Customer Reviews

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

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I consider myself an expert on Disneyland; I'm a former Imagineer and a collector of Disneyland information. Michael Broggie is not exaggerating his father's importance to the realization of Walt's dream. This book goes slightly beyond the sanitized "official" version that the Disney company promulgates and includes some stories and details that haven't been widely known. It's a beautiful coffee table book, complete and accurate (except for one or two nits someone like me might pick). I love it particularly for all the never-before published photos--you get so tired of seeing the same old approved shots when you collect Disneylandiana.

In case Amazon doesn't provide links, I would also recommend "Walt Disney Imagineering" by David Mumford, et.al. and "Inside Story" by the late Randy Bright. Both are "official," but just as authoritative as Broggie's.

I normally only read technical books. I picked this book up just to look at the pictures. Then I started to read the short articles within the chapters. I found them so fasinating that I found myself reading the main articles. My son asked my wife "what is Dad doing reading?". Walt Disney said that it all started with a mouse, but after reading this book you will realize that it all started with a train.

As a backyard railroader for the last 30 years, I had always wanted to find out more about Walt Disney's backyard, the "Carolwood Pacific". Now in "Walt Disney's Railroad Story", you can read about all of his interest in railroading, first building a miniature railroad in his backyard, and finally developing theme parks, complete with railroads. Author Broggie knew Walt personally, and covers all of the details of the many Disney railroads. This is one book that I could hardly put down until I had read it completely. I feel that this is a book that should be on the shelf of every backyard railroader and most Disney fans.

I have always loved the trains at Disneyland more than any other attraction. I always had dozens of questons about the trains that I wished I could get answers to. When I found out about this book I ordered it immediately. (My first experince with "one-click" ordering by the way, and WOW how easy!!) The book arrived on a Friday and I sat down to read it as soon as I got home from work. I could not put it down! I read straight through until 4am the next morning and finished it. It answered all the questions I ever had about the trains at Disneyland. It is a wonderful glimpse into the life of Walt Disney, and the group of incredibly talented people who worked for him. If you love trains, this book is a must. If you love Disneyland, this book is a must. If you could care less about trains and Disneyland, but you love a good story, this book is a must. Thank you Michael Broggie, for sharing this wonderful story.

Having been a "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour guide at Disneyland AND an engineer on the Steam Trains, I can say with full confidence that this is THE best book written about Walt Disney and his vision of Disneyland, and his love of trains.

The photographs are outstanding, the writing is wonderful, interesting, and easy to read, and the the stories, history, and facts are amazing.

Buy this book for yourself, and get an extra copy to give to someone who likes Disney - they'll be very thankful!

Walt Disney's long-lasting love of railroads led, in large part, to the creation of Disneyland. This book chronicles Walt's interest in real railroads, miniature trains and the Disneyland & Santa Fe Railroad that circles the theme park. The text is great, but it's hard to take your eyes off the photos, including many from the Disney family albums that have to be seen to be believed. Ther are also numerous anecdotes from Walt's family and cronies. All-in-all, a tough book to put down.

This Disney book offered through Carolwood Pacific topped my husband's Christmas list. The listed price was much less than I expected. The book arrived on time and in perfect condition. I was so surprised that the company had it autographed by the author!! My husband will be thrilled. Thanks, Amazon, for making this available.

I am enjoying reading this book. As a Disney fan, I am learning a lot of new information. I recommend it for anyone who loves anything Walt Disney.

From an early age, Walt Disney was smitten with trains - he worked on one as a newsboy when he was in his teens. Fast forward and Walt (no one who worked for him called him Mr. Disney) got hooked on live steam model trains and had one on his property on Carolwood Ave large enough to ride - which is now in the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. This is the story behind the train fanatic named Walt Disney.

This railroad book about Walt Disney arrived in good order. Back in the mid 1990's, I had seen this book at the bookstore in Disney Village, in Florida. Since it was a heavy book, I decided to drop by later in the week and pick it up. Opps, sold out. So, several years later, I chanced upon this title on Amazon. This is an excellent book on Walt's fascination with trains and how it inspired him to start his great parks in California and Florida. The books has some great pictures of these mini-scale trains. I'm thankful that Amazon provided this book and great service in shipping and handling. Thanks. B.L.