This
is one tour you have to get up early for. We had to be at the
MK at 7:15am. We met outside the turnstiles while our tour guide
gave us a little background on the tour. Jack was our conductor,
and was co-founder of the tour. He was (and assume still is) a
very nice guy, and a natural for this tour stuff. The backstage
steam train tour started only about a month before. I don't know
why it took so long to come up with this idea, as train buffs
will flock to this tour. I am not going to go into all the details
here, mostly because I can't remember them, but also I don't want
to spoil this for anyone planning to take this tour.
Jack explained that the locomotives are real, not Disney fabricated.
They are narrow gauge (36") as opposed to the more normal, wider
track width of 4' 6 ½" (I think this is correct). They were
purchased in Mexico just prior to MK opening, and shipped up here.
They were completely disassembled and redone. They are really
beautiful up close. They were built between 1916-1928. There are
four trains ... the Roy O. Disney, the Lilly Belle, the Roger
E. Broggie, and the just finished Walter E. Disney. The passenger
cars were built by Disney.
Our little group of (10) had to use our park passes to get into
the MK, and headed for the train station. We were the only ones
in the station, since it doesn't open until 9:30. At this point
we were given a talk about the importance of trains in Walt's
life, starting with the 1/8 scale model he had in his (large)
back yard in California. We were introduced to the legacy of Roger
E. Broggie, Walt's main "train guy". Roger was the driving force
behind the entire railroad at both Disneyland and WDW. The train
we were to ride later around MK and back to the "round house"
was named after Roger. A lot of this tour is talking about Walt's
love for trains, and where the trains came from. Of course, as
with most behind the scenes tours, there are lots and lots of
background info and statistics.
As we stood at the station waiting for our train, Jack gave us
more background as to how the trains operated and the procedure
for becoming a conductor at MK, and then onto becoming a engineer.
He then asked for a volunteer conductor. My wife, being basically
very shy and diminutive jumped right in. She got to wear the conductor's
hat, and press the button (buzzer) in the back of the train signaling
to the cab that all is well. Of course she also got to wave and
yell "all aboard" ... and we were off.
It was neat being only one of only 10 or so people on the train
as we rode around the park. Got some funny looks as we were leaving
from the "masses" outside the park. We rode around the park about
¾ way, until we reached to entry point to the track loop
near toontown. At this point we stopped. Jack asked for another
volunteer to operate the track switch that would let us travel
back to the roundhouse. The young lady selected is featured on
the web page. After switching tracks, the train slowly backed
around a corner and into the open officially behind the scenes.
As usual, once you get through the visual barriers so prominent
at MK, and off stage as they call it, you are back in the real
world. This real world was wide-open territory, next to a very
busy road (on property). Jack told us we would have to stop the
train and proceed cautiously because the people coming and going
on this road did not normally have the trains present at this
time. Once we made the crossing, we backed up to the roundhouse.
The roundhouse is, as you may know, not round at all ... just
a large square building. Here is where the trains are stored and
maintained. Each of the four trains has its own bay where the
entire train is stored ... cars and all. The really cool part
is that this is also where the monorails are maintained. The building
is two stories, with the monorails entering "upstairs". The monorail
"rails" are above the train tracks. Very interesting.
The train we were on backed into the roundhouse. We were not allowed
to get off the train at this point for safety reasons, or take
pictures, but could see the various maintenance items required
to keep these beautiful old relics in top shape.
At his point the Roger E. Broggie pulled back out and stopped.
It was heading back to the MK. As we got off we were told we would
be taking another train, the Roy O. Disney back to the MK. At
any given time, there are two trains running around the park.
Today the second train would be the Roy O. Disney. There was a
third train sitting there for our inspection. This was the Lilly
Belle, named after Walt's wife Lillian. We got to get up close
and personal now. In small groups we got into the cab and were
told how the train operates. This is a real steam locomotive.
The main difference, from its original condition, is that is now
operates on diesel fuel. The fuel is burned to heat the water,
not used as in a traditional diesel engine. We were told capacities
and mileage ratings, which I promptly forgot. Lots of technical
stuff here and any questions were answered.
Time to head back, as the trains started service soon. On the
leg back to the MK main loop we were given more interesting statistics.
For example, the max speed is 11 mph. If the engineer exceeds
this, he is smacked around by Mickey at the end of the shift.
Also, the trains system is manually controlled. No computers here.
The section signals operate just like real life, to tell the engineer
if it is OK to proceed to the next section of track. The electricity
used on the train is provided by a steam turbine generator on
the tendor. As we entered the MK loop we stopped to blow off steam
... literally. They purge the system by blowing off steam into
a special duct system. This blows scale and other bad stuff out
of the locomotive innards. We had one last chance to walk up to
the train as it was stopped at the 'toon town station. An interesting
note ... the 'toontown station was built as a temporary station
for the a past MK milestone several years ago, but was left in
place when it became clear another stop was desirable in the MK
loop. We went out on the grass next to the terminal and took more
pics.
On the last leg back to the main station we were again given more
facts and figures about the MK railroad and its CM's. You can
go to 'steam school" once you are a conductor, and are certified
to be an engineer. Since the entire system is entirely manual,
that title holds a lot of responsibility. At any given time there
are two engineers in the cab, one acting as fireman. The are several
safety systems added to the locomotive that we not present in
its original form. A "low water" indicator and of course the previously
mentioned speed monitoring system.
Back at the main station we walked down to the lower level to
look at pictures off Walt and his 1/8 scales train, and other
interesting items. Most people don't ever go into the lower level
to see these things, but there is some interesting stuff down
there. There are plaques telling the background and specs on all
four locomotives, and the general motif is modeled after a real
train station of early 20th century vintage.
At the end of the tour, we were all gathered in the little square
next to town hall, and were given a silver railroad spike as a
memento. These are the actual spikes used in the WDW rail system,
but were painted silver. My wife wanted a pin like we got after
the AK backstage safari, but we got a spike instead. I told her
I would make a pin out of it ....
The tour was very interesting, especially for someone into trains.
It took almost exactly two hours. Just about right. Our behind
the scenes MK tour last year took almost six hours, and started
to drag at the end. Jack and associates did a wonderful job. This
tour is recommended, especially for that experience at the beginning
when all those people waiting outside the park look up at you
riding away on the first train of the day and muttering "who ARE
those people and why are they all alone on that train ?"
