Disneyland - Disneyland Railroad

Let's continue the attraction-based thread theme to Disneyland and DCA, for those lucky enough to have visited there. This thread is for the trains of the Disneyland Railroad. Photos of its predecessor, the Santa Fe & Disneyland, are also accepted.

 

I made my second-ever trip to Disneyland in April, 2016. My first trip was in August, 1972. Some things changed between the two trips, but some things stayed the same.

The Disneyland Railroad was shut down due to the construction of Star Wars Land, so they displayed equipment at the Main Street and New Orleans Square stations. Cast members were on hand to answer questions, and here at New Orleans Square guests were allowed to cross the tracks to see the old station and some additional displays.

The engine on display this day was the E.P. Ripley, named for the first president of the Santa Fe Railway. It was one of the three locomotives in operation on opening day in 1955.


Believe It or Not

 

Deja vu from 1972.


Now Arriving

 

The railroad wasn't running, but among the equipment on display was the Lilly Belle. The UWA allowed me to show almost all of the car that I wasn't allowed to enter.


Lap of Luxury

 

ooooh never been able to do that before. Even when the train was shut down before

 

It's a bummer the rail road was shut down, because it is substantially better than it's Florida counterpart. The primeval world and Grand Canyon dioramas are amazing.

@seank and I were fortunate enough to ride in the Lilly Belle a few years ago when we were in Disneyland together and it was a pretty awesome experience. I have tons of photos from it… Maybe I should dig them out?

 

yeah but it's only temporary until they finish revamping the Rivers of the New Republic and get the tunnel built

 

True. But it's such a great ride that it stinks it was down at all.

 

They really do things up big in California: Big signs, searchlights, and so forth. Yowza!


Almost 61

 

All's quiet in New Orleans Square. But the trains will be rolling again soon.


Quiet...For Now

 

Another quiet night at the train station.

No Night Trains

 

Another of the engines on static display during the hiatus. The Fred Gurley is a Baldwin 2-4-4T that started its life hauling sugar cane in Louisiana.


Resting Quietly

 

A railroad needs a station and Walt's first one is one of the best, as is the Mickey in front of it.


A Classic Scene

 

The locomotives at the front of the train get all of the attention, but the brains of the train (the conductor) ride in the caboose.


The End

 

Here's some more of the Ford dinosaurs from the 1964 New York World's Fair.


Parched Dinosaurs