Walt Disney’s Santa Fe Odyssey: A Journey to an Inspired Dream
For about three generations, the Santa Fe railway has been a magical name in the art and ultimate efficiency of travel. The line was originally called the Atchison & Topeka railroad but since the system stretched farther out to areas in California, the name of the line was changed to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. Since the first passenger train went across the California boarder with its red plush and shiny brass, the Santa Fe railway has become a part of the big state. Yet, a man named Walter Elias Disney (Walt Disney) had great memories on the railroad especially by his dad’s farm as a boy in Marceline, Missouri.
The railroad name Santa Fe began with the early history of the Southwest, expanded with the
flow of commerce that followed the Santa Fe Trail and has been popularized into a household
term by the Santa Fe railway. It is associated with the thought of places to go and the famous
fleet of streamliners. Without the Santa Fe railway, the social and economic development of
the great American west may have been retarded.
President Lincoln, who was once Walt’s idol, signed the Pacific Railroad Bill on July 1, 1862 thus, proving for construction or a railroad from the Missouri River to the Pacific Coast. The Federal Government then passed an Act, granting 3 million acres of land along the proposed route. In fact, colonel Cyrus Kurtz Holiday dreamt up the very line with its extremities snaking from Chicago to Kansas City. By December 1869, the rails had been laid down some 21 miles and the equipment consisted of a second-hand locomotive, a coach and 12 flatcars. The rails continued to stretch onward into Albuquerque, New Mexico in the continuation of the western progress. By an accord known as the Tripartite Agreement, dated January 31, 1880, half of the capital stock of the Atlantic & Pacific then owned by the St. Louis & San Francisco railway was transferred to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad. Construction of the Western Division was promptly released under the banner of the Atlantic & Pacific railroad. The railhead was pushed across New Mexico, crossing the continental divide east of Gallup. In late 1881, the Santa Fe made its second subscription payment of fifteen million on the Atlantic & Pacific bonds. The Santa Fe was then obliged for the time being to accept the situation and continued pushing its rails through Flagstaff, Williams, Ash Fork and Kingman in Arizona Territory. From Kingman, the Santa Fe rails dipped down into the valley of the mighty Colorado and construction of a bridge had begun some 20 miles south of the Needles. The first link of the Santa Fe to the Pacific was completed and a celebration was held in San Bernardino that was remembered for years. Once, however, a passenger train was stranded in Temecula Canyon and it took railroad officials 3 weeks before they reached the stricken train. Luckily, a local farm provided enough food to keep the passengers and crew alive until the rescue party could reach them. There was an estimation the restoration of the line in the canyon due to a washout would cost $250,000 but the California Southern was heading for bankruptcy. However, the Santa Fe immediately came to the rescue and agreed to an exchange of bonds. The new track was laid when new rails were shipped in and a shelf was cleared in the canyon for new roadbed by hundreds of Chinese. Meanwhile, the agreement for lease of the Needles to Mojave section had been reached with the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe finally had its gateway to California.
With all that history and explanation said, a boy named Walt lived and grew up on a farm in Marceline, Missouri and was very obsessed with trains, watching them go by the farm heading west to San Francisco, California. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, he, with his dad, Elias and mother, Flora and his brothers, Roy, Ray and little sister Ruth moved to a farm in that very town. Seeing the beautiful sight down Main Street, he was enjoying the adventure especially when he went down to the railroad station and depot. His uncle Mike was a train engineer on the Santa Fe railway and whenever the train went by, especially past the farm, Walt would often wave, and engineer Mike would not only wave back but also give his nephew Walt a special toot-toot of the whistle. Whenever the train stopped by the depot, Mike would often offer Walt and the family gifts of candy, toys, and other things. That was a special time for Walt on the Marceline farm. Walt and Roy, who were playing on the sand bars along the water, once ran rapidly to a clearing of high ground to receive a better chance of being noticed by the train’s engineer — that being Uncle Mike Martin. The 2 boys waved their hats to get his attention. When the powerful steam locomotive was just about midway on the high trestle, the engineer located the youngsters. He leaned out of the window waving and reaching out for the hanging loop cord and sounding the whistle with a strong clear four-chime blast with 2 toots.
