Walt Disney's Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom

WELCOME TO THIS fascinating ride through

WALT DISNEY's RAILROAD STORY, written for anyone who has ever loved a train or a Magic Kingdom.

Few people are aware of the enormous part Walt Disney's love of railroading played in the development of the Disney empire. Yet, this passion followed the consummate showman from his humble beginnings in Illinois and Missouri through his enchantment with the small-scale live steam hobby, evolving into the full-scale Disney Parks and their authentic steam-powered trains. Indeed, Walt Disney's small-scale fascination led to a full-scale kingdom. Thus, it is through exploring the depth of Walt's regard for railroading that we can reach a better understanding of the complex man who began life as the fourth son of a midwestern carpenter and his wife and became one of the most popular and celebrated personalities in modern history.

Author Michael Broggie weaves in-depth interviews with Mrs. Walt Disney, animators Ward Kimball and Ollie Johnston, and a host of other Disney employees and acquaintances into a winning and informed narrative. This splendid chronicle contains hundreds of full-color and black-and-white illustrations, including dozens of never-before-published photographs of Walt's live steam railroad, Disneyland's construction, and building and refurbishment of the Disney Parks' locomotives.

According to Walt Disney's own account (as told by his wife, Lillian, and daughter Diane), it was the miniature live steam layout at his home and his long fascination with highly-detailed miniatures and mechanical animation that inspired his revolutionary concept in family entertainment based on Disney characters and stories. A full-sized, steam-powered railroad completely surrounding the Magic Kingdom provided the boundary between reality and fan-tasy-and a convenient transportation system.

Walt Disney's dream of a Magic Kingdom and his passion for railroading were as one. This synergy is succinctly described in his own words:

"I just want it to look like nothing else in the world. And it should be surrounded by a train." Interest in Walt Disney's railroads remains clear: his 1/8th scale locomotive, Lilly Belle, was displayed at Tokyo Disneyland; and Walt Disney World in Orlando has unveiled a new exhibit about Walt's railroading interests.

 400+ pages full of photos and illustrations 

Fantastic copy, small amount of wear to the edges of the dust jacket.