10 Millionth
Passenger Rides Disneyland Railroad
August 3,
1960
On
August 3, 1960, eight-year-old Raymond Sleeper from Hawaii became the
10-millionth passenger to ride the
Disneyland Railroad. He however didn’t take his historic ride alone
but with another very special passenger rode with him- Walt Disney
himself!
The Disneyland Railroad, one of the original
attractions to be a part of Disneyland
since opening day July 17, 1955, was inspired by Walt Disney's love
for trains and his live steam backyard Carolwood Pacific Railroad, a love
he shared with Disney animators Ward Kimball and Ollie Johnston.
The train originally consisted solely of custom-built, five-eighths-scale
equipment. The Walt Disney Company constructed the original two locomotives in
its own workshops under the supervision of Roger E. Broggie. Patterned after the Lilly
Belle, a miniature steam locomotive Broggie had made for Walt's backyard Carolwood Pacific Railroad, these were also
models of classic "Wild West"-style American 4-4-0s, but built to a
larger five-eighths scale. The
Disneyland Railroad remains one of Disneyland's most popular attractions as
riders can use it as transportation to other areas of the park or to simply
ride the trains on the so-called "grand circle tour." Unlike the Disneyland
Monorail System, which requires riders to disembark at the Tomorrowland station,
passengers on the railroad can remain on the trains for as long as they wish. The
railroad is, in fact, the first thing visitors see upon entering Disneyland
via the main entrance.
.jpg)
Today
guest can embark on a relaxing 18-minute, 1.2-mile scenic tour onboard the
authentic steam-powered train. Offering convenient stops at New
Orleans Square, Tomorrowland,
Mickey’s Toontown
and Main Street, U.S.A., it's the perfect way to preview the magic at
Disneyland Park and take in the picturesque scenery. For an extra special ride, ask to ride either
up front with the engineer in the tender car, or in the Presidential VIP Train
Car,The
Lilly Belle. All Aboard! And
that’s what happened today in Disneyland’s history.
No comments:
Post a Comment