Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

Walt Disney's Trains

short history Carolwood Pacific trains at the parks selected movies books & other media image gallery links

"I love driving trains. It's my pride and joy."
— Walt Disney

zzz entry at Wikipedia
incomplete -- -- credits at Internet Movie Database
very short 2/2013 color clip of Disney trains [0:31] at YouTube

Walt Disney's Lionel Model Train Layout, 1947
Walt Disney was 46 years old when he bought himself his first model train set, a complete layout sold by Lionel Trains® [est. 1900]. Walt famously set the layout up in a room next to his office at Disney Studios. The way that one thing leads to another, two of the Disney animators stopped in for a look; Walt already had visited animator Ward Kimball's Grizzly Flats Railroad [1942-2006], a 900-foot circle of track behind Ward's house in San Gabriel, California where he operated restored full-size narrow-guage steam locomotives and cars. But Walt was surprised that longtime animator Ollie Johnston was also interested in trains; Ollie told Walt about his 1/12-scale live steam garden railroad (Ollie later restored a full-size narrow-guage steam locomotive as well). Both Ward and Ollie were active members of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society that preserved much of Walt's backyard railroad.

Carolwood Pacific backyard live steam railroad, 1949-64
In 1949, Disney and his family moved to a new home at 355 No. Carolwood Drive on 5 rugged acres in the Holmby Hills district of Los Angeles.
Walt built a 1/8-scale live steam model railroad around his new house, with a barn for storage and maintenance, 2,615 feet of track looping over and under a 9-foot-high, 46-foot-long wooden trestle, a 90-foot S-shaped tunnel under wife Lillian's flowerbed, and railcars big enough for family & visitors to ride on; after an incident of a visitor being burned by the steam, Walt closed the railroad to the public in 1953; the track was removed in 1964. The Disney Barn was relocated to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum group [est. 1956] in Griffith Park.

Carolwood Pacific Historical Society [est. 1993], 5202 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park, Los Angeles
Carolwood Chronicle - the official newsletter of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society - Steve DeGaetano, Editor
The Carolwood Foundation [est. 2005]

"Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led To A Full-Scale Kingdom" [1997] by Michael Broggie Pentrex 2nd edition 9x6½ hardcover [10/98] out of print/used Pentrex 1st edition 12½x10 hardcover [9/97] out of print/used "Walt Disney's Railroad Story" [2020?] video by Michael Broggie 'Michael Broggie has toured the country giving presentations to over 1.7 million people on Walt Disney’s lifelong enchantment with railroads, now captured in an hour-long video production featuring film, photographs, movies, and stories' available on DVD [2020] for $20.00 via PayPal

"The Magical World of Disney" TV Series [ABC-TV 1954-97] Season 2, Episode 25 "Where Do The Stories Come From?" [April 1956] Walt as host explains how his interest in live steam trains led to the color cartoon short "Out of Scale" [1951] {see below}; segment features Walt, animators Ollie Johnston & Ward Kimball, actor Kirk Douglas • episode credits at IMDb watch segment [4/2019 upload; 11:04] online at YouTube

"Walt Disney's Backyard Railroad"
watch 3/2009 video with narration [7:37] online at YouTube

"Running On The Carolwood Pacific Railroad" short video during construction, 1948
watch home movie clips with music [5/2013 upload; 1:06] online at YouTube

Colleagues

machine shop supervisor Roger E. Broggie [1908-91] - the first Imagineer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_E._Broggie
Roger's son & Disney historian Michael Broggie [b. 1942]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Broggie
Roger's grandson Steve Broggie & wife Sharon
active member of Historical Society, helped move Carolwood Barn in 1998

animator Ward Kimball [1914-2002]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward_Kimball

animator Oliver M. 'Ollie' Johnston, Jr. [1912-2008]
Ollie's live steam B&O 4-6-2 Pacific live steam locomotive
Ollie's live steam Shay-geared live steam locomotive, built in 1956

Trains At The Parks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Walt_Disney_Parks_and_Resorts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Railroad
the short-lived Viewliner 'train of the future' and its replacement, the Disneyland-Alweg Monorail System

