Railroad Path

[kimluvswdw]

I was just thinking about the old railroad at Fort Wilderness. I never go to see it. Can anyone tell me where the exact path the railroad followed. I have been to the fort many time and have not seen any sign of the railroad from long ago.

Thanks, Kim

 

[lawnspecialties]

I think there are some recent pics in the "post pics of the fort" thread.

Do a search because I know I've seen it on here.

 

[dizneydiva2005]

I saw them 2 weeks ago- and can't remember where it was. My hubby pointed them out... and I didn't really pay attention.

 

[kimluvswdw]

I think there are some recent pics in the "post pics of the fort" thread.

Do a search because I know I've seen it on here.

I saw a few pictures on it today, but I can't tell how the railroad looped the campground. I was curious about that

 

[Shorty82]

This site is all about the Fort Wilderness R.R. It has a lot of information on its history and a number of pictures.

 

[Live4FW]

Here is a link to Tim5055's site that has a copy of a 1978 map of the Fort. The path of the FWRR is on this.


http://www.title-3.com/PDF/1978GuideMap.pdf

 

[bama_ed]

There are only a few physical remnants left of the ol' FWRR. When I was there back in March there were still railroad ties in the ground down next to the bus turn-around/drop off at Pioneer Hall but it looked like the area had been surveyed and was about to be torn up for expanded golf cart parking (I won't go off on THAT tangent this time....)

When you check in and drive past the car hook/unhook turnouts for the RVs, over on the right is the old ROW as Tim5055's map shows. Used to be a few ties over there but couldn't find them last trip.

Where the RR swung east next to the big canal, the concrete abutments that must have supported the bridges over the small canals are still in the ground. If you rent a canoe at the Boat/Bike Barn and paddle in a circle out to the big canal you will see them immediately adjacent to the big canal.

In River Country where you can still get into the ticket window area back by Mickey's BBQ you can see the old RR water tank. It was moved to RC after the RR operations ceased.

I did not go to FW while the RR was operating but since I enjoy FW and love (real) steam trains I am disappointed that it's still not in operation. But at least it lives on in cyberspace!

Bama ED

 

[Shorty82]

T...love (real) steam trains I am disappointed that it's still not in operation.

Have you gone on the Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour? If you haven't you should. The tour is a lot of fun and you learn a lot about steam trains in general, Walt's love of trains, and the Magic Kingdom trains.

 

[bama_ed]

Oh sure, did the Steam Trains Tour back on the May 2006 trip. I also enjoy Michael Broggie's book on Walt's love of trains. In fact, Walt had a 1/12th scale train in the backyard of his home. Guests would sit on the cars for a ride. After an accident in the back yard, Walt started looking for a safer way and place to enjoy his love of trains (plus tie it to business). That's why Disneyland had the train around its perimeter...

Bama ED

 

[Shorty82]

Oh sure, did the Steam Trains Tour back on the May 2006 trip. I also enjoy Michael Broggie's book on Walt's love of trains. In fact, Walt had a 1/12th scale train in the backyard of his home. Guests would sit on the cars for a ride. After an accident in the back yard, Walt started looking for a safer way and place to enjoy his love of trains (plus tie it to business). That's why Disneyland had the train around its perimeter...

Bama ED

I knew about Walt's train around his home and the accident that caused him to shut it down. The tour guide told us about when Walt was designing his private RR his wife was wanting a rose garden and he wanted his train so they put in a tunnel. The original design of the tunnel had it going straight through the hill but Walt wanted it to twist around some and be dark. People riding the train would get disoriented going through the tunnel and with the tunnel coming out on a trestle a little scared. Turned out to be one of the first dark rides Walt designed.

What's the title of that book? I'll have to look it up sometime.

 

[bama_ed]

http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disneys-Railroad-Story-Small-Scale/dp/1563420090/ref=sr_1_1/102-6637232-9525719?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190153710&sr=1-1

It's called "Walt Disney's Railroad Story. The Small Scale Fascination that led to a Full Scale Kingdom."

I don't know if it's still in print anyplace. I paid about $40 or so when it was published. It's a big book (12x10 inches and about 5 pounds) and is well researched, written, and photographed. Of course it includes Walt's childhood train experiences, his adult large scale backyard railroad, how that morphed into Disneyland, and then an interesting couple of chapters of how the trains for the all the parks were made/bought/refurbed.

If you can find it you will love it!

Bama ED

 

[Shorty82]

Thank you very much. I'll go hunting for it.

[Elmer Fudd]Be vewy, vewy quiet. I'm hunting books![/Elmer Fudd]