Looking Back...

[S. Towler]

2005. Very fond memories. On an old Macintosh with dial-up internet, I was searching "Disneyland Railroad" and patiently watching the images load very slowly, hoping I'd find one of this mysterious roundhouse that was new information to me at the time. No luck. Eventually the google links kept landing me back on this website called "Burnsland" and I discovered a discussion board (also a new concept to me) with like minded people with an affinity for Walt's railroad. Not only it's history, but up-to-date reports on a NEW locomotive coming! Wow! Never even knew it was happening. Boy it was exciting logging in, doing my morning routine with a bowl of cereal and seeing what little nugget of info was being posted with the exciting anticipation of a new locomotive arriving at Disneyland and that park turning 50 at the same time. Around the same time (maybe about a year-ish earlier) I stumbled onto Steve's book being advertised on Mouse Planet and would practically run to the mailbox daily hoping it would arrive. My knowledge of the railroad (and trains in general) exploded my little head with that book and this board. It's been a real E-Ticket chatting with all of you all these year later! Wish they would add another locomotive just to chat about it!

What a time... TWENTY FREAKING YEARS AGO!!

[CP173]

Someday, my young padawan, twenty years won't seem like that much time.

As for "another locomotive", it depends on the definition of "they".

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1o2k1qfc ... cr8am&dl=0

[Steve]

I am glad you found us all those years ago, Sam, because you quickly became an important member of our community. Thank you for all your contributions over the years!

And that is a nice tease, Michael. I’m curious!

[Locoboy5150]

I'm glad that you joined this little corner of the internet! I think that as you get older, time goes by faster! Twenty years used to seem like an eternity when I was younger but now it seems like it goes by in a flash. I can't believe that DRR 5 has been roilling on the DRR for twenty years already. It seems like just yesterday when it debuted.

My guess is that picture of the lathe is showing an axle assembly from the restoration of one of the FWRR locomotives. That is just based on the color scheme of the wheel (red) and tire (white.)

[S. Towler]

I'll emphasize that 2005 feels like 8 years ago to me, hence my shock of how long it's actually been, rather than time dragging on. Especially now that I have a 1 year old kiddo, I've already seen the sands of time blink faster than ever.

Speaking of Engine 5, stumbled upon this the other day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ5vR8T9cR8

Now that's TWO locomotives we know of out for rebuild

[CP173]

Re: #5, I had no idea there is paparazzi for locomotives. Is nothing sacred!?!

[Locoboy5150]

Thanks for the link to the video. I did not hear that DRR 5 was headed out for a refurbishment. Does anyone know what shop is doing the work this time? Is it Hillcrest Shops in Reedley or Boschan Boiler in Carson (again) perhaps?

Maybe this time around the second builder's plate will FINALLY be attached to the smokebox. That has been bugging me for twenty years now!

[CP173]

I thought Boschan was out of business. Can anyone confirm?

[Steve DeGaetano]

I thought Boschan was out of business. Can anyone confirm?

Yes, Paul closed his shop many years ago.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Thanks for bringing back memories of those heady times, Sam! I’m not sure how I stumbled upon Burnsland—probably in a similar manner that you did. It was amazing that we all finally had a “place” where we could hang out, discuss our fascination with Disney trains, and learn from each other.

There was so much excitement about the 50th Anniversary, and the restoration of the Ward Kimball. I’m not sure how I heard that Boschan Boiler and Restoration was doing the work on the Ward Kimball—maybe from my CM friends—but it was probably in early 2005 when I got the hair-brained idea that I would just call Boschan Boiler out of the blue and see what I could find out.

Paul was very nice on the phone if not very forthcoming, and said that he couldn’t confirm or deny any work that he might be doing for Disney. Before we hung up, though, he did mention that his shop was open to the public, *hint hint.* So, I printed up a Yahoo map and headed down to Carson that weekend.

That was the first of several trips. I invited BL member “StartedByAMouse” (Matt) one time, and Paul, knowing my utter distaste for the then-new DRR cab signals, deviously asked if I would like to work on the engine—by installing the locomotive’s cab signals! Paul also showed Matt and I where he kept his collection of letter stamps and asked that we “sign” our initials in discreet areas of the cab. My “SMD” is stamped into the cab wall behind the cab signal box.

Later that year, Preston and I got to work on the engine a little bit in the Roundhouse. We worked together to install the copper air line to the sanders. Paul knew of Preston’s CAD skills from the book, and asked Preston to do some blueprint work for him (every—and I do mean every—detail of the engine has an associated drawing, from the cab down to the smallest nut or bolt).

I was more active on MousePlanet then, and posted fairly regular updates (with permission). I remember the excitement those pieces generated was palpable, both there and here!

I’m blanking on the tech term, but Steve B, Matt and myself had a weekly on-line chat session. Those were always enjoyable as I sipped my coffee before getting down to work.

I was also working with Michael Campbell and David “Fletch” Fletcher, a master narrow gauge modeler and early Baldwin expert, to design the proposed builder’s plates for engines 1 and 2. I printed out those email chains and still have them somewhere!

Ah, yes, those were good times indeed, when so much DRR stuff, on-line and in the Park, was going on that it made your head spin! Burnsland has been pretty much a staple in my life since then.