"Walt Disney's 'Behind The Magic of Our Steam Trains' Tour" []
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNIHw0NxEAc [8/2015 upload; 1.50.28]

"Finding The Disneyland Railroad: A History and Grand Circle Tour!" []
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfraFLAQ5bk The Disneyland Beat [5/2021 upload; 13:28]

"Walt's Disneyland Railroad" []
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed0ymeIsFig [1/2023 upload; 56.33]

"Welcome Aboard The Disneyland Railroad!: The Complete History In Words & Pictures" [2004, rev 2016] by Steve DeGaetano, Illustrated by Preston Nirattisai 308-page Theme Park Press 11x8½ pb [9/2015] for $24.95 248-page Steam Passages Publns hardcover [rev 2016] out of print/used 320-page Steam Passages Publns hardcover [12/2004] out of print/used

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World_Railroad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Railroad_(Paris)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Disneyland_Railroad

Selected Disney Movies About Railroads

·                         ·

"All Trains in Walt Disney's Animated Films, 1923-1967" [11/2020 upload; 22:43] at YouTube

Compiled by railfan Walt's Nephew; "Puss In Boots" [1922]; "Alice's Wonderland" [1923]; "Alice's Tin Pony" [1925]; Oswald Rabbit in "Trolley Trouble" [1927]; "Silly Symphony: Midnight In A Toyshop" [1930] (non-train clip); "Hungry Hobos" [1928]; "Mickey's Choo-Choo" sound cartoon [1929]; "Mickey's Orphans" [1931]; "Mickey's Good Deed" [1932]; "Santa's Workshop" [1932]; "The Night Before Christmas" [1933]; "Mickey's Steamroller" [1934]; "The Cookie Carnival" [1935 color]; "The Country Cousin" [1936 color]; "Donald's Ostrich" [1937 color]; "Snow White" animated color feature [1937]; "Mickey's Trailer" [1938 color]; "Mr. Mouse Takes A Trip" [1940 color]; "Baggage Buster" [1941 color] = goofy; "Timber" [1941 color]; "The Reluctant Dragon" [1941 b&w]; "Dumbo" animated color feature [1941]; "Donald's Gold Mine" [1942 color]; "How To Swim" [1942 color] = goofy; "Victory Through Air Power" animated color feature [1943]; "Victory Vehicles" [1943 color] = goofy; "The Plastics Inventor" [1944 color] = donald; "Donald's Day Off" [1944 color]; "The Three Caballeros" [1945 color]; "Hockey Homicide" [1945 color] (non-train clip); "Make Mine Music" [1946 color]; "Fun and Fancy Free" [1947 color]; "Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad" [1949 color]; "Tinker Toys" [1949 color] = donald + chip & dale; "The Brave Engineer" [1950 color]; "Motor Mania" [1950 color] = goofy; "Cold War" [1951 color] = goofy; "Fathers Are People" [1951 color] = goofy; Donald Duck and Chip & Dale in "Out of Scale" [1951 color]; "Susie The Little Blue Coupe" [1952 color]; "The Little House" [1952 color]; "Two Weeks Vacation" [1952 color] = goofy; "How To Be A Detective" [1952 color]; "Adventures In Music" [1953 color]; "How To Sleep" [1953 color] = goofy; "Spare The Rod" [1954 color]; "Casey Bats Again" [1954 color]; "Pigs Is Pigs" [1954 color]; "Social Lion" [1954 color]; "Lady and The Tramp" animated color feature [1955]; "Bearly Asleep" [1955]; "How To Have An Accident In The Home" [1956] = donald; "A Cowboy Needs A Horse" [1956]; "Our Friend The Atom" [1957]; "The Story of Anyburg, USA" [1957]; "Magic Highway, USA" [1958]; "Paul Bunyan" [1958]; "Donald In Mathmagic Land" [1959]; "Donald and The Wheel" [1961]; "The Sword In The Stone" animated color feature [1963]; "EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow)" [1967]; and "Scrooge McDuck and Money" [1967]

"Alice's Wonderland" [Laugh-o-Grams/Winkler Oct 1923]

