Disneyland seems like the most magnificent true to life scaled train-set in the world, paid for perpetually by Theme Park guests, maintained by old world visionaries with a heart akin to Walt’s
Yes, you sometimes forget with Disney becoming/being a mega company where it and how it all began. But, come on man. Whether it was then or today can afford building a. Live Steam rail road in their backyard. Im lucky/blessed to afford having a HO layout, its not a cheap hobby. 😄
@@worldtraveler930 I wouldn't necessarily go so far as to say the Company is in a sad state. I admit, there have been a few flaws and mistakes made along the way, but that's only natural and part of human nature. I still believe Walt's legacy, to some extent, is in the minds and hearts of those who hold the reins for the Disney organization
@@WaltsNephew These last few years have shown only darkness and corporate greed, yet one may still hope that the cooperation returns to the light side, to the way of Uncle Walt!
And People DID watch! Walt was like an Uncle/Grandpop figure on TV back in the day. When you heard his inspirational Voice, you knew that FUN would soon ensue...
@@willetthomas9992 I was long after Walt's time but even as a kid, I was more than willing to watch mountains of VHS tapes about trains. I can only imagine though how my other interest - space, would've felt then, seeing the Tomorrowland segment on the topic.
To add context, Walt was going through a midlife crisis and losing interest in animation after a strike at his studios left him feeling personally betrayed by his illustrators and animators. He ended up diving head first into model trains including his own personal backyard railroad. His ideas and designs for that literally ballooned into Disneyland as more and more creatives were inspired. Even lead to the development of WED Imagineering. Say what you will about Disney but I have always seen him as an idealist caught in his own head.
Yeppers, trains, in a way, saved Walt from all the calamities of the Studio and the world. Carolwood was the first time in years Walt was able to be in complete control of everything he saw and did and would, eventually, lead to inspiring thoughts of how to structure and operate Disneyland
That was excellent! Brought tears to my eyes remembering watching Disney with mom, dad & little brother every Sun. night back in the 1960’s. A different & better world then!
I'm very glad you enjoyed it! I tell ya, this is probably the only television program where you do not want to leave your seat because of how much Walt showed we the audience about film, cartoons, his Studio and the Park
I was very young when Walt died. I could barely understand it. I thought the TV program, Wonderful World of Disney was going to end, and it was my favorite night of the week. We put on our PJs, mom would make popcorn and there was peace in the house for at least an hour.
What brings tears to my eyes is seeing the dense smog back then. My mother said there were days (ca. 1954) when the streetlights were not visible two blocks away.
You and me both; but that's the benefit of the Disneyland Railroad and the Park itself because so much of him is invested in the trains and Disneyland that he's always there
The kids today have no inkling what they’re missing without Walt at the helm. Theme parks and Disney movies are but a scratch on the surface of what Disney used to be.
Walt was an example of the rule that if you do good, you will do well. He got rich via quality entertainment. I've seen references that he would go out incognito to run the Disneyland engines, with engineer's clothes stored at the station, and was frequently seen walking around the park. I'm actually sort of glad that Disney Inc dropped Walt's name, so his reputation was preserved.
9:40 Kirk Douglas almost sued Walt over this segment. Apparently he didn't realize that Walt filmed him and his sons on the train with the intention of using it for his weekly "Disneyland" show and was furious when this showed up on TV. He asked Walt to remove the offending footage for future rebroadcasts, but was rebuffed, leading to the suit. Douglas later changed his mind and dropped the matter, saying, "You can't sue God." That's also why he didn't work with Disney again until 1986's "Tough Guys," which ironically also featured a train, the famous SP 4449.
I had to research that because I thought it seemed outlandish, but you're right! Although it seems weird that Kirk wouldn't know about it when there was a head-on shot of him throttling down the line. Thank you for the new knowledge!
@@WaltsNephew I didn’t research it like you did, but I have to agree with your first thought. Cameras were not tiny and it would have been virtually impossible for Douglas not to know he was being filmed. More likely, he wasn’t happy that he didn’t get any payment from Disney company.
@@WaltsNephew Sorry, meant to say "filmed him and his sons on the train with the intention of using it for his weekly 'Disneyland' show." Got a little ahead of myself. Fixed.
@@billtubbs4862 Not tiny, but handheld movie cameras were very popular, especially among the movie crowd. Home movies were a major part of the social life of Hollywood back then, and there have been some very interesting clips show up in film festivals over the years. It is one thing to shoot film for a bunch of friends and another to be shooting for a TV show, though.
