YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE. Prepare to board Disney History 101’s “Grand Tour” of one of Disneyland’s top-billed attractions - some the original rolling stock of THE DISNEYLAND & SANTA FE RAILROAD’S RETLAW1!
During our tour, we’ll make stops at Walt’s Carolwood Barn, Santa Margarita Ranch, and Disneyland U.S.A - ending our tour with a visit to the ancient “Grand Canyon”. As your personal tour of RETLAW1’s stock is complimentary, tickets will not be checked during today’s excursion. We’ve got a lot of traveling ahead of us, so please remember to stay seated, keeping your hands, arms, legs and feet inside the train at all times, and please watch your children. ALL ABOARD!
“A BRIEF HISTORY”
While en route to our first destination, I would like to share a brief history of RETLAW1. Most of us know of Walt Disney’s family history with Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, Walt’s work aboard the Missouri Pacific as a youth, and his passion for narrow gauge railways expressed in part through Walt’s Carolwood Pacific backyard railroad. Concurrent with developing plans for a Mickey Mouse park, Walt swiftly turned his attention towards locomotives and cars that were just slightly out-of-scale.
Walt’s preference for 5 : 8 scale (what would become the gauge for the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad’s stock), was established at the sight of Travel Town Museum’s recent acquisition - a set of narrow gauge Oahu Railway and Land Company cars. (I would like to add that one can still visit these very cars inside Griffith Park, about 15 minutes from Walt Disney Studios). Please CLICK the following window to view the passenger cars that inspired Walt!
Walt made an offer, but after Travel Town wouldn’t sell the historic pre-World War II cars. It was soon after, that Walt made arrangements to have Disneyland’s railroad cars and stock constructed mostly from scratch at the Walt Disney Studios, and re-assembled in Disneyland’s backstage area.
RETLAW1’s six passenger cars under construction inside one of Walt Disney Studio’s sound stages. Photograph part of Michael Broggie collection, on display at Walt’s Carolwood Barn Museum.
Hand-painted letters were applied under studio lamps inside one of the soundstages.
RETLAW1’s rolling stock with completed paint scheme awaits opening day! Photograph part of Michael Broggie collection, on display at Walt’s Carolwood Barn Museum.
Walt Disney’s privately held company, WED Enterprises financed the (roughly $240,000) to create the two trains. Bob Gurr (the man credited for most things that move inside Disneyland), drew the plans for the 1890’s-style passenger cars, while the narrow gauge cars (as well as the two original engines) were mostly manufactured at Walt Disney Studios.
Once complete, RETLAW1’s six 1890’s-style passenger cars were pulled by the No.2 locomotive. Their inaugural run took place on July 10, 1955, just one week before Disneyland’s opening ceremonies. Employees and their children enjoyed the test-runs around Walt’s magic kingdom from inside the passenger cars.
RETLAW1 at Main Street train station, awaiting boarding procedure. Photograph part of Michael Broggie collection, on display at Walt’s Carolwood Barn Museum.
RETLAW1 comes around a bank of Frontierland’s Rivers of America, circa 1955!
Car #103 - The Colorado Rockies, Main Street Station, 1950s.
After Disneyland opened in 1955, the only way to board RETLAW1 was at the Main Street train station. This continued for one year - until 1956, when the Fantasyland depot and second stop was added along the line. The full set of RETLAW1’s cars continued making both stops for ten years.
Sometimes other engines (like the Ernest S. Marsh) were used to pull RETLAW1’s cars #101-106.
As Disneyland guests increased over the decade, so did RETLAW1’s passengers, and the cars started to show wear. Partially due to the loading time, as well as the limited view through the passenger car’s windows, RETLAW1 was completely taken out of service. By 1974, they were completely retired to the back stage (albeit one car).
So, just what became of RETLAW1’s passenger cars at this point? We’ll continue their story upon arrival at our first destination!
"#101 - WALT DISNEY'S CAROLWOOD BARN MUSEUM"
Our first stop along our “Grand Circle Tour” is one must-see destination for any railfan or enthusiast of Walt Disney’s work. Welcome to Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn - home of RETLAW1 #101! Car #101 was unique, as it was the only “combine” car among the Disneyland Railroad’s rolling stock. The Disneyland & Santa Fe Railroad’s combine car is believed to have been so dear to Walt’s heart, because it’s bears some semblance to the Missouri Pacific cars Walt boarded as a fourteen-year-old news butch. So it isn’t any surprise that Walt made sure to include a combine car among the plans for his narrow gauge railway back in 1954!
Naturally, we’ll start the beginning of our RETLAW1 tour with car #101!
