When Walt Disney World opened on October 1st, 1971 the Walt Disney World Railroad was one of the first attractions that greeted the approximately 10,000 guests.
The first locomotives that operated were #1 Walter E. Disney, #2 the Lilly Belle, and #3 Roger E. Broggie. Engine #4 Roy O. Disney began operation on December 1. 1971. This was the same month that Roy passed away, and just two months after he dedicated Magic Kingdom. When Walt passed away in 1966, Roy was charged with taking over The Florida Project, this being the name given to Walt Disney World before it was actually called such. Engine #1 was named of course after Walt Disney himself. Engine #2 the Lilly Belle was named after Walt's wife Lillian. (See this week's WDW history) Engine #3 was named after Roger E. Broggie who joined Disney in 1939 as a precision machinist and was parmount in developing many of the unique attraction mechanics.
These four engines were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia in the 1910's and 1920's. In 1969 they were purchased by the Disney Company from the United Railways of Yucatan where they were operating as freight locomotives. Walter E. Disney and Roger E. Broggie are actually twins, meaning they were constructed together having construction numbers 58444 and 58445. These engines were built in 1925. The Belle was built in 1928 with Roy being built in 1916. Broggie was the actual person that found these locomotives in a scrapyard in Merida, Mexico.
According to archivists, five engines were purchased in 1969 but because there is a slight grade on the approach to Toontown Fair Station and the fact that the fifth engine was underpowered, it was never put into service. The engine was to be #5 Ward Kimball. This honor was just recently bestowed to an engine in the Disneyland Resort. Kimball was part of Disney's Nine Old Men; the same men that developed most of Disney animation techniques.
The Grand Circle Tour is a 1.5 mile, 20 minute journey and quite possibly has the most history of any another attraction at Walt Disney World. Every station has a story and every locomotive has a story. There are a lot of fans of WDWRR as there are rail fans in the world. There is a tremendous amount of pride that the Engineers, Firemen, and Conductors have for their railroad. This is evident when you look at how pristine these engines look.
When the railroad opened in 1971, it only had one stop, Main Street USA. Through the years there has been the addition of Frontierland Station and Mickey's Toontown Fair station. There have been many name changes through the years for these stations as well as location changes. The original Frontierland station was built where Splash Mountain stands today. It was torn down during the construction of Splash Mountain in the early 90's.
Personally, being a rail fan this is quite possibly one of my most loved attractions. The history of these rails is immense and clearly something that I enjoy. It also brings back many memories of family vacations and the hours that we spent sitting on the train because we were exhausted. There were many trips that I recall singing the Rollin' on the Express song with my sister on the car ride from Hernando where my Grandparents used to live to Disney.
THIS WEEK IN WDW HISTORY:
The first locomotives that operated were #1 Walter E. Disney, #2 the Lilly Belle, and #3 Roger E. Broggie. Engine #4 Roy O. Disney began operation on December 1. 1971. This was the same month that Roy passed away, and just two months after he dedicated Magic Kingdom. When Walt passed away in 1966, Roy was charged with taking over The Florida Project, this being the name given to Walt Disney World before it was actually called such. Engine #1 was named of course after Walt Disney himself. Engine #2 the Lilly Belle was named after Walt's wife Lillian. (See this week's WDW history) Engine #3 was named after Roger E. Broggie who joined Disney in 1939 as a precision machinist and was parmount in developing many of the unique attraction mechanics.
These four engines were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia in the 1910's and 1920's. In 1969 they were purchased by the Disney Company from the United Railways of Yucatan where they were operating as freight locomotives. Walter E. Disney and Roger E. Broggie are actually twins, meaning they were constructed together having construction numbers 58444 and 58445. These engines were built in 1925. The Belle was built in 1928 with Roy being built in 1916. Broggie was the actual person that found these locomotives in a scrapyard in Merida, Mexico.
According to archivists, five engines were purchased in 1969 but because there is a slight grade on the approach to Toontown Fair Station and the fact that the fifth engine was underpowered, it was never put into service. The engine was to be #5 Ward Kimball. This honor was just recently bestowed to an engine in the Disneyland Resort. Kimball was part of Disney's Nine Old Men; the same men that developed most of Disney animation techniques.
The Grand Circle Tour is a 1.5 mile, 20 minute journey and quite possibly has the most history of any another attraction at Walt Disney World. Every station has a story and every locomotive has a story. There are a lot of fans of WDWRR as there are rail fans in the world. There is a tremendous amount of pride that the Engineers, Firemen, and Conductors have for their railroad. This is evident when you look at how pristine these engines look.
When the railroad opened in 1971, it only had one stop, Main Street USA. Through the years there has been the addition of Frontierland Station and Mickey's Toontown Fair station. There have been many name changes through the years for these stations as well as location changes. The original Frontierland station was built where Splash Mountain stands today. It was torn down during the construction of Splash Mountain in the early 90's.
Personally, being a rail fan this is quite possibly one of my most loved attractions. The history of these rails is immense and clearly something that I enjoy. It also brings back many memories of family vacations and the hours that we spent sitting on the train because we were exhausted. There were many trips that I recall singing the Rollin' on the Express song with my sister on the car ride from Hernando where my Grandparents used to live to Disney.
THIS WEEK IN WDW HISTORY:
1971 - Recreacres, Inc. - a company that bought land for Walt Disney World changes its name to Buena Vista Land Company, Inc. later to be known as the Walt Disney World Hospitality and Recreation Corporation.
2005 - Walt Disney World announces that River Country will close permanently.
2007 - Finding Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom as well as The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot officially open to the public.
NUMBER OF DAYS UNTIL OUR VACACTION: 100
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