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{{Infobox Disney ride |
| image=StationStation3.jpg
| caption='''The Main Street USA Station on the Walt Disney World Railroad.'''
| land=Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Frontierland
| custom_label_1= Duration
| custom_value_1= 20 Minutes (Roundtrip)
|custom_label_2= FastPass Disney Genie +
|custom_value_2= No}}
The Walt Disney World Railroad is a working steam-engine which surrounds [[The Magic Kingdom]]. The railroad has stations in [[Main Street USA]], [[Frontierland]] and [[Fantasyland]].
==Attraction History==
The history of the Walt Disney World Railroad really begins with Walt Disney's love of trains. Even before he built Disneyland, Walt had a miniature train in his backyard called the Carolwood Pacific Railroad <ref> http://carolwood.com/ </ref>. In fact, Walt was so enthralled with trains that anytime he told guests about Disneyland, he would always conclude "and it should be surrounded by a train" <ref> http://www.waltdisney.org/blog/disney-and-lionel </ref>. Sure enough, when Disneyland opened in 1955, the park was surrounded by the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad. Walt Disney himself was in charge of building the railroad, and he even financed the construction himself <ref> http://www.waltdisney.org/blog/riding-rails-walt-disney </ref>. The Disneyland Railroad opened with Disneyland in 1955 and has been running ever since <ref> http://www.davelandweb.com/dlrr/ </ref>.
When Disney began designing Walt Disney World in Florida, they once again wanted to have a train surrounding the park. In 1969, Disney Imagineer scouts Roger Broggie and Earl Vilmer found and purchased five locomotives from the Ferrocarriles Unidos de Yucatan (United Railways of Yucatan) on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/6779/Steam_Train_Tour_Part_3 </ref>. While one of the five trains was deemed unrepairable, the other four were sent by railway to Tampa Bay. Here, Disney Imagineer and train expert, Bob Harper oversaw their restoration<ref> http://www.imaginerding.com/2011/11/07/walt-disney-world-railroad-a-history/ </ref>. New boilers were built for the locomotives by the Dixon Boiler Works in Los Angeles, California. In order to make the trains look older, they were fitted with diamond smoke stacks and boiler jackets. The tenders also needed to be completely rebuilt and new fiberglass cabs were manufactured and installed. The trains were then painted with bright colors and brass, before being shipped to Walt Disney World <ref> http://www.wdwfamily.com/index.php/walt-disney-world-tours/74-behind-the-steam-train-tour </ref>. The Walt Disney World Railroad opened with the rest of the park on October 1, 1971 <ref> http://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/attractions/opening-dates </ref>.
===History Since Opening Day===
When the Walt Disney World Railroad opened, it originally consisted of three trains. A few months after the opening, a forth train joined the fleet. For all of 1971, the Railroad provided guests with a round-trip tour of the Magic Kingdom. At that time however, only the Main Street USA station was open and it wasn't until 1972 that a second station (in Frontierland) opened <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/609/Walt-Disney-World/Magic-Kingdom/Main-Street-USA/Walt-Disney-World-Railroad </ref>. The second station meant that guests could now board the railroad at either end of the park. The Frontierland station remained operational until 1990, when it was closed and demolished in order to make room for [[Splash Mountain]] <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/frlrs1.htm </ref>. The station re-opened in a new location in 1991, and the railroad now runs through Splash Mountain (allowing guests to see the "Zip-A-Dee Lady" Scene) <ref> https://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/609/Walt-Disney-World/Magic-Kingdom/Main-Street-USA/Walt-Disney-World-Railroad </ref>. In 1988, another station was built in [[Mickey's Birthdayland]] (later Mickey's Starland) <ref> http://www.burnsland.com/2012/05/looking-back-magic-kingdom-1988/ </ref>. Originally known as the Duckburg Station, the station was renamed the Toontown Fair station in 1996 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/mickeys-toontown.htm </ref> before closing in 2011 (when Mickey’s Toontown was replaced by the Fantasyland expansion) <ref name= "florida"> http://www.florida-project.com/walt-disney-world-photos/magic-kingdom/walt-disney-world-railroad </ref>. While Fantasyland was still under construction, the train still stopped at the location of the station, to top off the tender with water and to keep the railroad's operating schedule. While the train was stopped in Fantasyland, a new narration played, telling guest that they are stopping at a "Watering Outpost" <ref name= "florida"/>. The narration also gave guests a preview of what was coming to Fantasyland as part of the expansion. On March 12, 2012 the Fantasyland Station (also known as the Carolwood Station) opened to guests <ref> http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/mar12.html </ref>.
On December 13, 2018, the Walt Disney World Railroad closed due to the construction of Tomorrowland's upcoming Tron attraction <ref> https://wdwmagic.com/attractions/walt-disney-world-railroad/news/06dec2018-photos---a-look-at-the-walt-disney-world-railroad-stationary-exhibit.htm </ref>. At this time, the Lilly Belle was stationed at the Main Street USA station, with cast members on hand to answer any guest questions about the locomotive.
==Attraction Plot==
{{Quotation|"For an old conductor like me, there is no better place to travel the rails then here at the Magic Kingdom. By the way, we're traveling by pure steam power. This old locomotive is descended from the mighty trains that powered the golden age of steel."}}
As the train continues towards [[Adventureland]], the narrator tells guests that they are traveling from the charm of [[Main Street USA ]] to the jungles of Africa, Asia and South America. He then says they are headed into the heart of Adventureland, where things can get pretty wild. He also mentions attractions such as [[Pirates of the Caribbean]] and the [[Jungle Cruise]]. As the locomotive moves from Adventureland to [[Frontierland]], the narrator tells guest guests that they've reached the wild west of the Magic Kingdom, saying:
{{Quotation|"This outpost is home to covered wagons, cow folk and [[Country Bears]].}}
The narrator also mentions [[Thunder Mountain]] and [[Splash Mountain]], before the train enters a cave, alongside Splash Mountainthe former. Here, through a window on their right, guests can look into Splash Mountain and see the “Zip-A-Dee Lady” scene. The train then pulls into the Frontierland station where guests can unload and load. As the train moves out of the station, it passes Big Thunder Mountain, and the boomtown of Tumbleweed. It then travels over a small bridge, where the narrator informs guests that a trip around the park used to take a week! On the left, guests can see a small outpost, as the narrator informs them that Indians were the first people on the land. The train then rolls past an Indian village and some wildlife.
As the train continues into Fantasyland, the narrator tells guests that Fantasyland is a place where any dream can come true. He then mentions that guests can fly over London with [[Peter Pan]], set sail on [[it's a small world]], take a trip [[under the sea with the Little Mermaid]], be our guest at an enchanted feast at the [[Beast's Castle]], or visit the [[Seven Dwarfs Mine]]. As the train nears the station, he also mentions that circus has come to Fantasyland, and guests can fly high with [[Dumbo]], or join Goofy on the [[Barnstormer]].
As the train pulls out of Fantasyland and into Tomorrowland, the narrator says that some people think traveling by train is a little too old fashioned. As the train rolls past the [[Tomorrowland Speedway]], he says that any guest can travel the futuristic highway, or choose another mode of transportation such as the [[PeopleMover]], [[Space Mountain]] or [[Astro Orbiter]]. On their right, guests can see into Tomorrowland. As the train continues forward, the narrator informs riders that Main Street was inspired by the small towns of Walt's childhood. He also says that stepping onto Main Street is like stepping back in time. At this point that train reaches the Main Street Station, and the narration starts all over again.