In 1992, a man named Bill Norred acquired and cared for RETLAW1’s cars #101 - 105, but passed two years later. Eventually, Bill Norred’s family sold #102 - 105, but retained the combine car #101. In order to preserve the condition of the combine car, the Norred family agreed to sell the car to the Carolwood Foundation. According to Carolwood Foundation’s official webpage (www.carolwood.org/retlaw1.html), the sale was finalized by July 10, 2010. With restoration of the car complete , Carolwood Foundation proceeded to construct a shelter for the car. Some of you cast members may note the shed’s similar style to one utilized to shelter Disneyland Railroad’s cars in their backstage area.
Perhaps you remember riding inside the rear portion of the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad’s combine car.
Some of you lucky passengers might even recall riding in the baggage compartment of car 101. During the late eighteenth century, compartments like this were used to sort mail. However, this compartment was never used to gather and sort the guest’s mail left in Disneyland’s mailboxes.
Please, step this way.
You might remember hearing the Disneyland Railroad’s spiel piped through the speakers in this car. Do you recall where the sound emitted from within this compartment?
I would like to present car #101’s coach section.
Younger guests may or may not be familiar with the smell of naugahyde. Passenger seating fashioned from this material, was in use on the combine (as well as cars #102 - 106).
If you’ll direct your attention upward, you’ll notice the wood paneling below the overhead windows (with their etched glass patterns). Luxuries like this were common inside late eighteenth century VIP observation passenger cars.
If it got a wee bit warm along those summertime excursions, guests could open their adjacent windows!
DID YOU KNOW : RETLAW1 #101 sits atop actual Disneyland rails!
Before we head down the tracks, feel free to take one final look at RETLAW1’s car #101 at Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn museum!
"#102 - 105 - SANTA MARGARITA RANCH"
Let’s continue the story of those five cars once owned by railfan Bill Norred. Car #101 was sold to Carolwood Foundation, where it was fully restored to it’s former condition and sheltered from the elements. But what became of the other four cars (#102 - #105)? In 1998, a family friend and collector named Bob Rossi was given the opportunity to purchase them. The best part - he even had his own railway - Pacific Coast Railroad in San Luis Obispo County!
As we steam on through to our next destination at Santa Margarita Ranch, let’s examine the names of the four former Disneyland RETLAW1 cars owned by Bob Rossi. Unlike the combine car, these passenger cars were originally given designations which they retained during their service to the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad. The names were derived from wonders one might see or experience en route aboard the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Let’s take a brief look at four of them now :
THE NAVAJO CHIEF - starting in 1937, the Santa Fe Railway’s Super Chief passenger train carried an observation car called the Navajo. From this car, Santa Fe travelers could observe the scenic Navajo territory as it passed by. The name of the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad’s Navajo Chief is homage to this historic car!
THE COLORADO ROCKIES - The Southern Colorado Rocky Mountains (or, Colorado Rockies), run right along the border of Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is likely that Walt observed the majestic peaks while traveling aboard a passenger train between Kansas City Missouri and Los Angeles.
THE LAND OF THE PUEBLOS - This car is named after the New Mexican Native American territory (which holds several nationally protected pueblos) and appropriately overlaps Santa Fe National Forest land!
If you ask Slue Foot Sue or Pecos Bill how the THE PAINTED DESERT got it’s name, you just may get an entirely different story. The fact is that THE PAINTED DESERT acquired it’s name after a territory through which the Santa Fe Railway runs. You might recall that Walt once took a holiday with his family, in order to explore the natural wonders of the Painted Desert Petrified Forest National Park. It was on this trip that Walt brought a souvenir home with him, and gifted it to Disneyland’s Rivers of America.
Most of the cars are in need of major restoration, which they are receiving at a meticulously careful pace.
The Painted Desert - as it currently appears in it’s glistening yellow glory!
I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY DE-RAIL OUR TOPIC TO SHARE THE SERENDIPITOUS THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN YOU VOLUNTEER! Our new friend formerly worked at Disneyland from 1972 to 1974 while still in High School. He recalls being “5’11'“ and quite adept at flipping burgers at Foster’s Freeze” at the time of filling out his Disneyland application. Once hired, he seemed a natural fit for food services, though he dreamed of working with the Ride Operations department. Brad’s time with Disneyland was brief, but he looks fondly on his time working inside the happiest place on earth. Years later, Brad lives the dream - assisting the operation of the former Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad cars at Santa Margarita Ranch, California. Just imagine serving as the Conductor crew member of this passenger train during normal operating hours!
Can YOU volunteer time, skills, or knowledge in support of #102 - 105’s restoration?
For a treat, Brad has arranged for us to enjoy a rare ride along Santa Margarita’s rails!
This is the large canopy, under which RETLAW1’s #102 - 105 go to rest when not in service!
We’ve reached the end of Rancho Santa Margarita’s line, but there’s still one more destination ahead - Disneyland’s Grand Canyon! Please remain seated.
I would like to present the (former) GRAND CANYON car. The VIP parlour car just got a little more exclusive. The paid experience is now part of a new Grand Circle “Tour” offered by way of Disneyland’s Guides. In our opinion, this is a unique 18-minute excursion that enhances the experience of the Rivers of America.
