Walt Disney's Disneyland Railroad - Part 1

[@Mouskegamer]

I'm jealous of that G-Scale DLRR combine above your desk! Always wanted one of them to create a larger scale DLRR set.

[@onceuponatrain]

It wasn’t too difficult to make. Bachmann no longer sells the kits. You could probably find a used combine on eBay or somewhere else online. Then primer and paint it. It’s the taping and masking that is labor intensive.

[@robbruno6713]

Relly enjoyed your video... Can't wait to watch the others.... Well done!

[@toshibavoodoo]

Cool

[@etaymarkman]

amazing coverage of the railroad's history, never knew that much merchandise for it exists(have the popcorn bucket tho) the mention of the simulator was i think the biggest part, it's the most underrated train sim that ever exists

[@onceuponatrain]

Thanks! There’s even more merchandise that we will review in Part 2.

[@fairestofthemalllocomotive4802]

Exellent as always Michael! Can’t wait to see part 2!

[@onceuponatrain]

Thanks! We're working on Part 2 right now.

[@giuliopedrali4794]

It's a nice and intressant history

[@alexandrearraou]

Awesome! Can't wait for the next part. Thank you for putting all the history together and going into detail on it. I love all the technical stuff, especially about the locomotives.

[@onceuponatrain]

You're welcome! It's a tough balancing act to make the episodes detailed enough for hobbyists, but not too pedantic for the casual viewer. I'm glad you found that this episode hit the mark with you.

[@AnnieLewin-z2g]

very informative! Thank you, I so enjoyed this!!!

[@onceuponatrain]

Thank you, Annie!

[@jeremydegeytere8385]

Fantastic video. CK Holliday is my favorite Disney locomotive. I was able to snag a N scale model new in box on eBay! The consist is a little bit pricey but I’ll probably pull the trigger eventually. I would’ve done a reverse mortgage for that Accucraft version but the popcorn bucket will do for now :)

[@onceuponatrain]

Thank you for your kind words! I've learned to never say "never" when it comes to Disney. So that Accucraft model might happen someday. It's funny that the $30 popcorn bucket version is so detailed: they even have the builders plates on it.

[@danielboone3770]

Love this video too! Great adventure!

[@onceuponatrain]

Thanks so much!

[@silverwhiteknight]

Nice episode!

[@onceuponatrain]

Thanks!

[@raymondspencer6300]

Brilliant presentation Michael- is that you strumming your DLRR themed banjo in the background?

[@onceuponatrain]

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's RAY! I've mentioned Mr. Spencer before and you'll hear a lot about him in upcoming episodes. For now, please know that Ray is: 1) Awesome; 2) a true railroader; 3) a retired Imagineering executive who is responsible for some of the best things Disney has ever created; 4) one of my bestest friends; 5) Awesome. (He's so awesome, it has to be listed twice!) Funny you should mention that banjo, Ray: it will show up in the Ward Kimball episode because of its connection to the Firehouse Five + 2. No, that isn't me playing on the music bed. I like this audience too much to subject them to that!

[@pinchy08]

I think one day you should do an episode about Disney’s collaboration with Lionel trains. Aside from a set and a few cars they manufactured to celebrate Disney Worlds 50th anniversary and some stuff celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary they have large scale battery operated sets and O scale sets themed to Toy Story and Frozen. But Lionel did more than just all of that. They made Christmas sets. A Mickey Mouse and the Fab 5 themed sets. Please do an episode one day about that.

[@onceuponatrain]

There certainly is a long history between Lionel and Disney. Perhaps enough to distill into an episode. We'll put it on the list of potential topics!

[@pinchy08]

Despite the Disneyland locomotives being a bit smaller than the ones at Disney World, I think they’re kinda cute. I love the Lukenhimer whistles the Holiday and Ripley toot.

[@onceuponatrain]

I agree! The Fort Wilderness Railroad locomotives also sported single chime Lunkenheimer whistles. More about that in a future episode.

[@pinchy08]

I wish Fort Wilderness still had a Narrow Gauge railroad circling the property. I’m curious on that upcoming episode on why they got rid of it.

[@pinchy08]

I have the CK Holiday locomotive and cars from Lowell Smith. As well as the Bachmann EP Ripley set. The Ripley set was hard to find. And paid a pretty penny for it. And yes, I have the Lego set as well. I brought the Lego set at Disney World.

[@onceuponatrain]

The Lego set is surprisingly good. The fact that it runs and is controlled by an app -- with the whistle sound from the real C. K. Holliday -- makes it that much better.

[@PhilTheHappyWanderer]

I am LOVING THE ELO SHIP IN THE BACKGROUND AHHHHHHHHHH

[@onceuponatrain]

Nicely spotted!

[@stevedegaetano8188]

Great episode, Michael! I’d love to see close ups of the vignettes on your Grand Canyon model. Where did you find the artwork?

[@onceuponatrain]

As it happens, Steve, I found a fantastic, straight-on color close-up of the side of the Grand Canyon. Recreating the scrollwork was easy, and I simply used the original image for the landscape painting.

[@waynemartin6065]

Where both fired by oil on opening day?

[@onceuponatrain]

Yes, they did. In the late 1800's, the primary types of fuel for steam locomotives were coal, wood, and -- eventually -- oil. There weren't any "filling stations" in the early days of railroading, so the steam engines burned whatever source was nearby and abundant. The shape of the smoke stack changes based on the type of fuel. For example, wood burning engines run the risk of sparks setting fire to the surrounding area and they have diamond-shaped smokestacks to help capture those cinders. However, by the early 20th century, oil was much easier to find around the country. It's also far easier to fire an oil-burner than those that use solid fuels. (I've fired all types and I can personally vouch for this. If I never lift another shovel of coal in my life, I'll be a happy man.) The Disneyland locomotives were all oil-fired because of this, but still sported the various types of smokestacks to represent the era and geography that they are meant to represent. The engines were later converted to biodiesel for a number of reasons and we'll get into that in Part 2.

[@evanburt2766]

The only thing that eeks me about the Hachette model is the steam dome. Otherwise I’d kill to have one.

[@onceuponatrain]

From my perspective, the steam dome is pretty accurate apart from the whistle being a bit too high. My quibble is that the Holliday has a wagon-top boiler and this model is essentially a straight boiler (like the Marsh). Do you notice something else?

[@evanburt2766]

@@onceuponatrain you know I never noticed the boiler. Maybe that’s why it looks a bit off to me. My other eek is the audio track for the whistle being a Rio grande 5 chime (one of my favorites) just wish it was Holliday’s Single chime.

[@nordisk1874]

You know what’s really funny? That cover of Railroad magazine has a photo by the late Ron Zeil of Green Mountain 89 now Disneyland Rail Road 89! Because Strasburg is so sterile and bland of a place. The scenery is much better in Disneyland. But pristine equipment makes it the same.

[@pedrocortes5973]

Oh yeah, currently, the Disneyland Railroad is on hold right now because they are replacing the train tracks

[@onceuponatrain]

Yes, that’s right. I’ve heard that the target reopening is November 5, but that’s not a hard date. Too bad it isn’t running for the people attending D23 this weekend.

[@The53BILL]

Will you feature info on the Accucraft Live Steam Engine The Lilly Belle that was released on 12/05/2001? Thanks

[@onceuponatrain]

Thanks for your question. I mention the live steam Lilly Belle in our episode dedicated to the Lilly Belle. I've been thinking that an episode about how a steam engine works might be of interest, and I'd fire up my model to demonstrate. More to come!