Changes
{{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 2010 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>.
==Attraction Plot==
The Walt Disney World Railroad begins with guests boarding the train from one of the three railroad stations. If guests board on Main Street, the narrator will welcome them to the Walt Disney World Railroad and tell them that the train will be stopping at Frontierland and Fantasyland. The narrator then gives riders a little history about the railroad saying:
{{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 moves continues into Fantasyland, the narrator tells guests that in Fantasyland they is a place where any dream can, "Fly come true. He then mentions that guests can fly over London with [[Peter Pan]]" and even spin in a , set sail on [[Tea Cupit's a small world]]. As the train pulls into the former location of Toontown Fair station, both the narrator and engineer give guests take a preview of what is going to be built there. The narrator tells guests that part of the Fantasyland expansion will allow them to go "trip [[under the sea" with the Little Mermaid or even visit ]], be our guest at an enchanted feast at the [[Beast's Castle]], or visit the [[Seven Dwarfs Mine]]. When As the train stops at nears the former Toontown Stationstation, the conductor tells guests he also mentions that they need circus has come to stop here Fantasyland, and get water. Often timesguests can fly high with [[Dumbo]], while or join Goofy on the train is getting the water, the engineer will give some of the history of Toontown and then explain what it is going to become[[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.
<style>
.gal img {
width: 214px400px; height: 150px300px;
}
</style>
</html>
==Crew<ref name= tour> The information in this section comes from Disney's The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/magic-behind-steam-trains-tour/ </ref>==Each train has a three man crew who are in charge of their daily operation. The crew consists of an engineer, a fireman, and a conductor. The engineer is in charge of the operation of the train. The fireman is in charge of the operation of the boiler, and the conductor is in charge of the management of the train and its passengers<ref> http://www.wdwfacts.com/2010/10/10/the-walt-disney-world-railroad-magic-on-rails/ </ref>.
Early in the morning before park opening, the first train crew arrives at the roadhouse and preps the locomotive for the day. First, safety and readiness checks are performed by the engineer and conductor. Since the train needs steam pressure to operate, a compressed air line must be tapped into the atomizer line when the fire is first lit. It must stay in the atomizer until enough steam has been raised to re-light the atomizer's fire. After this is done, the conductor will inspect that track and the arrangement of the switches outside the roadhouse, to make sure it is safe to leave. After the boiler is ready, the engineer will give two short whistles to signal they are ready to go. After the conductor responds with two short buzzes, the train is put into motion. As each individual car leaves the roadhouse, the maintenance crew inspects the running gear located beneath the train.
As the train heads out of the roadhouse and towards the main track, the engineers test the safety features on the train. This consists of two tests, intentionally popping the safety valves and purposely running the train past a red block light. If the features are working properly, the safety valves will release excess steam, and the train brakes will automatically turn on after running through the red block. These tests are performed daily, to meet safety standards.
==Daily Operation<ref name= "tour"/>==
===Opening===
The Walt Disney World Railroad operates daily, beginning at 9 am. It takes approximately 20 minutes for the train to make a round trip, meaning that guests can expect a train to arrive at each individual station every 7 minutes. There are usually two trains in operation on any given day, although sometimes three are in operation if the park is busy. Disney's goal is to have the first train arrive at the Main Street Station on the hour, and at every subsequent 20 minute interval (:20 and :40). The second and third trains then try to keep up with the first train, as much as possible. If one of the trains falls behind, they must either try to catch up or drop behind a lap, in order to stay on schedule. It is important for the trains to be on schedule in order for the park closing to run smoothly.
===Closing===
On the train’s last trip around the park, the conductor announces at each station that the final train is departing. All guests can ride the train until it reaches the Main Street station for the final time. After guests have unloaded, the conductor walks the length of the train to make sure that all guests are off, and that any lost items are brought to the lost and found. The train then goes to the Fantasyland Station where the conductor steps off and throws the switch to allow the train back into the roadhouse. The engineer relies on the conductor to back the train into the roadhouse, from the rear platform of the last coach. The fireman then throws the Fantasyland switch back to the main line, so that trains in operation can continue running. When the final train has been returned to the roadhouse, the switch is left where it is. When the train reaches the switch, and the track crossing, the conductor will signal the engineer, letting him know the train has successfully cleared. This continues until all the trains are parked completely in the roadhouse.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
* The third locomotive, the "Roger E. Broggie", was originally going to be named the "Roy O. Disney". Roy Disney was still alive at the time the train was dedicated however, and didn't want his name to be on anything in the park. The locomotive was then instead named the Roger E. Broggie, and the forth locomotive (dedicated after Roy had passed) was christened the Roy O. Disney <ref> Amendola, Dana (2015), All Aboard: The Wonderful World of Disney Trains (1st ed.), Disney Editions, ISBN 978-1-4231-1714-8 </ref>.
* During the construction of [[Splash Mountain]] the Walt Disney World Railroad ran backwards. Briefly referred to as the "Backtrack Express" (or Goofy's "Backtrack Express", instead of pulling out of the Main Street USA Station and moving forward, the trains instead proceeded backwards to the Duckburg Station <ref> http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1990-11-26/business/9011240905_1_mickey-s-starland-mickey-s-birthday-land-main-street </ref> <ref> https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19910716&id=LwghAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l3YFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3983,1722713&hl=en </ref>.
* The "Walter E. Disney" and "Roger E. Broggie" trains were on the shop floor together in 1925. Their serial numbers are sequential (58444 and 58445), and both trains were built for the United Railways of Yucotan by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia<ref> http://www.disneyfanatic.com/7-amazing-facts-walt-disney-world-railroad/ </ref>.
*For a behind the scenes tour of the Walt Disney Railroad, guests can experience the "The Magic Behind our Steam Trains" tour on select days.
* At one time there were plans for a Tomorrowland Station to be added to the Walt Disney World Railroad. The train station would have been located near Space Mountain<ref> http://kingdomofmemories.com/read-the-early-70s-tomorrowland-handbook-from-walt-disney-wolrd/ </ref>.
