I am sure many here knew the Walt Disney was a Model Rail Roader, he just had a big trains than most of us.
I came across the video and thought I share. It shows a model rail road club layout, real train that I think went to Disney Land and his home garden layout.
For what ever reason the Audio has nothing to do with the Video? Still a fun video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9LnZ52KTKg&NR=1
Cuda Ken
Both Disney and his chief illustrator, Ward Kimball, had 1:1 scale Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge trains in their yards. Some are now at Knott’s Berry Farm.
More info on Walt Disney’s railroad: The Carolwood Pacific.
The first segment, O-scale, was interesting to me for two reasons:
Obviously running TTTO - note the comment about the over 12 hour late freight losing its number (i.e., timetable authority) and having to complete its run as an extra.
Obviously NOT running at anything like scale speed, almost certainly as a result of the motive power technology of the day. That freight, “Pulled slowly out of the station,” with initial acceleration that Acela would envy.
The obvious legacy of Disney’s love for railroading in small scale carries on in the numerous rail-themed rides at the various Disney amusement parks.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - TTTO, at appropriate scale speed)
I have been to Disney in Florida. I liked the narrow gauge old time locos and they still fill the tender with water from a much smaller water tank out on the “main line”. You can get a tour of the “Roundhouse” in the morning when the crew are getting ready for the day operation. They keep the loco “warm” overnight.
Rich
Starting around 7:15, the segmemt on Mr Disney’s home layout is interesting. Looks like 4" gage live steam; I liked the bit of Walt riding the top of the boxcar. At first I thought late '40s, then the shots of the old loco on the flatbed with older cars looks like 1930s, explaining why the film is black & white instead of color. [8D][tup]tup]tup]
To expand on these and other points a bit further, the O-gauge layout scenes are probably shot at a frames per second rate that does render the scenes to be shown at actual speed (i.e. not sped up). Back in the time the film appears to have been made few hobbyists actually operated the trains on their layouts at anything like prototype speeds. This was probably a carryover from youthful experience with Lionels.
The B&W scenes of the old D&RG engine being transported on the flatbed, the 1:1 track laying and the “old time” scenes of the 1:1 loco passing the station and approaching the crossing, are all associated with Ward Kimble (who had the task of drawing of the little circus train in the 1941 Disney film Dumbo). Also, notice that the lettering on the restored loco says, “Grizzly Flats RR”, which was Ward’s 1:1 setup. Incidentally, a replica of the Grizzly Flats station on Ward’s property has been offered by SS Ltd in HO for decades.
As someone else points out, only the film past the 7:00 minute mark actually refers to Walt Disney’s backyard (1:12?) garden layout. Throughout the 30’s and 40’s, there were a considerable number of prominent individuals seriously interested in both model and prototype trains in Hollywood.
CNJ831
I can’t believe that my daughter- in- law’s father drives the steam trains and steam boat at Disney Land! Now that’s a retirement job! Peter Smith, Memphis