Solving The Mystery of Disneyland’s Abandoned Train Station

[@wheelindisney5874]

When Galaxy's Edge was under construction, the railroad had to be shut down for a year or more, as part of the construction involved moving the train route. During that time, Disney put one of the trains on display at the New Orleans station and gave guests the chance to actually get up close to one of the engines (since it was cold and didn't present the danger it does while hot). You could also cross the tracks and get over to the old station. That was a rare opportunity for Disney rail fans.

[@laurenlongworth9911]

I was able to look at the Lilly Belle while they did this too!

[@javiercortes5232]

Yes, and it was a great experience

[@CheriB702]

That lady in the Kodak commercial is Harriet Nelson from the tv show Ozzy and Harriet that ran from 1952-1966. It was big stuff back then. And yes I remember it. I’m that old. 😂

[@davidpiratetew6253]

I instantly laughed with the comment "This lady" lol

[@thomasorourke5731]

I was going to blame it on youth, but that is not the case. It is nothing more than just bad research!

[@alanp3260]

Fun stuff ! Thank you for the detailed dive into history of the DL railroad !

[@3wire42]

I can’t recall her maiden name, but Harriet started as a singer working with Ozzy’s dance band in the thirties. One thing lead to another and they were wed. This rest is, as they say, history…

[@karenleemallonee684]

​@@3wire42 Harriet Hilliard

[@nicball4719]

Love that Walts opening day speech is on a constant loop on the Disneyland railroad. Couldn't think of a more fitting tribute

[@expertbrian8314]

Ahhhhh the good old days when people had common sense. I miss those days 🥲

[@HeyBrickey]

Gone Forever 😂

[@ChrisWehadababyitsaboy]

fake news accelerated loss of common sense I think, squeaken squekers lol

[@KurtfromLaQuinta]

It’s not very common anymore.

[@JP-1990]

In order to have common sense, you need to have a common people.

[@KurtfromLaQuinta]

@@JP-1990 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mX67mYqcZdt4bcUsi=EcwLx0CumTPZsM_T

[@damianstellabott3613]

The station was gutted about 20 years ago. The old interior had clear oak beadboard walls and ceiling that were painted a pale green. The bay facing the berm was the ticket office, and had a partition wall inside similar to what the offices in Main St station have. The bay facing the track was a telegraph office, and was partitioned off with a small fence to allow visitors to see the telegraph in action. The telegraph repeater was wired to a magnetic tape machine so that it would click out the message instead of them just playing an audio recording like they do now. The display cases in Main St station also came out of the Frontierland station and were on the wall facing the NOS tunnel. The freight house had originally housed public restrooms.

[@doverbeachcomber]

Sad to hear of so much high-quality material and effort having been replaced with cheaper stuff. It's a common thread in all of the last 75 years of Disneyland, and in American society at large.

[@freyak552]

"This lady" holding the camera in the commercial is Harriet Nelson of Ozzie and Harriet fame, wife of Ozzie, mother of Rick or Ricky Nelson! She was a very famous television star and would have been easily recognized by everyone at the time. Ah, fame is, indeed, fleeting.

[@RobRoyRoadie]

Beat me to it!

[@carlopanno6307]

The footage looks like a process shot to me.

[@davidpiratetew6253]

​@carlopanno6307 and it was like so many others used in advertising & The Wonderful World of Disney for Disneyland. People talk about AI special effects but the producer of the video was fooled by 100 year old special effects

[@thomasorourke5731]

Bluescreen

[@ericfett9218]

And the oldest Nelson son was David

[@adrianramos4721]

Brickey’s b-roll footage is unmatched. Just gorgeous

[@eddiealmanza1]

When growing up, I would go to my cousin’s house in Arcadia and one block away Kimball would be steaming up his engine, and you can hear him go back-and-forth in his yard a few times we walked by and could see the train

[@earthandtime5817]

Another fantastic and well researched piece. Thank you! Learned something new …again from you. Keep bringing the fresh perspective and history to us! Loving it!