This is an inspiration for a futuristic type locomotive called the slip stream locomotive. It’s like a steam engine except it is powered by the wind, or even solar power to generate electricity. There’s a huge part where the electricity comes from called the energizer battery, the stack where, instead of smoke, mist comes out (better known as air conditioning essential mist), auto style disc drivers, boosters, wind chime bell and the slip stream whistle.
When Roy was 17, he told Walt about one summer he was a news butcher on the Santa Fe railway and at night, when Walt was in bed, he would stay awake listening to the sound of trains in the distance. Hearing that wonderous sound, he imagined himself on board it as it chugged through the night to Kansas City and beyond. Of course, as the Santa Fe railway engineer, Mike Martin’s odyssey took him from Fort Madison, through Marceline and onward to Kansas City. This likely explains the visits on the farm with the boys in Marceline.
Several years ago, Roy worked for the Fred Harvey Company through 2 summer seasons as a news butcher on the Santa Fe where was to walk through the coaches offering travelers fresh fruit, candy, bottled soft drinks and tobacco products. With Roy’s explanation on how the job offered an exciting opportunity to see the country while getting wages, Walt applied for a news butcher on the Missouri Pacific at the age of 15 going between Denver and Kansas City. While sitting in the combine car, Walt would even stare outside and watch the countryside pass the other way and watch the locomotive roll along and get a glimpse of the wheels spinning. On the first day on the Missouri Pacific, a train was departing from Kansas City to Jefferson City, Walt had a rather rusty time. It was such a hot day, he had sold clean out his supply of cold soda pop. He failed to realize till too late, the 2 commuter coaches would soon be unhitched at Lee’s Summit. The cars were gone right before Walt could collect the empty bottles. However, this didn’t leave Walt anywhere near daunted because he continued plying his trade on passenger trains not only on the MP, but also on the Kansas City Southern and the Katy (Missouri Kansas & Texas) line. Walt really enjoyed the runs between Kansas City and Downs because it took 6 hours due to stops at every station en route occasionally for boxcar-switching duties as well. While on the journey, Walt sometimes went over to the baggage car to supply its attendant with cigars or chewing tobacco, then he went over the tender into the engine cab to do the same for the engineer and fireman. Then came the fun part: the 2 crew mates let Walt ride in the cab for a while and that was just a thrill. Walt’s enthusiasm convinced the crew of his desire to become an engineer just like his Uncle Mike and to learn everything he could about operating a steam locomotive. To encourage him, the crew taught him all the procedures, including how to operate the many valves and levers. He really loved ringing the bell and sounding the whistle at road crossings. As the train would stop at Downs overnight, Walt decided to take a walk around town. While on his stroll around Main Street leading from the depot, he did window shopping. Although he failed to convince a police officer he was the news butcher on the train, he was able to prove a point by unlocking his merchandise hamper when he had to accompany the officer back to the train.
A journey on a train is a timeless adventure I can never tire from just like Walt never really could. Being on a train and stopping to step off for a look about is like a great resting point and especially another great odyssey. It’s quite like stopping to smell the roses. Because I, too, love trains, I have a dream of becoming an engineer as well, just like Walt. So, as an engineer, I have a dream to go on journeys on my own train, stopping at places to look about, transporting things, performing races, rescues, and even doing musicals. Plus, I’d even love to invite kids to ride along with me whenever they feel unhappy.
Like Roy, however, Walt could’ve been a news butcher on the Santa Fe railway, but the one train Walt did travel on at one time that began services in 1892 was once known as the California Limited. The year was 1923 when Walt’s first studio called Laugh-o-Grams failed on account of bankruptcy but like his mistake on the Missouri Pacific news butcher job, this didn’t leave him daunted. He had his brief case packed up with a fine set of trousers, paper, a pencil and a paint brush or 2 and was just happy and free on this very train not letting any of the trouble get to him (as stated on the plaque with the statue of Walt and Mickey in DCA). Another happy thing that happened in a location called Burbank, the next studio called the Disney Brothers studio, later now known as today, the Walt Disney Animation Studios was opened for business. There is a big 4–8–4 steamer on the Santa Fe that was built and designed in 1927 which at one time, lead the California Limited.