If Walt lived maybe a year longer, maybe EPCOT would've come to fruition! But who knows; there is always the majestic character of mystery and wonder in asking the question "What if"
@@WaltsNephew I understand that the end of the line for Walt's own steam engine Lily Belle came when one of these guest engineers drove her around a bend and she sadly derailed and a little girl got hurt from some of the steam that must have came out of the Lily Belle's boiler. I understand with a heavy heart he then decided to retire his little steam engine.
@@eliotreader8220 Yes, it was that unfortunate accident at the hand of a guest engineer who didn't know Lilly Belle had no brakes that caused the end of the Carolwood Pacific. BUT Walt never left Lilly Belle; she made several appearances on the anthology tv show with Walt cordially caressing her chimney as he walks by to show the audience around the Studio
@@WaltsNephew EPCOT is a glorified company town wholly dependent on the continued support of corporate sponsors. Given the deindustrialization of the US by the 1980's, EPCOT would become a money sink for Disney...
This could not be a more perfect video. I am a member of Southern California Live Steamers which Ollie, Ward, and Walt were members of in the 1950s. I have been doing research into their railroads and this was a perfect suggestion.
I'm very glad to hear that!!! For anyone that wants inspiration for live steam projects, look no further than the three greatest railroaders: Walt, Ward and Ollie!
Walt Disney was a rich man -- rich in vision, skill and the desire to share what he built. Like many of us I shared in the wealth of experience Walt brought to life.
Live steam model railways are still fairly numerous. Search for 5 inch and 7 1/2 inch live steam, here on YT and you'll see similar trains pulling many kids (mostly grown kids aka adults). Here's a channel with lots of content: ru-vid.comvideos
Walt Disney was a generous and kind hearted gentleman. He gave so much fun, knowledge and laughter to many children growing up. His show was always a highlight at our place back in the days of black & white TV.
Hearing 'When you wish upon a star' brings back happy childhood memories. Watching Disneyland on tv every Sunday afternoon in the 1960s was magical. Nobody was better than Walt Disney at awakening childrens' wonder and imagination. Now at 69 I've lived longer than Uncle Walt but I'm forever grateful to him for what he gave children.
I always enjoy watching these old Walt videos. Makes me nostalgic for a time decades before I was born. It's sad to see what has become of his company in the modern day.
"Foamer" generally is used in a derrogatory fashion, usually applied to railfans who exemplifly the worst aspects of the community. Comes from "foaming at the mouth" like a madman, and also refers to a poor-steaming locomotive. Personally go by "ferroequinologist" myself, "one who studies iron horses".
Personally, I enjoy the term "foamer," but major brownie points to you for using the Latin/Greek etymological meaning for the hobby! I'm gonna remember that hahaha
I just want to note that there is a spectacular "Walt Disney Family Museum" at the Presidio in San Francisco, CA. I have been to a great many museums, and this is one of the best. It is not just a bunch of static displays (although it certainly has many including the special "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Oscar with the Big Oscar and seven little ones lined up next to it), but is mostly a very living visual treat worthy of what Disney created over the years. Really first class with many interesting video presentations of all sorts. And, you can even see his Carolwood Pacific Railroad train.
We have a 7.5 gauge railroad in our backyard, thanks to Walt. It had always been a dream since learning of Walt's Carolwood pacific as a child, that I may enjoy the excitement of having my own ride on railroad. Sure would have loved to have seen the Carolwood Pacific in it's entirety.
I'm sure you all know, but it wasn't mentioned that Ward Kimball, as well as being an 'Archfoamer', his 'day job' at Disney was one of Disney's top animators and gets a credit in many full length and short movies. But the important thing that wasn't mentioned was; Ward Kimball was the trombonist and leader of one of the best Dixieland Jazz bands EVER. The Firehouse Five plus Two, with many albums and television programmes to their credit. Runnin' Wild; The World is Waiting for the Sunrise; Flamin' Mamie; Show me the Way to the Fire and Fireman Save My Child all bring a tear to my eye and a smile to my lips.
You have to admit no matter what Walt Disney could talk about you could listen to his voice all day & never get tired of it. He just had one of those voices that was enjoyable to listen to.
