All Aboard the Disneyland Railroad!

“Your attention please. The Disneyland Limited now arriving for a grand circle tour of the Magic Kingdom...with stops at New Orleans Square...Mickey's Toontown...and Tomorrowland. All passengers stand by to board.”

As you pass through the front gate to Disneyland, it is hard to miss the Disneyland Railroad station above a beautiful floral design of Mickey Mouse. The train is one of my favorite ways to get from one side of the park to another. Stationed at Main Street, USA, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown and Tomorrowland (behind Autopia), the train offers a great overlook of the park and quick transportation.

To add to the Disney fun, there are two fascinating dioramas between the Tomorrowland and Main Street station. First is the Grand Canyon with sun kissed vistas and filled with native creatures like deer, mountain lions and more! Next is the Primeval World or the land of the dinosaurs!

The park currently has five trains in operation:

• C.K. Holliday

• E.P. Ripley

• Ernest Marsh

• Fred Gurley

• Ward Kimball

To keep the dreams of Walt Disney alive, the trains are of historical design with detailed finish and striped awnings. The only train with a reference to a Disney character is on the Ward Kimball train where there is a gold silhouette of Jiminy Cricket. All the trains run on bio-diesel, making them mean “green” steam machines!

Attached to one of the full trains is the Lilly Belle Presidential Train Car. It continues to replicate a Victorian parlor car with stained glass and gold stenciling, making it quite the lady of the railway. The car was designed with a partnership of Lillian Disney, which was a longtime dream of Walt. You can request to ride in this car if it is attached the day of your visit, but be aware that it does not have the best view and tends to get very stuffy and hot, yet it is an unforgettable experience!

Overall, at some point during your day it is a must “to-do” to get on board the famous Disneyland Railroad whether to hop from one land to another or to take in the park from a different point of view!

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