In fact, there was a train occupant named Gerald M. Best who had a steam photography odyssey in 1927 in New England and other eastern areas of the USA. Walt Disney, at one time, made friends with Jerry Best as well with a plan to restore 3 steam locomotives bringing them into popularity on the Disneyland Railroad around his magic kingdom.
Another kind of train on the Santa Fe railway Walt traveled on was a luxurious streamliner known as the Super Chief. It was the times in the 1940’s when Walt had quite a stressful time at his studio and his doctor advised him to take some time off and find a hobby. With that, Walt and a studio employee — another great friend of Walt — Ward Kimball boarded the Super Chief to attend the Railroad Fair in Chicago, Illinois. The year was 1948 when the 2 friends traveled on the luxurious streamliner. Settling in the dining car next to a large picture window and handed menus. Looking out the window and seeing the countryside was like glancing at a beautiful canvas painting. Normally, passengers wrote down meal ticket orders while 2 of them actually got special attention to everyone else’s curiosity. None of the other diners on the train knew who Walt was because this was the time before he was a host of the popular weekly Disney tv series. With that said, there was no way any of the passengers could realize Walt just so happened to also be a good friend of a Santa Fe railway president, Fred Gurley.
“Walt Disney was just a down-to-earth farmer’s boy who happened to be a genius,” Ward once recalled. The trip to Chicago on the train took under 40 hours and the 2 friends studied the menus. Walt often called Ward by his last name and Walt ordered a rare steak whereas Ward was enjoying a Santa Fe beef stew. Plus, much like the times when Walt was a news butcher, the engineer on the Super Chiefinvited not only Walt but also Ward to the cab of the big lead diesel locomotive to sound the horn at every crossing they passed. Walt was quite a lucky guy since those times and he felt like as part of the crew on a train, especially the luxurious Super Chief. Ward, on the other hand, also got lucky to do so. The beautiful warbonnet colors of red and silver made a picturesque sight of the engine units. Speaking of which, the Grand Canyon diorama in the Disneyland Railroad tunnel would’ve been an inspired idea for it from the very location. Another kind of train that was once pulled by the 4–8–4 #3751 once was known as the Grand Canyon Limited. But Walt and Ward traveled across the southwest on the Super Chief whereas the Grand Canyon is really located in the high country of northern Arizona. In fact, the Super Chief was a true class art for its time. Room accommodations were provided for all passengers with no need for coach seating and the very beautiful train covered the entire LA-CH trip in 39–3/4 hours. Inside, each car was uniquely appointed in rare woods, interwoven fabrics, and sand paintings based on ancient Navajo designs. Navajo, on the other hand, is the name of the streamliner’s observation car (which can be seen at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden). This train is such a luxurious sight I thought up a new Santa Fe streamliner with the same name, only newer, sleeker, faster and even larger. Plus, roomier. Other inspired Santa Fe streamliners include the Sky Chief, Kansas City Chief and others.
The diesel locomotive, on the other hand, inspired me the idea for another futuristic locomotive called the diesel wind electric locomotive and train. Like the slip stream locomotive, it is powered by the wind. No fuel needed.
With inspiration from his friends Ward Kimball, Ollie Johnston and others with their backyard railroads — be it miniature size or full size, Walt Disney got an idea for his own backyard railroad which he named the Carolwood Pacific named specifically after the street his home in Holmby Hills was located, Carolwood Drive. His railroad was miniature size and another person who Walt made friends with, Roger E. Broggie had constructed a 1/8th scale steam locomotive which is a replica of an 1873 steamer, the Central Pacific #173 which he named the Lilly Belle in honor of his wife, Lillian. This was the discovery of miniature Live Steamers. With inspiration from his railroad, he got the idea for where not only kids but also adults could have fun especially when Walt took his 2 daughters to ride the carousel while he sat on the bench eating peanuts. The very idea was, of course, Disneyland.