Alice visits a cartoon studio and her dreams that night include a cartoon train ride, a parade in her honor, a dance performance, and being chased by a pack of lions • Produced, written & co-directed by and starring Walt Disney; co-directed by Hugh Harman & Carman Maxwell; cinematography by Rudolf Ising & Ub Iwerks; also starring Virginia Davis, Hugh Harman, Rudolf Ising, Ub Iwerks, Louise A. Wright full credits at IMDb • VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available watch short film [5/2015 upload; 8:07] online at YouTube

"Trolley Troubles" [Universal Pictures/Winkler July 1927]

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is the conductor of a trolley whose forward progress is thwarted by a cow and a series of steep hills (aided by a goat); the runaway trolley then passes thru tunnels and lands in a lake . . . • Executive produced by Carl Laemmle; produced, written & directed by Walt Disney; animators include Les Clark, Walt Disney, Friz Freleng, Rollin Hamilton, Hugh Harman, Rudolf Ising, Ub Iwerks, Carman Maxwell, Paul J. Smith full credits at IMDb • VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available watch short film [4/2011 upload; 5:44] online at YouTube

"Mickey's Choo-Choo" b&w sound cartoon
[Disney/Celebrity Media June 1929]

Very simple early sound cartoon; Mickey oils and fuels his locomotive and feeds his dog, then Minnie arrives with her fiddle; the locomotive has trouble climbing a hill and slips backward, Mickey chases after the loose boxcar with Minnie on top, they crash into a farmer's wagon stranded on the tracks, the debris forms a handcar, and Mickey & Minnie ride away into a tunnel. Directed & animated by Ub Iwerks; voices by Walt Disney full credits at IMDb • film entry at Wikipedia • watch full cartoon [6:53] online at YouTube

"Mickey & Minnie Mouse Toy Handcar" from Lionel Trains The sound cartoon was a big success and Walt began looking for some way to capitalize on the fervor for Mickey Mouse merchandise; when Walt learned that Lionel Trains® [est. 1900] was suffering from The Great Depression, he suggested that the toy company produce a wind-up handcar with Mickey & Minnie to run on Lionel's O-scale track. The simple toy was a huge success for the 1934 Christmas season, and is generally considered to have saved the Lionel company from folding. Original handcars today cost hundreds of dollars on eBay; the new all-metal, hand-painted replica versions re-issued for Disney's 100-year anniversary are available in five colors for $200 MSRP {sic} at the online Lionel Store, but not on Amazon (6/2023).

"Mr. Mouse Takes A Trip" color cartoon [Disney/R.K.O. Radio Nov 1940]

Mickey and Pluto need to get from Burbank to Pomona, but dogs are not allowed on the train - as conductor Pete makes perfectly clear; Mickey sneaks Pluto onto the train in his suitcase, but Pete finds out and chases them through the train • Directed & animated by Clyde Geronimi; original music by Ed Love & Oliver Wallace; voices of Walt Disney {as Mickey}, Lee Millar {as Pluto} & Billy Bletcher {as Pete} 69-minute Disney Studios Home Ent. color/b&w DVD [4/2009] for $7.50 11"x17" poster from Amazon for $24.57 full credits at IMDb • film entry at Wikipedia watch full cartoon [9/2012 upload; 7:46] online at YouTube

"Dumbo" animated color feature  [Disney Oct 1941]

The stork delivers a baby elephant to Mrs. Jumbo at the circus, but the newborn's enormous ears lead to ridicule and the nickmname 'Dumbo'; he performs as part of the clown acts until his only friend, a mouse, helps him achieve his full potential • Supervising director Ben Sharpsteen; adapted from a book by Helen Aberson & Harold Perl; voices of Sterling Holloway, Edward Brophy & Verna Felton Disney 60th Anniv. color VHS [10/2001] for $20.99 Disney 60th Anniv. (Spanish) color VHS [10/2001] for $22.99 Disney 60th Anniv. color DVD [10/2001] for $23.99 Disney Records audio CD [3/2001] for $11.98 full credits from IMDb • play theme music "Dumbo March" [2min:16sec midi file]