[@firecapt125]

That unknown woman holding the movie camera was Harriet Nelson from Ozzie and Harriet Nelson

[@TheRickRatedShow]

Great episode Brickey! And speaking of theme park train derailments, I have a fun story. It was probably the initial year that Magic Mountain was open (it wasn't owned by Six Flags back then), and my mom took me to the park for the first time. I was probably 12 years old or so, and several minutes into the train ride it completely derailed! This was '71 or '72, so they didn't have great communication systems. I can't remember if I volunteered, or if I was asked, but I ended up running back down the tracks to the station to let staff know what had happened! The train had not tipped over, and no one had been injured - it simply came off the tracks. I really don't remember how they took me back to the train - or how they evacuated everyone - what stands out is the adrenaline rush of running to "save the day" for the passengers!

[@TheDesignRescueShow]

This was a great retrospective! The historical comparisons are really pretty stark. One thing I'm a little confused by... If I were in charge, the construction walls would resemble the themed environment they're in, rather than using the same blue walls throughout the park.

[@derekwalls61]

Hey Brickey, the story I got was that the depot Ward Kimble got was just a 'flat' (3 sided), but more of a prop than a building. Walt went out to Wards property ro look at his trains one weekend and was regretting giving him such a nice building away, but Ward had put a ton of money into actually bringing the 'depot' prop up to code and making it into an actual building. He really got HOT at Walt for wanting to take it back.

[@anab.7450]

Love how many hidden Disney gems you have been able to uncover! Well done! ❤

[@joeeckardt132]

As a train fan and a modeler, this was one of your best videos ever. Keep it up!

[@jasoncarbone5553]

Thanks for another history lesson Prof. B!

[@yvettechristensen8315]

Another great deep dive!

[@BrowncoatProductions]

If you're going to do a video on Ward Kimball, you need to go to the rail museum in Perris, CA. They have a bunch of his collection there.

[@mgtrumpet]

My daughter was married at the Perris museum last month. She and her husband both work on Main St vehicles.

[@anab.7450]

Perris train museum is a gem if you’re into trains❤

[@turnleftman]

​@@anab.7450It really is. They have so much stuff

[@markwheaton6768]

Another great video love your research and artistry. I do have a suggestion for a video if you take them?

[@michaelheimple8579]

In the Frontierland station, what is the DCA Telephone Baking System?

[@sunnybearify]

Excellent as always! I especially love these historical videos. I'm thankful for your videos because they allow me to be an imagineer, my childhood dream. Love you Brickey!

[@disneylandlux]

Dang - cattle cars? I love how you uncover this surprising history.

[@PorchPotatoMike]

That train is still there. It has been converted to a side facing people train and is now designated as “Holiday 2”. You can still see the differences in one car to the next and the heavier construction.

[@disneylandlux]

@@PorchPotatoMike Thanks! I always wondered why some trains had the side facing seats - those are the best 😊

[@jetsons101]

I think that "lady" in the 50's Kodak commercial is Harriet of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet TV show.

[@michaelsullivan3581]

Thank you so much, Brickey! GREAT report! Another spotting feature of Train #2: Holiday Red , is that it still has the 'Boxcar Red' Caboose on the tail end of it!

[@KurtfromLaQuinta]

One could ride in the caboose back in the day. You could actually climb up into the upper part of it. You could see down into the bottom of the Grand Canyon floor up there.

[@GeoTactics]

Hey... Brickey.... it's awesome to see that second rail line is still there above the walkways. Great stuff.

[@brentleslie8156]

Wow, more great research and information!

[@Meatball2022]

17:58 the money shot. Well done

[@VirtualTempleOfTheForbiddenEye]

Great Video Brickey. Makes me want to go ride the trains.

[@carlopanno6307]

The steam bunker has a lot of mesh in front of it to make sure that the wild animals living in the park don't crawl in and get boiled alive.

[@HeyBrickey]

That’s a great point!!! And would not be good if a little critter got in there.

[@tubulardude44]

I just discovered that when I was growing up in Arcadia, California (1956-1968), I lived just 1.7 miles from Ward Kimball‘s house! I could’ve ridden my bike over there and asked to take a trip on the railroad at Grizzly Flats! 😭

[@ct6852]

Is that close to the park?

[@travisdudley1096]

Ward & Betty Kimball lived @ 8910 Ardendale Ave, San Gabriel, CA 91775 Home of the Grizzly Flats RR

[@DisneyIsMyHappyPlace]

Great research!

[@PorchPotatoMike]

I always thought it weird that engine 1 (C. K. Holliday) would pull RETLAW 2 and engine 2 (E. P. Ripley) would pull RETLAW 1.