ABSOLUTELY! There's a reason why so many people referred to Walt as Uncle Walt because of how homely he was appearing on everybody's television sets on Sunday nights
This was perfect timing. We just had our fall open house at the Finger Lakes Live Steamers, and it was great to see all the little young ones having a great time riding the trains. It is always amazing to meet and greet the parents of the young kids who remember coming out when they were young and repeating the memories again. I makes you feel good that we try hard to keep this hobby alive. God bless Walt, as he inspired millions, and I think he was always a kid at heart ❤️.
Betting Walt Disney believed in an old saying about “Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Derogatory is in the mind of the over sensitive beholder or those expressing or wanting to feel harm. Disney would have laughed about the term justifiably so. Loving trains like loving Walt is pure true heart happiness. Regrettably there are those on BOTH sides of railroading that get caught up in their own self righteous stupidity and malice towards others by warping meanings instead of following Walt’s example of kindness toward ALL those around him right or wrong in their enthusiasm. I accidentally met this saintly man as a teenage no buddy a year before he passed and was treated like a family friend. Hopefully he’ll give me and my wife a ride through Heaven’s gate after my debts are paid in full. 🚂 ✝️
As an early enthusiast towards steam powered locomotives, I belonged to the Southern Pacific Jr. Engineers club in the late 1940,s and was able to visit one of the backyard layouts in Beverly Hills CA put on by Richard "Dick" Jackson. This video brought back many wonderful memories
THANK YOU @WALT'S NEPHEW . I'M NEARLY 70 YEARS YOUNG ( Visited Disneyland in '55 and beyond , was even a Cast member in the 70s) and " grew up " with Walt Disney and family , vicariously of course , beginning with black and white through the advent of Walt Disney's WONDERFUL WORLD OF COLOR . My Parents , as others , were hungry for a family diversion and knew some of the Contracters called upon to construct the Anaheim Park .. The mostly Wonderful stories were many and I can attest to the glorious outcome of their labors ! My siblings and I have indelible impressions and our Kodak memories survive . Thank you for sharing !
all those men and people are gone..walt had so much love and heart in his hosting disneyland..it was truly for people to watch fantastic television in the 60s
Hahaha, so that's where the idea for the Donald and Chip and Dale-cartoon came from! The animators - and their boss' - own backyard! Obviously, but still, man, those wacky guys and their hobbies, it makes you smile, it really does.
When I saw Walt Disney (The Wonderful World of?) in color at my grandparents house in the 60's (we didn't have that luxury at my house) it was a life-changing experience that I will never forget. Seeing the older stuff doesn't seem out of place to me in B and W.
We foamers need not be ashamed of or apologize for our love of trains-the people derisively spitting the word at us are the ones without memories worth saving and I feel sorrry for them. A lot of foamers do carry it way too far though and are a minor embarrassment thus furthering the perception that we’re a bunch of mindless, out-of-control idiots. Ever been to a football game? Who are the foamers now?
If my profile picture doesn't make it obvious, I am very much a railfan, though I'm also fortunate enough to have visited Walt Disney World and grown up during the "Disney Renaissance." I also remember hearing somewhere (possibly on this channel) that when Mr. Disney was in the park, he didn't want to be called the "Company CEO" or "President of Disney" or other important-sounding titles, he simply wanted to be referred to as the park's "Chief Locomotive Engineer."
Well, the Chief Engineer was Harley Ilgen; but when Walt was in the Park, what he said goes haha Walt wasn't really much for titles and preferred the first-name basis
@@WaltsNephew Indeed. I kind of saw a bit of that in the recent movie "Saving Mr. Banks", though I imagine you have more insight on that than what a simple film can show.
@@WaltsNephew Indeed. I'm of the opinion that casting Tom Hanks to play Mr. Disney was a good choice, and I still have the "Winds from the East" poem in my head months later.
I used to love watching the magical world of Disney on Sunday evenings as a kid. I took my kids to the parks until about 4 years ago when we washed our hands od todays Disney.... walts vision was truly magical. Todays Disney has nothing to offer my family.
There may be some delineation from core values, I must confess, but I wouldn't be able to leave Walt's Park. To much of my being has been invested into his passion and vision that I simply can't leave his Kingdom haha But I heartily agree that everything about Walt is magical!
