The Disneyland Railroad - A Most Valuable Asset

When Walt Disney first embarked on the design process of Disneyland, he said, "I just want it to look like nothing else in the world. And it should be surrounded by a train." Walt had a passion for trains, and even had built a miniature model railroad in his backyard. Thus, it should not be surprising that as he laid out a dream park, a railroad ran all the way around it.

Over the years, the Disneyland Railroad has been known as an icon of the park, nearly as well known as Sleeping Beauty Castle herself. Main Street Station is the first thing that guests see as they enter Disneyland, and the last thing they see when they leave. As guests continue to explore the park, the train can be seen and heard in many of the different wonderful realms of Disneyland, making it an unforgettable sight.

What most guests don't realize, however, is that the Disneyland Railroad is one of the most valuable assets the park possesses. "How?" you ask. To explain that, let's step away from the railroad for a moment and focus on Disneyland itself.

One of the greatest things about Disneyland is the surreal escapism of the park. Due to elaborate designs and details, all of which incorporate magnificent theming, Disneyland feels like no other place in the world. While visiting the park, you truly feel as though you're somewhere else entirely. This is achieved through the "suspension of disbelief", which refers to how people perceive aesthetic works. If you find yourself engulfed in the story presented by the book or film you're following, your mind will accept the fact that what you are following is otherwise completely implausible, or even impossible.

Disneyland takes this "suspension" to another level. As stated before, the park contains elaborate designs and details to make for an incredibly immersive experience. You believe you're in another world at Disneyland because it looks and feels and sounds like another world. However, all these designs and details aren't enough to create this suspension of disbelief. In order to properly feel the effect, guests cannot be allowed to see the outside world at all while visiting the park. Doing so breaks the illusion, and all the theming in the world can't cover it up.

Fortunately, shutting out the outside world isn't terribly difficult, and can be achieved by means of a simple barrier. But what barrier would suffice that wouldn't negatively affect the theming of the park? A fence or brick wall would look bland, and might even make guests feel as though they're being imprisoned.

Luckily, instead of a fence or wall, the Disneyland Railroad does the job just fine. With the exception of a few small areas built after Disneyland opened, the railroad surrounds the entire park, and is raised on a natural berm to prevent the outside world from becoming visible. Nearby elements, such as trees or buildings, fill in the remaining gaps. Thus you have a natural barrier that hides reality, yet is not imposing at all, but rather friendly looking.

Now you know one of the most important, as well as the most subtle aspects of the Disneyland Railroad. Granted, there are others, which could even be considered equally important. The railroad reflects Walt's legacy of trains, and serves as a transportation system around the park. Even so, I'm most impressed by the fact that Walt's train that surrounded Disneyland became a most effective element in keeping the world out and keeping the magic in.

That's it for now folks, all aboard!
T.H. Excellence