[@michaelsullivan3581]

Maybe it has something to do with "Retlaw" being "Walter", backwards? Nyuk nyuk!

[@brucesorensen]

The "lady " you mentioned was Harriet Nelson, star of 50s tv show "the adventures of Ozzie and Harriet."

[@FunAtDisney]

Love the story Bricky as always! By the way, the “lady” holding the Kodak film camera was Harriet Nelson - Ozzie Nelson’s of the 1950’s “Ozzie & Harriet” TV show. One of there son’s was of course the famous pop singer Ricky Nelson woh had numerous hits.

[@tylerkochman1007]

Great video. Subscribed to your whole channel midway through this video, due to how great a job you did with this

[@Sonny_Eclipse]

I remember the frontierland train station and I also remember the Indian Village with the Indian dancers and I remember gun fights between two Cowboys about where the haunted mansion is. Many good memories that the modern Disney can’t scrape away with a bulldozer

[@hwaynecook]

Hey Brickey! Excellent video. One question that I have never seen answered. In the original configuration with the separate passenger train (round trip non stop from Main Street) and Freight Train (round trip non stop from Frontierland), I have only seen a water tower at Frontierland. Where was the 2nd water tower located that would refresh the passenger train? Thanks so much for your perspective on the parks!

[@HeyBrickey]

Great question and not that I’m aware of. I would assume they either had one back where Small World stands today or they pulled into Frontierland.

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

@@hwaynecook historically it was always just the one iirc

[@crystalraetoday9385]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing the amazing history. 👍🏾👍🏾

[@pinbot76]

The damaged baggage building was immortalized in the “Two Brothers” segment in EPCOT’S American Adventure as well as later iterations of Mr. Lincoln. It is labeled “Mullers Landing”.

[@alextirrellRI]

I'm actually impressed that secondary railway is still even (partially?) there, as it seems Disney replaces the track -- they have been working on it recently.

[@carlopanno6307]

You can also ask the railroad CMs "How many trains are you running?" to determine how long you gave to wait.

[@PorchPotatoMike]

“No square inch goes unused at Disneyland”? Tomorrowland would like to have a word with you.

[@ct6852]

That old 'Starcade' is like a sad liminal space now.

[@shashona3084]

Another Disney mystery uncovered

[@michaelsmiley15]

One thing about Walt Disney You did not mess with his train

[@more2me100]

My boyfriend and I go the Disneyland almost once a week. And he love the train! We often go around asking cast members this question! Is the Disneyland Railroad a ride/attraction or is it transportation? I’m eager to hear people’s answers! 😊😂

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

@@more2me100 I see it as both. Originally an attraction, and expanded to become transportation

[@ct6852]

Mostly for transportation I think. But I think the dinosaur/grand canyon diorama thing is pretty unmissable. Used to love that as a kid.

[@forrestchambers1690]

we recently found the abandoned tracks around the water. found old pics of the train on the old tracks. interesting the different routes the train's took as the park grew. great video (as usual) #VIBES

[@edstrong597]

Fun video, it’s great seeing the old footage mixed with the current park. I can’t wait to buy a new hat. I hope the proceeds go to #savethekids.

[@pacheaco727]

Love the ambient sound on the video

[@jasonneverkovec2889]

Are you thinking of making fitted hats? Snap backs never fit me right. Big head gang. Lol

[@virus-hoax]

Walt could have eliminated the need for manual switching by having the trains travel in opposite directions with spring loaded switches that always sent the trains to the right, but also allow trains going in the other direction to pass over the switch due to being spring loaded and not fixed.

[@happyyad]

Hay Bricky, we agree about the Haunted Mansion Gift Shop, Yuk🤮

[@more2me100]

Brickey I always enjoy your videos! Man, you are good at making them! The blue and white Disneyland hat would make a perfect Christmas gift for my bf! Will definitely get one for him!

[@keithakola]

Looking forward to the Ward Kimble video. Her was a cool guy!

[@markwduns]

In related Ward Kimball train things, the Southern California Railway Museum out in Perris has some of Ward's Grizzly Flats trains, as well as old Disneyland Main Entrance ticket booths, for anyone wanting to make the drive out there.

[@tom_reagan]

Hey Brickey! Topic Suggestion: the gazebo that’s seen at 12:20 mark, which moved around the park at least three times. It’s now in a park somewhere not too far from Anaheim.

