Ticket to Ride: America’s Theme Park trains
New book on park railroads
Amusement park trains were nothing new when Walt opened Disneyland in 1955. But just as his magical playground ushered in a new concept of themed entertainment, so did his magnificent railroad. The grand station situated above the entrance to the park wasn’t just another ride—it beckoned guests to embark on an exciting adventure, journeying back to another time and place.
The golden age of regional theme parks quickly followed, and each featured a 19th century railroad. Almost all of them started out as steam-powered operations, many utilizing restored locomotives and equipment dating back to the early 1900s, others placing their orders with a small family-owned metal shop in the rolling hills of Western Pennsylvania.
Over time the trouble and expense of running such complex attractions began derailing much of the fun. Some parks quit the game completely while others searched for ways to lower the burden, often switching to what’s known as “steam outline” locomotives—essentially a truck engine and transmission hidden underneath a costume. Equipment was shuffled back and forth between owners over the years, some now rusting away in a backlot somewhere, others still running daily.
This is their story—how they got started and where they are now. Grab your ticket to ride and hop on board!
Michael Campbell is a preeminent Disney Railroad historian who wrote the foreword for the book. You’ve seen him on many official Disney-related projects, including consulting for the Disney Family Museum. Catch his YouTube documentaries on Disney train history, Once Upon a Train, and his brand new book Walt Disney's Trains: A Grand Circle Tour Through His Life and Legacy.
Bret Iwan by day is the official voice of Disney’s Mickey Mouse. After hours he’s an avid train fan with not just one, but two operating railroads. Along with his family’s half-scale replica of Disneyland’s Mine Train through Nature’s Wonderland, Bret loves operating his wood-burning steam locomotive on the 18" gauge Terbeau Ranch & Thompson Railway.