I am 77 since Deisneyland open all ways wanted to go to it but never did Remember it all starting back in the 50ths I still love it Well done Walt Disney great man
Disneyland is well worth the trip! My suggestion, start your day on the Disneyland Railroad, just like Walt would suggest. That way you get to see the entirety of the Park, plan out your day and have some old-fashioned fun on his trains all the while hahaha
As a child I had one opportunity to ride on the Disneyland Railroad while my family was visiting relatives in La Puente, CA. I loved the whole experience. When I went to work at the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad in 1971, I was taught to be a locomotive fireman by 3 men who worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad and spent their days off, working on the steamers at Felton, CA. Neal Vodden, Gene O'Laige and Charlie Hoyle spent hundreds of hours teaching me and other young men and women how to run those steamers. Walt's smaller Disneyland Railroad locomotives were built and maintained by the same machine shop and foundry that built the replica locomotives that operate at the Golden Spike National Monument near Corinne, Utah. Foamers originally meant steam locomotives that got contaminated water in their boilers. It caused foam on the top of the water as it boiled and could give a false water level in the water glass. If it got too bad, foaming water could boil over into the steam pipes and get into the cylinders, damaging or wrecking the locomotive. So foamers, applied to railroad enthusiasts, was not always a term of endearment. Many train watchers today regard the name as an insult.
It's kind of both because Walt and Ollie's are "midget" or "miniature" railroads that are scale models of their counterparts while Ward's engines are full scale narrow gauge engines
AMAZING!! AT 10:01 THE SEGMENT WITH KIRK DOUGLAS FROM MV "20000LEAGUES..." WAS ORIGINALLY CUT OFF WHEN IT WAS ON THE DISNEY CHANNEL ON CABLE TV IN 1980S!!!!! OK 👍 👌! MON.DEC.19.2023A.D.SES.GBW.
Thank-you for posting. Josh is a great conservation officer, and I really miss your 2nd cousin Sharon I went to the same high school as her. She was very inspirational. Especially getting her bachelors degree in office management. I went back to school and got my Associates of Arts degree from 4cs with a concentration in social work with a minor in communications.
Full disclosure, I'm not related to Walt in the traditional sense (by blood or marriage); in the sense Walt like children referring to him as "Uncle Walt" that's how I chose the channel name "Walt's Nephew." But the family really is made up of great people. Thank you for sharing!
Walt should’ve tried to contact Rev. Wilbert Awdry to get the rights to Thomas the Tank Engine and the Island of Sodor. A missed opportunity. He could’ve made it a billion dollar industry instead of having Mattel run it into the ground.
Amazing to have a train locomotive in your backyard. I would love to have one myself, the train I choose is Ward Kimball design Casey Jr train from Dumbo
What’s still crazy for me is that Walt was friends with Billy Jones, the man of our railroad’s namesake. I’ve have long history with the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad and now a longtime volunteer, but also being a history buff and aspiring railroad historian, I was more than thrilled to hear Walt’s part in its history. For example our current logo was designed by Ward Kimball himself after Billy Jones called Walt about an issue with the former logo which looked too close to a certain character from Warner Bros that they just couldn’t have. Walt said he’d have one of his animators design him a new one and Ward’s result is what we still use today! Another cool thing was that Billy was one of the engineers during opening day of Disneyland. My gratitude for hearing more details of these stories goes to Bill Wolf, who I had the immense pleasure of meeting and talking with. He’s the local historian of primarily the Los Gatos area who grew up when Billy had the original Wildcat Railroad in his orchard up the street from where it now resides. Bill shared his elaborate collection of local railroad memorabilia from around the area including things from Billy Jones personal collection and also things from the early BJWRR days. At the end of my visit he even gave me some of Billy Jones’ trip reports from his time as an engineer for the Southern Pacific which I’m honored to have received. So, seeing this video seems almost personal as in a way I feel I have a closer connection to these fellow railroad enthusiasts that, even though I’ve never met, would’ve had a pleasure to meet. So thank you for sharing such a neat video!
Although this fascination with trains may seem self-indulgent, a number of Disney people helped save several real locomotives from the scrapper's torch, including one of the few surviving locomotives that once ran on the Hawaiian islands. Knott's Berry Farm also preserves some remarkable railroad equipment from America's past.
@@WaltsNephew - I wouldn't know about that. I have a few old model railroading books from the 1960s where Ward Kimball's model work is mentioned. Anyways, Im glad that trains saved by Walt and Ward are now in the southern California railroad museum through donation. Im nearly a senior citizen but only guys from that time were able to help preserve the historical railroad relics we have today.
Walt Disney, Mr. Wizard, and Mr. Rogers were forerunners of the RU-vidr. Talking about interesting subjects that weren't Out Of Reach for the average guy.