[@SA12String]

I remember a time, when I was working at the French Market, that the train left the New Orleans station after filling with water and one of the railroad ties was on fire. We made the call to security, then took buckets of water onto the tracks to put out the fire, although I imagine that we weren't supposed to be on the tracks at all, ever, for any reason. It had the burn marks for the entire time I worked there. I assume they changed it out since.

[@robertewalt7789]

I went to Disneyland in maybe 1971. I think I remember both stations.

[@MartianSolarbuddy]

Finally subscribed! It took a while to realize that your focus on Disneyland history and “what Walt did” is exactly what I’m interested in. Keep it up!

[@lilliessunshine4993]

I did too!

[@karenleemallonee684]

Hahaha, that lady in the Kodak commercial is Harriet Nelson. Harriet is the Mother of David & Ricky, and wife to Ozzie. All together they had a TV show called, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet...Great classic show. Ricky Nelson, had a huge singing career with hits, Hello Mary Lou, Lonesome Town, Traveling Man & Garden Party. He had many hits!!! 👍👍

[@LauriCarlson-ld9gq]

Frontierland train station is still there across from New Orleans square train station

[@danfoley3370]

Brickey! Love your content. Question: I thought I heard and had seen before that the train station was used in the final photo of "Two Brothers" at the American Adventure when the family is bringing home one of the fallen brothers in a casket. The Train Station is listed as "Mullers Landing".

[@durnno]

Great video!

[@johnpurdum8126]

What is the status on the building that has been covered for 2 years? What was it used for? Does it really need to be there if it hasn't been repaired?

[@miked6947]

Love the hat it’s my new favorite holiday hat

[@stevemellin5806]

Lived down the block from Ward Kimble's house . good times

[@rexnewcombe8337]

The lady who was singing to the guest, is Cathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters. They were on the Lawrence welk show

[@Gail1Marie]

The telegraphic message uses International Morse Code, not what would be the authentic "railroad Morse," or American Morse code. Over 50 years ago, when I became a "ham" radio operator, there were still hams on the air who had been railroad telegraphers and they used "railroad Morse" to communicate with each other. Sadly, they've all gone "silent key" now.

[@radtraveldad]

I literally said “like the new carriage house” at the same time that you did… I honestly don’t have as big of a problem with the theming of the carriage house (like everyone else does) as much as the shame that they messed up the scale of the mansion with that monstrosity. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@nytefyter]

Grizzley Flat was a thriving little town in El Dorado County, CA, until it was burned off the map by the Caldor Fire on August 16, 2021.

[@LoyaFrostwind]

😢

[@datsun210]

At 12:23 That lady happens to be Harriet Nelson (from Ozzie & Harriet). You should know that.

[@travisdudley1096]

I enjoy your videos Brickey. However your diagram of the train derailment is incorrect. Also, the only photographs of the accident shows the switch was thrown from the main track to the siding the rear end of the Caboose (Which later became the Lilly Belle) that derailed actually didn't derail but started down the siding track. I've heard there may be two separate incidents. One told by Michael Broggie in His book and possibly a separate incident told by Ward Kimball.

[@simba001ly]

Love ❤ this video!

[@cathypiper9373]

It’s too bad Disney didn’t find a way to use at least some of this building in the new shed . Then there would have had a bit of vintage history in structure. It would been a cost saving and far more attractive than what they chose.

[@albertrubidoux]

Thanks, Bricky for a great story. My wifey coined a phrase for train lovers like me. Fero-Equine-ologist. Iron Horse Experts.

[@ClaerisGames]

A couple of your clips look like they come from a movie. What movie is it?

[@illuminaughty2929]

Riding in the Casey Jr wild cage car made me feel like a Tiger

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

Hey Brickey... any word on why they haven't tried two loops of track again? With modern automatic switches and sensors, they could eliminate the need for a brakeman, and the problems that happened with the original two-loop system, and still have the trains run safely. Think about the monorail and how its' switches work.

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

Too much operation that wouldn't make sense present day. Walt's original intentions with the railroad was just a literal grand circle tour, and didn't see it becoming a legitimate means of transport around the park. Re-implementing this just wouldn't make sense in the eyes of logistics

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

@@TSMGL_KZbin On the contrary, it actually could be useful to relieve congestion on busy days, with two trains stopping at alternating stations. Two trains, three or four stations at equal points around the perimeter, makes sense.

