Disney Train Collectibles - What have you got? What do you want?

Post by **Steve DeGaetano** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:15 pm

I remember when I first became interested in aquiring a few collector items from the Disneyland Railroad. I figured that since I had hardly seen anything for sale concerning the trains over theyears, that I would only have to expend limited funds to get a few things. How wrong I was!

It's kind like a habit: You start out light, with post cards, then you get a little more addicted, and start going after attraction posters and pins, and then, when you've collected everything commercially available, you start going after cast member colelctibles. Then, you decide to go after the "Holy Grails:" items never meant for public or private sale, such as costuming pieces and discarded train parts! My collection includes items from all of the above categories.

Perhaps the ultimate Disney train collectible is one that Michael Campbell owns: an acutal steam locomotive from the Fort Wilderness Railroad! A little hard to display on a shelf, however!

So, what have you collected from the Disney trains?

Post by **StartedByAMouse** » Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:13 pm

I'm much more of a Disney generalist overall but in being so I have developed a love and appreciation of the railroad.

I don't have a lot of Disney train collectibles but I am planning on displaying what I have in my dining room and turning it into a mini-Iron Spike Room.

I have a framed spike from the Disneyland Railroad with a photo of the E.P. Ripley that was sold at the Disneyana Shop a few years back. Interestingly, the certificate of authenticity lists it as the E.P. Riley. Reminds me of those purses and wallets you can get on the streetcorner that say "DNKY" instead of "DKNY." Some authenticity.

I also picked up a nice print of Walt and Mickey on the E.P. Ripley from the Ronald Reagan Library gift shop when the Walt Disney exhibit was there.

And I've got another print of the E.P. Ripley from Steve for pre-ordering his Disneyland Railroad book. I think I may have the attraction poster at my mom's house still.

Other than the prints, spike and soon-to-be two books on Disney railroading, I don't have too much. I didn't buy some of the Disneyland Railroad stuff they sold at the Disneyana shop a little while back, like the hat and whistle, though maybe I should have.

There are some coin presses around the parks that we've gotten. The bank on Main Street used to give a free pressed penny of the Disneyland Railroad. DCA has a couple of the California Zephyr. And inside the Main Street Station at Disneyland, there are currently three nickel presses, which are really nice. I think nickels make the best pressed coins.

Unfortunately, I've pretty much run out of space to continue collecting too much more so I'm a lot more choosy as to what I'm able to pick up.

Matt

Post by **Steve** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 9:58 am

Believe it or not, I really don't have much in the way of Disney railroad collectibles.

I have a lithograph of the Disneyland Railroad attraction poster that I got back in 1997. And then I have a collectors plate showing Mickey and one of the trains (which one escapes me at the moment) in front of Disneyland's Main Street Station. And then the assorted pressed coins and buttons. But that's about it.

My favorite railroad items, though not necessarily collectible, are the photographs that I have taken through the years. Like my photographs of the Disney parks in general, these are always my favorite souvenirs, probably in part because they are unique to me and my experience in the park.

Post by **Steve** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:28 am

I forgot two important pieces to my collection, even though Matt had already mentioned them. The first is the print of the E.P. Ripley by Steve DeGaetano, which will soon occupy a prominent place in our home. And second is the book Walt Disney's Railroad Story by Michael Broggie. How could I forget those two?

And the plate that I mentioned features the Ernest S. Marsh engine, in case anyone is interested.

going round n round · Post by **going round n round** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:27 pm

Let's see, not much in my collection as of yet, other then the poster that we sell at the MK (the same one shown downstairs in the Main Street station. I have two used rail road spikes off of the WDW railroad, and one new one as well. I have two of the train tour pins, and the globe that we sell that shows the Walter pulling through the station, with Mickey, Donald and Goofy all holding the American Flag. This was my birthday present from DH. For my anniversary I got the Broggie book (the only gift I wanted!) We have the HO scale train and the Main Street train station to go with it. Two Walt Disney World Railroad hats, and two backpacks that show the logo of the railroad, also have two jackets that have the logo on the back. The last 3 were all things only train cast members could purchase, and unfortunately we are no longer able to get logo merchandise any more..it was a sad day for all of us, as it happened suddenly that we couldn't get it any more, or all of us would have *MUCH* more! I also have a patch from the Roger Broggie rededication. I think that is about it, for now, as we are adding stuff all the time..lol.

Post by **Steve DeGaetano** » Sun Aug 01, 2004 4:50 pm

GR&R, it sounds like you ave a nice collection going! I think I speak for allDRR collectors when I say we're jealous that you guys have (had) so much logo items offered!

One of my most interesting pieces is a Disneyland Railroad "class" ring. On one side is the interlocked "DRR" logo, and on the other is a generic engraving of a 4-4-0. Around the gemstone are the words "Disneyland Railroad." These were made only for train CM's, so I consider myself really lucky to have one!

Steam Hog · Post by **Steam Hog** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:43 am

In addition to some logo stuff and some old spikes I have a few interesting pieces of toontown station. Before it went down for it's rebuild several of us took turns pulling off the resin balls that hunk from the ironwork under the canopy. I have also aquired a piece of the platform that was cut out in order to bury the new posts. My wife is still waiting for me to tell her what I intend to do with these things.

Emma Nevada · Post by **Emma Nevada** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 10:42 am

We have the typical attractions posters, all the pins, the HO Walter, the snow globes, some railroad spikes, the Broggie book (and Steve's book on the way), we have the shirt and hat (from DL when they were celebrating the Marsh). We have the stuff from the tour that was at the Californina State Railroad Museum, and we have the G scale Lilly Belle live steamer (and the Fort Wilderness Live Steamer on order). I WISH we would have gotten some stuff from the Toon Town rehab, but pictures are all we are left with

Oh I forgot about the stuff that the crew got. Ihave the jacket, the hat and the backpack from the logo frenzy that we went on (which is no longer being done).

(Edited by Emma Nevada at 11:44 am on Aug. 11, 2004)

Post by **Steve DeGaetano** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 1:23 pm

Why can't you guys do logo stuff any more?

Most of us Disneyland train fans were almost shocked by the relative flood of Ernest S. Marsh collectibles a couple years back. There was a pin set with a nice backing card and a bonus DRR logo pin, a very nice mug with the DRR herald that included a bandana and a nice drawing of the Marsh, a wooden whistle with DRR logo, a beautiful denim jacket emblazoned with DRR herald and Marsh painting, and an engineer's hat with a tasteful embroidered DRR herald in green, red and gold.

In true Disney fashion, the steam crews were not given the hats as part of their costuming. I suppose it might have been a BAD thing if guests could go and buy the same hat that the actual Disneyland Railroad engineers and fireman wore! Talk about a marketing blunder!

Tracks N Slabs · Post by **Tracks N Slabs** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:02 pm

The logo items were created by an outside company who had clearances to reproduce certain images. Another department (Security) saw our product and wanted it done with their logo, but the WDW Security logo can not be reproduced (for good reason).

There was a big hoop-la about why we could do it and they couldn't and it was just easier to say "fine no one does it, and that's that". So bad for us, but maybe someday we'll see a return or a new generation of WDWRR items.