"THE ‘PRESIDENTIAL’ #106 - DISNEYLAND"
For the final portion of our journey, I would love to introduce our honorary Junior Disney Historian Belle! She will appropriately take you inside RETLAW1’s #106 - the Grand Canyon car. But first, you’ll need this special pass!
“Hello. My name is Belle, and I love to take pictures. I would like to share with you, photographs from my most recent trip to Disneyland. While you look at my pictures, I will also share some things I found interesting about The Lilly Belle!”
“The Lilly Belle is often called a caboose, but did you know that it is actually an observation car. After it’s retirement in 1974, the Grand Canyon sat in the backstage area, but thanks to the efforts of Disneyland Transportation Head Ken Kohler and Bill Cottrel it was transformed and rebranded. By 1974, the car had been given a new paint scheme and interior décor. Today, the Disneyland Railroad Presidential Parlour Car (or, the Lilly Belle), continues to be one of the most sought after VIP experiences inside Disneyland.”
Lillian Disney furthered many of Walt’s projects. The Lilly Belle (one of Walt’s ideas), was completed just in time for Emperor Hirohito’s visit to Disneyland on July 4th, 1976.
The Lilly Belle retains her former numeric designation (#106), and still sports the same trim she once did, when she was known as “The Grand Canyon”.
The interior of the former Grand Canyon car is entirely unrecognizable, after receiving it’s makeover from Lillian Disney and others. The entire parlour car was furnished with drapery, tables, and chairs. The etched glass was replaced with faux stained glass.
Look what I found - a copy of Walt Disney’s Railroad Story by Michael Broggie featuring tons of never-before-published photographs. For more indepth information about the topics we cover today, find this book through your local book retailer!
There are so many interesting things to take pictures of, from the red glass and crystal antiques, to a beautiful photograph of Walt and Lillian together!
The door to the rear platform safely remains locked during the course of our journey.
DID YOU KNOW - the late eighteenth century-style antique furniture rests atop carpet from Walt Disney’s own Disneyland apartment?
I LOVE this love seat! Our guides informed me that some of the furniture was purchased by Walt’s wife Lillian. It is believed that the furniture came from Winston Churchill’s suite inside the Queen Mary. Walt and Lillian used to frequent the RMS QUEEN MARY and her sister ship the RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH while traveling to Europe over the years, so the selection of this particular furniture may have been a sentimental selection on Lillian’s part.
The “Presidential Car” is viewable by way of DISNEYLAND’S “GRAND CIRCLE TOUR” OF THE LILLY BELLE, a special Private Tour via a separate admission from your Disneyland ticket price!
When THE LILLY BELLE - QUEEN OF THE WALT DISNEY RAILROADS debuted, these photographic opportunities were available to Disneyland visitors. These giant 8 x 10 Instant Polaroid portraits were taken aboard a replica of the Lilly Belle - the Presidential Car of the Disneyland Railroad!
“END OF THE LINE”
RETLAW1 was a truly wondrous, never-to-be-repeated attraction offering a unique vantage of Walt Disney’s Disneyland. Gone are the days of Disneyland’s locomotives pulling six cars. Currently, Disneyland Railroad’s five trains each pull just four passenger cars! But the Disneyland Railroad is still an “E” ticket attraction in OUR book!
As for the artifacts in the care of Santa Margarita Ranch and Walt Disney’s Carolwood Barn, Railfans and Disney historians alike will enjoy exploring them in person. I would like to take just a moment, to make one very special appeal to all of our friends who serve as Disneyland cast members. Despite your extremely hard work and busy schedules (of which I am extremely grateful upon reflection), I implore you to make arrangements to spend some time in each of these locations with these magnificent vehicles. These cars were not simply connected to Walt’s life’s work and legacy, but his passion. Further, by our interest and support we may preserve the past for generations of tomorrow!
Thank you for stepping aboard Disney History 101’s tour of RETLAW1. We hope you’ve enjoyed your travels with us, and that you’ll join us again real soon for our next tour!
SCHEDULE YOUR EXCURSION TODAY!
CAROLWOOD BARN is a free museum subsisting on generous donations. The museum is generally open to the public during the third Sunday of every month. Please check their social media accounts for a schedule of upcoming events. For more information, please visit : http://carolwood.com/walts-barn/
SANTA MARGARITA RANCH is a private property, currently available for special events and weddings. There are a few times throughout the year when the property is open to the public. Please check their schedule for upcoming events. Please visit : http://www.historicsantamargaritaranch.com/
DISNEYLAND’S “GRAND CIRCLE TOUR” OF THE LILLY BELLE requires a supplemental fee, in addition to the price of your admission ticket. Reservations are also required before touring. Please visit Disneyland’s official link for more information : https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disneyland/grand-circle-tour/