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Well, you're finally here. You're standing on the platform of Main Street
Station. You've read about how to do this on the Internet. You've practiced your
lines in front of a mirror. You're wearing your best clothes. You've showered,
and are sucking on a breath mint. You are ready!
A whistle sounding off to your left tells you the train is arriving. Your
pulse quickens, and your palms start to get moist. You quickly wipe a bead of
sweat from your brow.
The train glides by before you. The Ward Kimball, pulling a train of
green-striped cars, rolls to a stop over the far entrance tunnel. The conductors
swing down, and open the exit gates for departing passengers. Your moment is
drawing near. Your breath grows shorter and shorter--you can hardly stand the
anticipation!
The Ward Kimball's dedication took place on
February 15th, 2006.
The conductor closes the exit gates, and rolls back the platform gates.
You're caught in a mad, rushing sea of humanity as families dash toward the
train! You're nearly swept onto one of the waiting cars, but no--you push back
against the rising tide. Gasping for air, you're beaten and battered. Your toes
hurt from being stepped on. No--you will not let this moment pass. You've waited
far too long.
Hurting and out of breath, you compose yourself. You summon all the strength
and courage you can muster. You approach the rear conductor. In your most
deferential tone, you make the simple inquiry: "Sir, um, sir...I was just
wondering, um...if you could see it in your heart to, um...to let me ride the
Lilly Belle?"
You did it! You asked, and now is your chance! Just think of it! Momentarily,
you, and you alone, will be relaxing in crushed red velvet splendor, viewing the
Park from the plushest car to ever circle a theme park! Your eyes get misty at
the very thought.
The Lilly Belle's re-dedication also took
place on February 15th, 2006.
The conductor turns to you, calmly checks his watch, and replies simply,
"Nope, sorry. We don't have anyone to chaperone you. Maybe next time."
You're jaw drops open. Your vision gets blurry, and you don't even realize
that the train is full, and the conductor is escorting you back to the waiting
queue. You're quite dazed, and as the Lilly Belle glides by, empty, you
begin to question the very existence of a benevolent divinity.
Fear not, O dejected ones!
There is no doubt that the Lilly Belle is a historic piece of the
Disneyland Railroad, and that to ride in her is a rare and cherished thing. But,
sadly, not everyone can ride in the parlor car. For the great unwashed masses
such as us, there is an alternative--no less historic, but nearly as rare. I'm
talking about a ride in the Disneyland Railroad caboose--a car that has been at
the Park since opening day, and which seemingly few people know is available
nearly all the time. Come along now as we look a little closer at "The Poor
Man's Lilly Belle."
Almost everyone is familiar with railroad cabooses, even those who grew up
recently, after the passing of the caboose. Many of us grew up with stories
featuring cabooses, such as "The Caboose That Got Loose," written and
illustrated by Disney animator Bill Peet.
This drawing of what would become "Katy
Caboose" hung over Disney animator
Bill Peet's desk for 15 years before he wrote the popular children's classic.
We all know about the little, red, often lonely car that used to bring up the
rear of nearly every freight train. She was born in the 1840s, the very dawn of
railroading. In those days, some conductors converted the boxcars at the end of
their trains to mobile offices. Here, they would process the freight waybills as
their train was in transit. They would store their lanterns, tools, chains and
other necessities of their trade in these boxcars as well.
The main feature of a caboose in most folks' minds is the little box on the
roof with windows--called a "cupola." This is where the conductor or brakeman
can sit and keep watch over the train, looking for such things as overheated
wheel bearings, shifting freight, or unwanted passengers. The practice of
looking over the train is said to have begin in 1863, when T.B. Watson, a
conductor on the Chicago & North Western Railroad. His main caboose had been
re-assigned, and he had to make use of a boxcar at the end of his train. This
boxcar was a bit on the dilapidated side, and had a large hole in the roof.
Watson stacked up some boxes so that his head and shoulders protruded from the
roof, and he discovered a marvelous vantage point from which to watch the train!
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