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

@@TheOneTrueDragonKing it still would not make sense. They have enough railroad to space out the trains creating decent headways between them, and would make it more confusing for park guests who genuinely need to get from point a to point b. Take it from me, I volunteer with trolleys at a museum and having passing loops actually makes sense when you have a single track bi-directional mainline. Very rarely do we need to use sidings to bypass another service when multiple are operating in one direction

[@TheOneTrueDragonKing]

@@TSMGL_KZbin If that's what they need, all they'd have to do is wait for a loop. This could also make it so they could increase the number of trains in service from two to four or more.

[@TSMGL_Youtube]

@@TheOneTrueDragonKing they have the capacity to operate four trains on the busiest of days, which is why the block signals exist. The passing loops would just be one more thing to worry about behind the scenes, and makes no sense for today's operation. Congestion is not much of an issue with operations like these where you are running one type of service, on one track, going in a single direction. No need to make it all fancy and complicated.

[@badkarma3059]

Common sense isn't so common any more sadly

[@Jay-cub-r4p]

I thought it was called Holiday red because the engine is the CK Holiday. He was one of the executives of the Santa Fe railroad.

[@kwu2242]

Hi Mr Red!

[@gododgers081]

Hey Brickey? How old is this video you made?

[@HeyBrickey]

@@gododgers081 about 90 minutes

[@ct6852]

@@HeyBrickey Good for you for doing the whole script off the top of your head. That's awesome.

[@mikes2147]

It is not about courtesy, it is a massive difference in volume.

[@Marchant2]

I think it's less of having common sense (for the lack of railings, etc.) and more the fact that as time goes by, mishaps are statistically inevitable, and after so many years, enough mishaps will happen that would cause safety measures to prevent future mishaps. I don't think it has anything to do with people, in general, losing their common sense.

[@Drebe73]

2:4u Even livestock don’t want to be treated as livestock.

[@Perich29]

5:01 the brakeman fired himself.

[@sonicnick5192]

19:01 I thought the holiday stood for CK Holiday

[@StephenYang]

I'm told there's a cast restaurant on the other side of the old station!

[@gododgers081]

What shows that train station behind you is not burnt anymore. Did they fix it and take it down? Did they take all the stuff off of the main street train station already? The reason why I asked is cause the video seems like it was Disneyland from sometime ago as you’re recording.

[@HeyBrickey]

Filmed two days ago

[@gododgers081]

@ I love your videos. You always seem to look beyond and I think it’s fabulous. And the fact that you still have a passion for Disney after working for them at one point. I thought they fixed everything but I was not looking at the whole picture and see that it’s still got walls over it lol keep us posted on everything and do me a favor and find out if they’re gonna open up the other wall on the tunnel at Tiana’s Bayou on the railroad

[@HollywoodF1]

It’s not abandoned. It’s just not accessible to guests inside. CM’s use it.

[@ct6852]

If ever there was a smoking area in Disneyland it should've been Magnolia Park. 🔥

[@johnpurdum8126]

It used to be in the covered area by Matterhorn Bobsleds, that used to be the Motor Boat Cruise until the 90's.

[@ct6852]

@@johnpurdum8126 Oh so there were motor boats! Had such vague memories of that from childhood for a long time, but then they disappeared and I thought I was conflating different memories. That's fun to know.

[@ct6852]

@@johnpurdum8126 Also thought I imagined this train station until this episode. lol

[@chazbrady8895]

The cattle cars were used in the 70s into the 80s

[@stevemammen5595]

What Up, Brick!!

[@kb6lcw99]

Hello

[@southpuddle]

More common sense? Probably, but also people used to get run over by trains a lot more 😅

[@michaelhband]

👍👍👍❤❤❤

[@ketchy9]

Ward kimball bio when?

[@very.happy.ben.]

17:35 😆

[@lcruz2783]

Today Nov 24 2023 was the first day I walked my Granddaughter into Disneyland for the first time, I got a great video of it, and it is a great memory of more to come. Your videos are gold for us who don't get to go as often. Awesome videos Si!!

[@eddieg6436]

I love the knock to today’s masses of idiots, and their lack of common sense!! 👌👍😀

[@1973Washu]

Walt Disney was a massive model train enthusiast and these Trains were part of his hobby.

[@kyusshead]

Down with safety measures! Rails around a train? What's the point?!