Good For Freight Or Cattle Passage

Note: This first appeared here on May 27, 2011.

Way back when, the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad operated two trains around the Magic Kingdom. The first was the six-car passenger train, also known as Retlaw One. It’s canary yellow and brunswick green colors were reminiscent of the passenger cars of the famed Virginia & Truckee Railway. 

The second train was the freight train. A mixture of open gondolas and cattle cars, with the classic cupola caboose bringing up the rear. It was painted the traditional color of boxcar brown. It’s spartan accommodations for riders didn’t last long before modifications were made. Most notable was the removal of a number of slats from one side of the cattle cars to offer a better view of the Park.

To begin, both trains required different tickets. The one above is the stub for the freight train, boarded by passengers at the Frontierland station. A passing track here allowed the passenger train to bypass the station. The same was true at the Main Street Station where another passing track allowed the freight train to bypass that station. That operation as well lasted only a short while as did separate tickets for the two trains. Eventually all trains made all stops becoming the transportation system that carries passengers around the park by the thousands every day.

While the passenger train went on to retirement, the freight train carries on, making the same trip it did on Opening Day, Monday, July 18th, 1955. And you can still enjoy a ride in the caboose, too. Just ask the conductor, if folks are not already seated aboard. As for cattle… well, you may find a Mouse or two aboard, maybe a duck, too. I don’t think you’ll mind the company.