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In Their Own Words: Michael Broggie Marks 50^th Anniversary Run of Disneyland Railroad

Published June 21, 2005

By C. W. Oberleitner

On June 18, 1955, the twelve-year old son of a Walt Disney Productions engineer surveyed the construction of Disneyland from the cab of Engine No. 2, the E.P. Ripley, as it traveled the tracks of the park's incomplete railroad and said, "Mr. Disney, I don't think you'll finish it in time." Disney just stared back at the brash young boy, arched one eyebrow, and opened the park a month later. Exactly fifty years later, a not quite so brash Michael Broggie returned to the cab of Engine No. 2 to commemorate the first run of the Disneyland Railroad.

Steam powered locomotives are as much a part of Disney theme park lore as Mickey Mouse. Many Disney fans are aware of the fact that years before work began on Disneyland, Walt Disney excavated the backyard of his family's Hombly Hills home and built his own miniature railroad, which he called the Carolwood Pacific (CP). The CP had 2,615 feet of track and was powered by a live steam locomotive, the Lilly Belle, named after Disney's wife Lillian.

From the beginning, the one thing Disney was certain of was that his new entertainment enterprise would feature, if nothing else, a working railroad. Today, every Disney Magic Kingdom theme park around the world features a working live steam engine powered railroad.* The Disneyland railroad remains one of the original Magic Kingdom's most popular attractions. During its fifty years of operation, the Disneyland Railroad has carried billions of passengers millions of miles around the many lands of Disneyland.

To help him build the Carolwood Pacific and Disneyland railroads, Disney called on the talents of one of his film studio's chief engineers, Roger Broggie. Fifty years later, in his own words, Broggie's son Michael recalls the events surrounding the first run of Engine No. 2, the E.P. Ripley, at Disneyland on Saturday June 18, 1955.

Michael Broggie son of Disney Legend and first Imagineer Roger Broggie talks about the first run of the Disneyland Railroad
(QuickTime required).

On Saturday June 18, 2005, the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society (CPHS), an organization co-founded by Michael Broggie to preserve Walt Disney's railroad legacy, gathered at Disneyland to commemorate that first run of the Disneyland Railroad. Broggie, this time accompanied by his wife Sharon, boarded the cab of the E.P. Ripley just as he had done fifty years earlier, for "a grand circle tour of Walt Disney's magic kingdom."

A slightly taller Michael Broggie tries to recreate a pose captured in a picture taken by his father Roger on June 18, 1955.

Following the trip around Disneyland, Broggie and members of the CPHS visited the "Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years" exhibit in the Main Street Opera House. Later, Broggie, who is the author of several books on the subject of Walt Disney's fascination with railroading, gave an informal address and answered questions about Disneyland's history outside the Compass Books store in Downtown Disney.

Members of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society gather to commemorate the first run of the Disneyland Railroad.

Guests of the day's events received a commemorative pin featuring a picture of the then twelve-year old Broggie standing in the cab of the E.P. Ripley on that June morning in 1955, and an autographed photo of Broggie and Walt Disney on board the E.P. Ripley.

The CPHS also offered a limited edition 12" X 13" framed collectable featuring an original Disneyland Railroad spike, the commemorative pin, a photograph of Walt Disney with Michael Broggie aboard the E.P. Ripley taken by Roger Broggie, and a certificate of authenticity. The framed collectable was limited to just 50 units and was available for sale for $200.

This framed collectable, limited to only 50 units, features a genuine Disneyland railroad spike.

[The CPHS informs us that there are still a few of these framed collectables available for sale to Disney railroading fans at their website www.carolwood.com.—Editor]

*The tradition of live steam railroading in Disney parks will come to an end this September, when Hong Kong Disneyland opens. The park will feature a narrow gauge railroad around its perimeter, and the engines will look very much like classic turn of the century steam engines; however, according to Michael Broggie, a gasoline engine, hydraulic propulsion system, will power the engines.

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