Thanks for enjoying! Those scenes with Kirk are very enjoyable to watch and then made that much more interesting when you learn later it were those very same footage clips that initiated his lawsuit against Walt
@@WaltsNephew Yes, Kirk Douglas wrote about that in his book. But his wife told him to drop the lawsuit saying, "You can't sue God." So he did. I think it was okay to show Kirk on the trains because he was filming 20,000 Leagues at the time, at it advertised the movie and Kirk himself.
The railroad is long gone. As the story goes (and as written in Michael Broggie's book "Walt Disney's Railroad Story"), he started noticing how many strangers were showing up to ride behind the train and it became annoying. So he had the setup moved to the Disney Studio property. That Carolwood Pacific engine and some cars are displayed at the Walt Disney Family museum in San Francisco.
As a lifelong railfan and railroad man who grew up on the old Mopac main line here in Texas, I can say with utmost respect and certainty, Mr. Disney was truly a giant among railroad men. He's up there with the likes of Bob Soule Jr. And good old Bill Purdy.
I heartily believe she'll be in good running order sometime this year or early next year. What the SCRM needs to do now is invest in laying narrow-gauge track so that the engines have some place to go on the museum grounds rather than just marshaling on the little strip outside the Grizzly Flats shed
@@WaltsNephew its going to be a fine sight when visitors will see the Emma Navada under steam again. its going to be a very interesting event when she is steamed up for the first time in so many years and the engineer blows her whistle.
@@eliotreader8220 I heartily conquer! I only wish the SCRM (formerly OERM) would have a longer stretch of track so that she could actually do something besides marshal a few feet back-and-forth
My understanding is that Walt *did* pay well, but also those are two top animators, even I've heard of the rocket ship guy, and S. California was dirt-cheap to live in at the time.
I think the cartoon they were talking about it's the one where Donald duck has his model railroad and needs to move a tree because it's out of scale. I think that's even the name of the cartoon with Chip and Dale. I'm sure everybody watching this knows but those used to be real steam engines at Disneyland
Absolutely right! The purpose of this segment of the show was to illustrate how real things, especially animators' hobbies, contribute to story ideas for their cartoons. Walt's Carolwood Pacific served as the inspiration for the animators to have a little fun with Donald and his backyard railroad
Loved to get to see his live steamer Lilly Belle at the Disney family museum in San Francisco. Just thinking that the old boy himself rode that engine.
9:10 there was a guy behind an elementary school in the city of Staton Ca. back in the late 60's he had a backyard railroad kinda like this, I used to go there after school and ride the trains, you could rent or borrow a flat car and push it up the hill and ride it down, it was so much fun. He had a few other rides as well. I guess I was a foamer and I did not even know it.
@@WaltsNephew I just google mapped it it is behind Hansen Elementary school in the playground area, by the tracks. It was a blast there and the guy was not weird at all.
Doubtful. Walt's fascination with railroads was far longer than Rev. Awdry started writing about it. Even if Walt knew of Awdry's work, that really isn't the primary inspiration behind it...
I’m sure it has been reported here already, but Kimball’s Grizzly Flats trains and Emma Nevada locomotive can be seen today at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris CA. The place is a monument to the railroads and what they brought to Southern California. Well worth a visit and or a membership. You’ll see operating street cars, one of the oldest continuously certified steam locomotives, diesels, and an astonishing assortment of rail cars, both passenger and freight. To borrow a phrase, “old trains don’t die, they go to the Orange Empire Railway Museum.” And, yes, as a “foamer” myself, I’ve been to plenty of wonderful museums full of the great trains that did for the world in the 19th and early 20th centuries what the computer and technology have brought to the world of today.
4:22 That Locomotive was the number 351 "G Cantón" Named after Gregorio Cantón Cervera, It was used by the company "Ferrocarril Mérida-Peto-Valladolid" but after was purchased by the Ferrocarriles Unidos de Yucatán. And the by the Ferrocarriles Unidos del Sureste. It ran from Mérida to Peto, Mérida to Valladolid and Mérida to Progreso. It is a Mexican locomotive! Proud to live in Yucatán and visit the sister locomotive seen in this video.
I'm afraid not haha Emma Nevada worked her live at the Nevada Central Railroad until she was purchased by Ward Kimball, saving her from scrap, in the '40s
@@WaltsNephew Oh, yeah, I see. Well, my information was wrong on that one, but, I think one of the locomotives that are still on use at Disneyland Florida it's actually the G. Cantón locomotive.
