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Currently in the Disney Gallery in Disneyland, there is an extensive exhibit focusing on the Disney theme park trains. The exhibit features concept art showing the development of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World railroads, historic artifacts, and newly-commissioned pieces, including models in several scales.

One of the items that will be released is a beautiful model of WDW RR Engine No. 1, the Walter E. Disney, to run on O gauge 3-rail. As most here know, the MTH "Old-time" 4-6-0 was directly modeled on this particular locomotive (The styrofoam packing even says "Disney" on it). However, until now, it was never painted in the colors it wears at the park--a bright fire-engine red with brass and black accents. Here's is a photo from MiceAge showing the engine:



The price is fairly reasonable for a Disney piece (I'm hearing about $450). This is the only accurate model of any Disney engine ever produced--all others being nothing more than off-the-shelf models with similar paint schemes applied (think the 1990 Lionel Disneyland General).

More photos of the exhibit can be seen staring here.
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MTH is making the model. I don't think it's a limited edition. Don't know if LHS will carry. It will be available at the park, but you can also order items through Disney by calling Disneyland DelivEars at 877-560-6477 to order merchandise from the exhibit. They're open from 9AM to 8 PM EST.

Expected delivery is late winter/early spring 2012.
quote:
Originally posted by harleyhouse:
An open passenger car set would be nice too!
Definitely! But I haven't heard that anything will be made.

Because the real locomotive is a 3-foot gauge engine, and the model is running on standard 3-rail O gauge track, the model is actually built to about 1:29th scale. I'm not sure who would decide to make the Excursion style cars in that scale (although the Bachmann "Jackson and Sharp" cars are modeled on the Disney designs too--we just need to get them to scale them up a bit!).
Clicking through the addtional pages on the link... there were some great photos of the exhibit, artwork...etc. There was also a comment on there that someone contacted Disney and said they had no info on the engine...

Maybe if somebody has a facebook account, they can post a detailed question on the MTH facebook page for some details


rat
I bought a Christmas MTH 4-6-0 a few years ago with the plan to do just this. And at $450 vs the $90 I paid I will still make my own version.....someday. As a Disney fan I'm glad we are getting 'Disney' stuff but at my current economic condition....I'll still have to make mine! To bad the freight cars never ran at WDW....those would be easier to kitbash than the open cars!!
CP173, thanks for the info on those other steamers. Yes, it was the Ward Kimball that I saw on display today.

I have often wondered why Disney didn't capitalize on its RR rides & equipment more by making operating models in various gauges. Maybe they are finally awakening to the sales potential there.

The Disney Gallery is featuring Disney RR items now, and they have a bunch of nice prints for sale as well as assorted other items, including a pack of three different metal Disney RR signs ($80). Also a sharp denim long-sleeve shirt marked for Disney RR ($84, I believe) and a t-shirt, beer stein, and more. Quite a lot of stuff in the Gallery.
quote:
I have often wondered why Disney didn't capitalize on its RR rides & equipment more by making operating models in various gauges. Maybe they are finally awakening to the sales potential there.


They have with a number of other themes.. I have a number Disney issues of the Nautilus, Jungle Cruise Boat Replica and Monorails .. As far as value ,they sell on the secondary market, even in this "wonderful" economy for more than doubled their issued cost..
quote:
Originally posted by Odd-d:
STEVE---- Not to change the subject but does Disney still market that fancy train station that you once said was marked as HO scale but it really fits nicely with O scale?
No, Bob, that station hasn't been marketed for years. You can still find them on E-bay occasionally, sometimes even for a decent price.
quote:
Originally posted by CP173:
Matching passenger cars are a possibility if the locomotive sells well. The same is true of O-scale Disneyland Railroad engines. It all depends on how well guests respond to this product.


As for different locomotives, a simple stack change and different paint job would be all that would be needed to create the Roger Broggie.

And as for Disneyland RR engines, No. 1 and No. 2 could be made with identical boilers, chassis, tenders and drive train--basically they could produce two engines for nearly the price of one.

Personally, in this branch of the hobby particularly, I would think there'd be a big market for models of "park" trains, what with their vibrant colors and toy-like qualities. I've gotta think more people have had direct interaction with the Disney trains than the number of people who've ridden on the NYC subway, and choose to model those.

What better way to get kids into the hobby than to have a model of a train they've actually ridden at a Disney park?
quote:
Originally posted by Odd-d:
STEVE---- Not to change the subject but does Disney still market that fancy train station that you once said was marked as HO scale but it really fits nicely with O scale? Odd-d


Hey Mark - Where did you go????

Our very own 'Leavingtracks' Alan has kitbashed several of these into his spectacular urban masterpiece!

Hopefully this is just delayed.  Obviously didn't make the Early 2012 date suggested above, but I'm still definitely interested, assuming there is a way to purchase these without necessarily being in the park itself.  (though I did see the one on display 3 or 4 different times, that was due to unique circumstances that brought me to the area)

 

Hopefully the display was just premature and the planning and/or implementation is just taking a little longer than anticipated.

 

-Dave

Guys,

 

I just recently went to Walt Disney World January 3 to the 7th and saw Walt Disney behind the scenes tour telling all about Walt. I would be very interested in acquiring this set as a way of remembering the trip with my 22 year old daughter. We were up at 4:00am that morning and were the first ones at the park! If any of you has college age kids, you know how difficult it is to get a college kid up, particularly one who has elected to take winter break with their parents.

 

I really appreciated the time she spent with me! Do you guys think it will be available in the colors described this Christmas? If so, I stand at the ready pen in hand ready to write the check!

 

Mike Maurice

So I wonder, then, about all these model trains (both the working and static versions) that people are seeing at the Disney Parks. Are these trains all "one offs"? Scratch builts? Or are they modified/painted/pimped out Lionel's from yesteryear? And what about the passenger cars? Scratch built? Or do you think that one of the big outfits are making them special on the downlow for the parks, in which case moulds must exist? I'd like to know just who is building these mystery machines for the parks. Let's find that fella, right? - timbo
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