Construction on the park began in 1954 and opened in 1955. During those times, 2 locomotives were designed by Walt himself and Roger. The engines were numbered 1 and 2 named after none other than a couple of presidents of the Santa Fe railway, Cyrus Kurtz Holiday and Edison Payson Ripley. In fact, trains were actually used to bring in materials to bring up the park attractions so if anyone asks what’s so important about the Disneyland Railroad or why it is, there’s the answer. If Walt Disney wasn’t a railroad buff, hadn’t thought up his own backyard railroad, clearly Disneyland would never have been thought up. Therefore, without trains, the Disney parks we know today wouldn’t have been developed. 4 locomotives on the Disneyland Railroad were named after Santa Fe railway presidents in their honor. Numbers 3 and 4 were named exactly that besides numbers 1 and 2 but they were, however, turned into popularity at Disneyland from plantation engines. These were named Fred Gurley, as mentioned on the Super Chief, and Earnest S. Marsh. However, locomotive #5 was named after another friend of his, except it was of course his studio employee in his honor, Ward Kimball. Due to the golden silhouette of Jiminy Cricket on the headlight, Ward was the very fellow who came up with that little fella for the 2nd Disney animated film, Pinocchio. The name for the fellow Cricket probably came from the catch phrase meaning surprised or scared in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs “Jiminy Crickets”. When the monorail system was first introduced in Disneyland in 1959, it once had the Santa Fe logo sign and a wig-wag crossing was once given to Disneyland by the Santa Fe railway as a gift.
With Walt’s memories from his childhood, to his summer trip, and the Santa Fe executive named steam trains on the Disneyland Railroad, the Santa Fe was probably a favorite railroad of Walt’s as it is a favorite of fans before its merger with BN in 1995. However, it doesn’t seem pleasing. Therefore, this inspired me the idea for the Santa Fe railway to all the way across the country of America. Note the sentence “All the way.” Meaning not only does the Santa Fe go all the way from Chicago to L.A., but also to New York, the Empire State. So instead of Atchison, the inspired new system is called the Albany, Topeka & Santa Fe railway. The new slip steam locomotives, diesel wind electric locomotives, and new larger, faster, sleeker streamliners inspired by all would be a picture post card sight. I dream to be an engineer on my own train powered by a slip stream locomotive on the Albany, Topeka & Santa Fe. However, like Walt, I’d actually love to be the chief engineer to run many slip stream and diesel wind electric trains. The Santa Fe and Union Pacific are 2 of my favorite American railroads but I do have several others especially the kinds I’ve been on when growing up. My love for steam trains and especially diesel trains inspired me the idea for slip stream and diesel wind electric trains. Also, trains gave me the idea for the continuation of Disney parks, and I have other ideas for trains to do farming as well in which I thought up a new farming railroad. The new mega size streamliners of the Union Pacific include the return of the famous household names like the City of Los Angeles, City of San Francisco, City of Portland, City of Denver, and especially the City of Las Vegas. Others: The Golden Eagle, Silver Eagle, Overland Express, Super Challenger, Challenger, Texas Challenger, and others. I especially thought up another new streamliner called the Race Train, inspired by not only the Aero Train but also the looks of a race car. They can have a top speed 155 mph at a smooth rate. The vista dome car, on the other hand, was a lovable car to settle in when it came to railway travel since it was thought up C.R. Osborn in 1944 and it still is. Well, I’d love to start my own train company like Walt did with his called Retlaw so I can create new dome cars for the new trains and other kinds I thought up like a carousel dome car, rocket fin dome observation car, and many more. I hope this inspired dream will never be forgotten as I am pursuing it endlessly with no concern as I love trains very much and would love to return people to railway travel in America again to see what they missed back then or experienced in those times only better, roomier and much safer.
