from our partnership with the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, CA. Shown are photographs of Ward and Betty Kimball, a Christmas card by Ward Kimball, and scale models of the Emma Nevada and Chloe. Both full-size trains are on display in Perris.
Last, but definitely not least, is the handcar that Ward Kimball salvaged for his Grizzly Flats Railroad at home, and in the background, a view of the recently refurbished Saguaro Forest Mine Train Car from the Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland ride at Disneyland in 1955.
Details about this exhibit can be found on the back of the exhibit rack card, shown here:
This is a definite don’t miss, so make sure you get there before January 26, 2020 when the exhibit ends!
See more Disneyland Railroad photos at my main website.
When Disneyland first opened, both tracks at the Main Street station were used, allowing trains to pass each other on the way to Frontierland. According to Michael Broggie's fantastic book (pretty much the best book out there on Walt and the Disneyland trains) "Walt Disney's Railroad Story":
A young brakeman got overly anxious and missed his timing while closing the switch to the Main Street passing track. The passenger train was standing at the Main Street Station when engine No. 1 (the C.K. Holliday) approached on the main line pulling the freight train. The manual switch was set in the "open" position to divert the freight train onto the passing track so it could go around the passenger train. For some unknown reason, the brakeman cosed the switch before the rear truck of the caboose had cleared. While the caboose's front truck followed the rest of the train onto the siding, the rear truck started down the main line, toward the passenger train. As a result the five-ton car went sideways, with its rear end swinging out over the crowded walkway passing through the tunnel below the train station. Fortunately, there was ample concrete slab to stop it from going any further, but the caboose derailed upon impact.
As the ride supervisor rushed to call the roundhouse to report the incident, general commotion ensued. During the excitement, the young brakeman seized the opportunity to avoid trouble by going to his locker, picking up his clothes, and leaving the Park. He was never seen again. A guest who had been riding up in the cupola (the observation box on top of the caboose) remarked as he left the station, "That's one thrilling ride you've got here!"
The train operation was shut down for the balance of the day. That night, a large craned was moved in from the backstage construction area and used to lift he caboose back into the track. Except for a few scrapes on the concrete, no damage was done. A valuable lesson was learned by all the remaining brakemen and conductors, however.
The car hanging over the tunnel in this photo is a passenger car, titled the Grand Canyon car.
This car would go on to greater fame when it was refurbished into the VIP Parlour Car, The Lilly Belle.
To think that it started its career this way!
See more vintage & current Disneyland Railroad photos on my main website.
Last Thursday, December 5, marked what would have been the 112th birthday of creative genius Walt Disney. Today's belated tribute celebrates that momentous day with a recently acquired assortment of photos featuring Walt himself. The first one from August 1954 shows him with a model train, inside of what I believe to be the machine shop at the Disney Studios in Burbank. It is easy to attempt to interpret Walt's thoughts, especially since he isn't around anymore, but this particular quote on Disneyland is about as clear as it gets:
“I just want it to look like nothing else in the world. And it should be surrounded by a train.”
Face it...the main loved trains. If you do, too, you might enjoy this clip of Walt's backyard train setup. It's a wonderful glimpse of him having a ball and enjoying life:
The Lilly Belle, Walt's beloved miniature train that is featured in the video, can now be seen at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francsicso:
Moving forward to 1961, this onset photo from the film "The Parent Trap" shows Walt with director David Swift and stunning leading lady Maureen O'Hara. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: one for Sound by Robert O. Cook, and the other for Film Editing by Philip W. Anderson.
O'Hara was a knockout as Maggie, the spunky ex-wife of her soon-to-be-remarried ex-hubby, Mitch (Brian Keith). Here they are during a dinner cleverly arranged by their twin daughters (played by Hayley Mills) who would like nothing more than to have their parents reunited. The black eye on Keith's character was courtesy of his feisty ex, who had no interest in being told what to do.
I defy anyone with a pulse to have a dry eye during this little romantic reunion scene from the finale of the film. The chemistry between Keith and O'Hara is supreme.
OK, this is about Walt, not Maureen O'Hara. Pardon me for the interuption.
For the Pepsi-Cola small world exhibit entrance at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, Walt wanted a "wow." He spent $200,000 on 100 ton Wally Crump creation that was 120'/12 stories high and 46' wide at the base. This creative medley of mobiles was called The Tower of the Four Winds and required a 60' deep foundation to keep it from blowing over. Opening Day for the fair was April 22, 1964; the Disney press release for the occasion described the Tower in this way:
"Attached to three primary columns and four slender buttresses will be more than 100 spinning, swiveling, oscillating elements of as many colors and shapes. Propellers of every description and size, a miniature, purely decorative carousel with animals from several countries (a giraffe, camel, reindeer, llama, horse, elephant and donkey), a stylized representation of the sun; figures of birds, flying fish, winged dragon, butterflies, bees and other creatures—all will be in perpetual motion."
Although it was well received and "Meet me at the Tower of the Four Winds" became a catch-phrase for the fair, the Tower was basically dismantled and dumped. I am not sure if the model on display in the Contemporary Hotel at Walt Disney World is the same one from the photo with Walt, but for sentimental reasons, I'd like to think so.
However, zooming in to the descriptive display material, it would appear that this is most likely a modern-day recreation.
Last one for today is a Bob Taylor cartoon this was the most fitting of tributes to Walt when he passed away.
The quote sums it up perfectly:
"Laughter and Happiness for children of all ages."
Moving into the Disneyland period of Walt's life, this bench represents a significant part of the lore that surrounds the inspiration of the park. Here is the explanatory text that accompanies the bench. Note the photo of Walt, which was expertly composited by Bruce Gordon:
This March 1965 photo of Walt was taken from the same session, showing that he was actually in Town Square at Disneyland, not Griffith Park.
Although I loved seeing the previous rooms and exhibits, this was the section I was most anxious to see.
The original Lilly Belle was here on display:
Can you imagine all of the famous people that got to ride this scale locomotive and cars?
The display panel includes a photo of the Caboose Interior, carefully crafted by Walt himself:
In 1954, Walt proudly unveils the concept art for Disneyland. It is amazing how close it matches what was actually built.
The famous "lost weekend" illustration by Herb Ryman that sold the concept to the bank:
I'd love to read the inside pages of this 1953 document!
The original model of the Fantasyland Castle, built by Fred Joerger in 1953:
The actual camera used to create the "America the Beautiful" movie for the Circarama exhibit at Disneyland:
The actual exhibit at Disneyland:
The invitation for Walt & Lillian's 30th Wedding Anniversary, held on July 13, 1955 at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon before it opened:
An original Autopia Car. This one was a gift from Walt to his firstborn grandson Chris, who drove it all over the back lot with his sister Joanna.
A head sculpt for Abe Lincoln and the "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" exhibit:
The "skeleton" of his animatronics:
Mary Blair art for the "small world" attraction:
This photo of Walt shows him with a scale model of the Carousel of Progress attraction:
Thanks to a little compositing and stitching of my own, you can see the entire 1960's scene:
Tomorrow, you'll see photos of the massive Disneyland model.