The 'magic' black feather that Timothy Q. Mouse and the crows give to the mute, floppy-eared Dumbo stands
for every religion, belief system, and dogma of Mankind. When Dumbo loses the magic feather atop the diving
tower, he must take action in the face of his fears on his own, just like all humans must do in each moment.
see April 2002 essay "The Tao of Dumbo" at Working Minds Philosophy website

"The Brave Engineer" cartoon short
[Walt Disney Pictures March 1950]

7-minute Disney-fied version of the Casey Jones legend: Technicolor animation of "The Ballad of Casey Jones" song by Eddie Newton, Wallace Saunders & T. Lawrence Seibert, performed by The King's Men – with a happy/comical ending • Co-written & directed by Jack Kinney; narrated & sung by Jerry Colonna • credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia available on the "Disney's American Legends" video & DVD Walt Disney Video color DVD [2/2002] for $10.67 Walt Disney Video color VHS [2/2002] for $13.43 watch full color short [7:36] at YouTube

"Out of Scale" color cartoon [Disney/R.K.O. Radio Nov 1951]

Donald Duck has built a large-scale model railroad in his back yard; he removes a real-life tree that is 'out of scale'; when Chip and Dale return and find their home gone, they realize that the scale-model house is just right for them . . . • Produced by Walt Disney; directed by Jack Hannah; voices of Clarence Nash, Dessie Flynn & James MacDonald full credits at IMDb • no entry at Wikipedia • watch full cartoon [7:25] online at YouTube

"The Great Locomotive Chase" [Disney June 1956]

Based on a historical Civil War event of April 1862, also called The Andrews Raid; filmed in Georgia & North Carolina; a group of Union Army soldiers was ordered to go behind Confederate lines dressed as civilians and steal a W&A Railroad locomotive and train somewhere north of Atlanta and drive it northward, cutting telegraph lines and burning bridges and ripping up track on the way. The conducter of the stolen train quickly set off in pursuit to get his train back, at first on foot, then by handcar, and finally on several commandeered locomotives • Directed by Francis D. Lyon; co-produced & written by Lawrence Edward Watkin; starring Fess Parker, Jeffrey Hunter, Jeff York, John Lupton, Eddie Firestone, Kenneth Tobey, Don Megowan, Claude Jarman Jr., Harry Carey Jr., Leonard P. Geer, George Robotham, Stan Jones, Marc Hamilton, John Wiley, Slim Pickens, Morgan Woodward Disney Studios Home Ent. color DVD [5/2004] for $9.80 Starz / Anchor Bay color DVD [3/2003] out of prodn/used Starz / Anchor Bay letterboxed widescreen color DVD [4/2000] out of prodn/used Starz / Anchor Bay color VHS [4/2000] for $9.00 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia novelization [1956] by MacLennan Roberts Dell mass pb [1956] out of print/used Dell mass pb [1956] out of print/used more details about the Andrews Raid on Magic Lantern's "The General" 1927 Movie Page

Books  and  Movies & TV  About  Walt  and  Trains

"All Aboard: The Wonderful World of Disney Trains" [Disney Editions 2015] by Dana Amendola ISBN 9781423117148
http://www.amazon.com/All-Aboard-Wonderful-Disney-Editions/dp/142311714X/

"All Aboard! Mickey’s Railway - Unfold The Train and Lift The Flaps!" [Disney 2021] by Nichole Mara, Illustrated by Andrew Kolb Abrams Extend-a-Book boardbook [3/2021] for $9.99

Image  Gallery

L i n k s

zzz entry at Wikipedia
official website/blog
Frank Capra credits at Internet Movie Database
all videos/DVDs

here on the Walt Disney's Trains Page at Magic Lantern Video & Book Store

top of page      short history      Carolwood Pacific      trains at the parks      selected movies      books & other media      image gallery      links

Visiting this webpage from outside the U.S.A.? It is possible to make purchases from these coded Amazon (USA) links
via other Amazon sites: just follow these instructions.

Online sales in association with  

top of this page • • back to Magic Lantern homepage