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Most boys growing up in the 1900’s had a love for steam trains. Walt Disney was no different. His fascination with trains started in his childhood, just like most boys in that day in the Midwest. He rode them every chance he got, and even credited one train ride as the inspiration for his greatest and most widely loved creation – Mickey Mouse.
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The Disneyland Railroad (DRR) is located just inside the front gate of Disneyland and is the first thing many visitors see upon entering the main enterance. It is one of the original attractions and was inaugurated on the park’s opening day, July 17, 1955. The railway was not cheap, even in the 50’s! The cost to contstruct such a railroad came at a cost of $240,000 and wach of the original four locomotives cost $40,000 to either build or reconstruct. The Disneyland Railroad remains one of Disneyland's most popular attractions. Riders can use it as either transportation to other areas of the park (stopping at Main Street, USA, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown and the Tomorrowland Stations) or to simply ride the trains on the so-called "grand circle tour."
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The Disneyland Railroad was inspired by the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, a miniture backyard railway in the Disney’s backyard. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad was so detailed it even included a tunnel under his wife, Lillian’s flower beds. The Disneyland Railroad’s original two locomotives were constructed in workshops at the Walt Disney Company. It was patterned after the Lilly Belle, the main locomotive Walt used on his backyard railway. Walt Disney made many frequent trips around the park from opening day forward and since his railroading hobby gave him extensive experience in locomotives, it was not uncommon to see him in the cab of one of the locomotives as the engineer.
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In the original railcars, passenger seating consisted of forward-facing bench seats. However, with the addion of the "Grand Canyon/Primeval World" in 1958, a change in the seating needed to be made. The railcars where then changed from the forward-facing seats to benches that faced right so the new diorama could be enjoyed by all passengers.
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Inside the Lilly Belle
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Today, the seating hasn’t changed much. It consists mostly of open-air, freight-styled railcars. The bench seating is still facing to the right for easier viewing of the “Grand Canyon/Primeval World” diorama and easier loading and unloading at the depots. Most of the original forward-facing railcars were removed from service shortly after the diorama's opening, but were returned to service in 2004 after undergoing a three-year restoration. The Lilly Belle presidential coach has recently been added to the rear of the E. P. Ripley, as an enclosed caboose. In 2006, Disneyland added the first new steam engine in 47 years, The Ward Kimball, named after a legendary Disney animator.
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Ward Kimball in New Orleans Square
Additional Trivia:
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To help with construction costs of the Disneyland Railroad, the Walt Disney Company met with major railroads and proposed corporate spsonsorships. The only company to respond was the Santa Fe, hence the original name: Sante Fe & Disneyland Railroad from 1955-1976.
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During the time of Sante Fe’s sponsorship (1955-1974), the Sante Fe “rail pass” was honored in lieu of the “D” ticket required at the time.
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The narration you hear at various points during your “Grand Circle Tour” of the park was once voiced by voice actor Vic Perrin and Thurl Ravenscroft.
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The track length is 1.2 miles long, which takes approximately 18 minutes to complete
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The Disneyland Railroad is estimated to made more than 13,000 trips around the park every year.
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Since opending day in 1955, the Disneyland Railroad has covered enough track to cirle the globe more than 150 times!
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There are five locomotives: the C.K. Holliday, the E.P. Ripley, the Fred Gurley, the Ernest S. March and the Ward Kimball.
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The first time any of the Disneyland Railroad locomotives have been on display outside of Disneyland was May 6-7, 2006 where the E.P. Ripley was on display at the Fullerton Railroad Days.
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