Walt Disney's Carolwood Pacific Railroad

[@3catowner]

I love how you got Bill Rogers to introduce and close the episode. Just like when he did the Park! Great file footage. Gives me more details to share with guests.

[@onceuponatrain]

Bill and his wife are among my dearest friends. I invited him to announce the opening of my exhibition at the Walt Disney Family Museum in 2014 and became instant pals.

[@eliotreader8220]

@@onceuponatrain I understand the track remained in Walt's back garden until a few years before his death when he gave it to a live steam railroad club. is this information correct

[@onceuponatrain]

Yes, it is. I discuss this starting at 13:27 in the video. He donated it in 1964. It was used to build a large expansion of the Los Angeles Live Steamers railroad. They named it the "Disney Loop" in Walt's honor shortly after he passed away in 1966.

[@miguelfernandez1643]

Another great video! I'm so glad you are doing these!

[@onceuponatrain]

Thanks, Miguel! I’m planning an episode just about the Barn. Perhaps I can interview you for that? It wouldn’t have happened without you!

[@miguelfernandez1643]

@@onceuponatrain Happy to assist in any way you need!

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

I'm always amazed at how large and ambitious the Carolwood Pacific was. Most of us would be content with a loop of track and a switch or two, but not Walt! He always dreamed bigger.

[@onceuponatrain]

In my research for this episode, I came across a quote from Roy O. Disney about Walt. Essentially he said that Walt didn't have any extravagances except for the Carolwood Pacific. Walt had some nice cars, but they weren't Rolls Royce or Bentley (and he sold them when he needed cash). He had a home at Smoke Tree Ranch, but then sold that to help raise funds to build Disneyland. Walt also hand built a lot of the Lilly Belle, rolling stock, and railroad; he didn't "outsource it". This is not to say he was broke from the late 40's on, but he definitely didn't live like the ultra rich.

[@stanleydomalewski8497]

Great Video😊 Thanks for Sharing !😊!

[@onceuponatrain]

You are very welcome!

[@TheBoyMechanic]

Always great to see the history of Walt Disney's railroad hobby. I'm still thinking one day of making a large scale version of Walt coasting on the top of a boxcar ... powered of course.

[@onceuponatrain]

“Walt surfing on a box car” is one of my favorite clips. Probably because I’d do the same thing given the chance.

[@fairestofthemalllocomotive4802]

Another stellar video Mike! Can’t wait for the next one!

[@onceuponatrain]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it! The next one is about the FWRR.

[@robtman9199]

Outstanding video and it answered a question about the track plan and rolling stock. Thank you very much. Love to see anything connected to Walts love of trains.

[@onceuponatrain]

You are most welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@the101stdalmatian8]

You can see the mystery "gondola" in the train in the black and white footage at 13:01. You can also see the "gondola" in the train in the footage at 13:05, carrying passengers. It even looks like it derails and the kid riding it shouts out at 13:07 as it gets dragged over the ties.

[@danielboone3770]

Love this too!

[@waynemartin6065]

Great video!

[@onceuponatrain]

Thank you for watching!

[@frankbruno9499]

New sub. Extremly informative.Loaded with stills, facts and footage I have not seen before.I had the pleasure to work at the studio and met Ward Kimball,Ollie Johnson and Chet Peterson was a personal friend who introduced me to David Rose.Mr. Garland of the Calif RR Museum Sacramento Great exhibit.Much success with your site.Your videos are a perfect companion to Michael Broggie's another acquiensce, book.

[@onceuponatrain]

Thank you for your kind comments! You certainly got to meet some of the greats.

[@robertlucido3686]

Will you be featuring Walt Disney's 1956 movie, "The Great Locomotive Chase," as well as Ward Kimball's Grizzly Flatts Railroad collection

[@onceuponatrain]

Yes! Both are on the roster. I produced a show about TGLC at the WDFM for the film's 50th anniversary. I've also had the honor of operating the Inyo, which appeared in the film. As for Kimball, there's a whole episode just about him planned.I visited him at his home a few times and have some fun stories to share.

[@gardenrailroading]

I love the video! Just curious if you ever heard of Ray Fox? Ray was my Mom's 4th cousin and head carpenter for Walt for a number of years. I remember seeing Ray's name on Walt's apartment window on main street until about 1968. As I understand from Mr.Brody's book that Ray helped Walt learn carpentry while building the train. As a side note,I worked for Disney in 1970/71 as a lead fry cook for the Pit Stop Cafe under the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Thank you for all your hard work on this video! Mark Howe

[@onceuponatrain]

I absolutely know about Ray Fox! He’s in the video of Walt taking the yellow caboose out of the barn. And thank you for your kind comments and your service as a Cast Member!

[@gardenrailroading]

@@onceuponatrain I thought that looked like Ray, I remember,as a young boy, being at Ray and Mildred's home. Ray carved a bust of Will Rogers that looked beautiful and I remember seeing Wooden flowers in a vase that looked real. I did love my time as a cast member. I make my own (amateur) videos about Garden Railroading, it is a great retirement hobby.

[@pinchy08]

I’m still happy with my N scale model of Lilly Belle. I just couldn’t get the rolling stock though.

[@onceuponatrain]

Lowell Smith's N-scale CPRR rolling stock do show up on eB@y from time-to-time. The three freight-car set just sold for for about $200.

[@pinchy08]

That’s too much a pretty penny for me. Luckily KZbin user “Fairest of them all Locomotives Works” could customize me a CPRR Bobber Caboose in N scale. The Bachmann HO set also shows up on eBay from Time to Time. I’ll see what I can do to snag one of those eventually.

[@brianscott9749]

Let’s get the rest of the O scale train set made, please 😁

[@onceuponatrain]

One way or another, I’m pretty sure it will happen. 😎

[@julyleonard]

That Locomotive looks similar to the one from The Brave Engineer, right?

[@onceuponatrain]

Good eyes! Yes, they are very similar. "The Brave Engineer" short was released in 1950. This is right around the same time Walt was constructing the Lilly Belle locomotive. It's not surprising that there would be a strong resemblance, although the cartoon engine is somewhat simplified (probably to make it easier to animate).

[@julyleonard]

@@onceuponatrain Agreed. Besides, the number 2 train that Casey Jones drives is named Johnny, while the number 77 # 5 freight trains are named Zeb & Zeek. Even though they're not mentioned in the short.

[@Nostall123YT]

@@julyleonard In the actual short the locomotives are inanimate and unnamed. Those names are merely fan creations.

[@julyleonard]

@@Nostall123YT Same ol, same ol.

[@tjohnlaser4709]

Hi Michael, Just found you channel today, it brings back memories of the "Burnsland" discussion board. Was there ever a flat car (camera car)? It may have been a gondola chassis without the side walls.

[@onceuponatrain]

Great to hear from you! All of the gondolas are convertible to flatcars. The staves and sides were cast as one piece. I removed one of them at some point; I’ll have to see if I have a photo of that.

[@RioGrandeMan-c5r]

I had no clue that Walt based his caboose off of a C&S one. Just give me another reason to build another Lego version of the Carolwood one. Thxs for the info!

[@onceuponatrain]

Share some photos when you build one!

[@RioGrandeMan-c5r]

Where to? I got it one on hand right and would love to show pictures.

[@onceuponatrain]

You're welcome to post it in the comments of the Once Upon a Train Facebook or Instagram pages. You can also share them on Burnsland.com