WDW - Where Adults Become Kids - Spotlight Attraction

Welcome to the very first WDW - Where Adults Become Kids Spotlight Attraction feature !!!

Each week, I will be going through the Walt Disney World parks and selecting a different attraction. With each attraction, I will try to give you all a brief bit of history about it and a few facts here and there. In doing this, I hope that you will all learn a bit more about each of the attractions within Walt Disney World, and that it helps you on future visits to the place where Dreams Come True.

So, where should we start? Well, as possibly the most well known theme park in the entire world, and the most visited by Disney fans, I think that Magic Kingdom would be the best place to start off!!!

Today, we are going to be looking at the very first attraction you come to after stepping off either the ferries or monorails. Yes, that's right Ladies and Gentlemen, I am of course talking about the Walt Disney World Railroad!!!

Walt Disney World Railroad Poster
"Board at the Main St. or Frontierland"

History

It's a well known fact that Walter Elias Disney was a huge railroad enthusiast and he had built a minature steam railroad in his own backyard, known as the Carolwood Pacific Railroad. Disney scouts Earl Vilmer and Roger Broggie found and purchased five locomotives from United Railways of Yucatan on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula in 1969.

One of the five was deemed to be in too poor a condition to be restored, was sold and eventually scrapped. The other four were brought to Tampa Shipyards in Tampa, Florida and restored.

The trains themselves were cosmetically backdated to appear older, including the use of bright colors and polished brass. The trains went into use with the opening of Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971.

During November 1990–1991, when Splash Mountain was under construction, the train only had one destination: it went backwards to Mickey's Starland, and then back to the Main Street U.S.A. station. It was also during this time that the original Frontierland Station was demolished to make way for Splash Mountain and the current Frontierland Station was constructed.

The Locomotives

Each of the four locomotives is named after those who greatly contributed to the efforts of the Disney Company and Walt Disney World.

No.1 - WALTER E. DISNEY
This locomotive is named for the man behind the mouse, Walt Disney (1901–1966).

• Built: 1925
• Wheel Configuration: 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler"
• Serial Number: 58444
• Locomotive Colors: Red
• Coach Color: Red with Uncolored Poles
• Coach Number Series: 100
• Driver Diameter: 44 inches (111 cm)
• Locomotive and Tender Weight (dry): 67000 pounds (30,390 kg)
• Status: Operational

No. 2 - LILY BELLE
The Lilly Belle is named after Walt Disney's wife Lillian Disney (1899–1997).

• Built: 1928
• Wheel Configuration: 2-6-0 "Mogul"
• Serial Number : 60598
• Locomotive Color: Green and red
• Coach Color: Green
• Coach Number Series: 200
• Driver Diameter: 44 inches (111 cm)
• Locomotive and Tender Weight (dry): 61000 pounds (27,669 kg)
• Status: Undergoing overhaul

Lilly Belle has been retired from day to day passenger service due to frame issues and has been made the show train. All cars on her train except for the last do not have the new side plates. She is steamed up for the opening show where she brings Mickey Mouse and company to the front entrance. It should also be noted that Lilly Belle was built in 1928, which would make her as old as Mickey Mouse.

No.3 - ROY O. DISNEY
The Number 4 locomotive is named after Walt Disney's older brother and business partner, Roy Oliver Disney (1893–1971).

• Built: 1916
• Wheel Configuration: 4-4-0 "American"
• Serial Number: 42915
• Locomotive Colors: Green, Red
• Coach Color: Blue with Red Poles
• Coach Number Series: 400
• Driver Diameter: 46 inches (116 cm)
• Locomotive and Tender Weight (dry): 51000 pounds (23,133 kg)
• Status: Operational

No. 4 - ROGER E. BROGGIE
This locomotive is named after Roger E. Broggie (1908–1991).

• Built: 1925
• Wheel Configuration: 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler"
• Serial Number: 58445
• Locomotive Colors: Green, red
• Coach Color: Yellow with red poles
• Coach Number Series: 300
• Driver Diameter: 44 inches (111 cm)
• Locomotive and Tender Weight (dry): 67000 pounds (30,390 kg)
• Status: Operational

FUN FACTS

• The Walter E. Disney and Roger E. Broggie locomotives have serial numbers that are sequential (58444 and 58445). These locomotives were on the shop floor at the same time in 1925 for the U de Y and still operate together to this day. They are referred to as the "twins" because of this.

• During locomotive refurbishing, it was common to see the passenger cars from one locomotive to be placed on another. While most guests wouldn't notice such a switch, railroad cast members behind the scenes often referred to these trains with a hybrid name. Examples include - "Roger Disney”, "Walter Broggie", "Walter Belle" and many other confusing combinations.

• The Magic Kingdom offers a behind the scenes tour of the Walt Disney World Railroad on select days of the week, called "The Magic Behind our Steam Trains Tour". It is recommended that guests reserve spots in advance if they wish to attend (park admission is required).

• Originally, a fifth locomotive was brought up from Mexico. It had been displayed in a park across from the railroad tracks in Mérida and brought to Tampa with the other four, however, was found to be in poor shape and was not restored. It was sold to a party in California and it is presumed that it was scrapped.

• In 1995, Southern California railroad enthusiast Bill Norred traded his 1927 Davenport locomotive (a 2-4-4 Forney type) to Disneyland in exchange for the five retired clerestory-roofed "Retlaw One" coaches. The locomotive was instead sent to Walt Disney World after deemed too large to operate in California and was dedicated as #5 "Ward Kimball". The WDWRR, however, felt that its four engines were sufficient for regular service, and expressed little interest in acquiring a fifth. Moreover, the #5 was found to be far too small for operation on the WDWRR. As a result, the engine never operated in regular service and, except for a time being displayed at Epcot during Black History Month in 1996, remained stored in the WDWRR enginehouse. It was traded in 1999 to Cedar Point for a smaller Forney locomotive which was restored and is now Disneyland Railroad #5 "Ward Kimball".

• Previously, during the trip from Mickey's ToonTown to the Main Street U.S.A., "Night Fire Dance" by Andreas Vollenweider from the old Tomorrowland area music could be heard during the narration.

• Several show scenes were built for viewing from the trains, including a jungle-themed railroad crossing in Adventureland, the flooded town of Tumbleweed at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a Plains Indians camp and various small vignettes featuring woodland wildlife such as deer, alligators, and even a rock covered in rattlesnakes.

• Just before arriving at Frontierland Station, trains pass through Splash Mountain, where one of the ride's show scenes is visible, as well as a "Hidden Mickey".

• Main Street Station was modeled after and closely resembles the former Victorian era railroad depot at Saratoga Springs, New York.

• Currently, Mickey's ToonTown Fair is in the process of being demolished and will become part of a new expansion of Fantasyland. ToonTown Station will be rethemed into Fantasyland Station.

• A new narration debuted in February 2011 which features a new narrator, eliminates the themed music, references more attractions within each land and highlights the new Fantasyland expansion.