A trip around Disneyland on the Lilly Belle

There are going to be many blogs about trains because trains were very close to Walt Disney´s heart.

On Sunday, 10th January 2016, several historical attractions temporarily closed at Disneyland to allow for the construction of Star Wars Land. One of those closing attractions was the symbolic Disneyland Railroad. We took the opportunity to take one last train trip around the park but not in any usual way. We visited the Main Street Train Station and asked if we could ride on the glorious Lilly Belle.

Originally, the Lilly Belle was one of the six canary yellow passenger coaches that circled Disneyland. When the Grand Canyon diorama opened in 1958, it was known as the Grand Canyon Observation car #106. Since then, and later in 1966 when the park added Primeval World, Guests complained that they could not see the exhibits through the small windows. Overtime, the new open cars we see today were introduced and most of the original coaches were destroyed or sold by 1974. However, Disneyland Transportation realized the need to have a special train car where VIP Guests and associates could be given private tours of the park. Within 2 years, and working with the Retlaw president, the Grand Canyon Observation car was renovated and transformed into the Disneyland Railroad Presidential Parlor Car. Walt´s wife, Lillian Disney, was highly influential in the new and current Victorian design. Thus the coach was named the Lilly Belle.*

The Ward Kimball locomotive arrived at Main Street Train Station and the open-air, side facing coaches passed us by. There, at the back of the train was the Lilly Belle. Regular Guests were unloaded and loaded first and then our special tour group of fourteen were escorted onto our exclusive carriage. As we climbed the stairs, the excitement built. As soon as we walked through the red door, the lavish interior made me instantly travel back in time. We headed to the back of the carriage, passing the many red cushioned chairs and marble topped tables. We sat at the end by the far door on the only two-seat armchair. A table with books sat to our right and a black and white photo of Walt and Lillian sat on the table in front.

As the train departed from the station, our Railroad Cast Member stood in the center of the carriage and told us facts about the railroad as we travelled around the entire park. During the journey, an old style photo album was passed around the group. Inside was a small selection of photos depicting Disney history and of course, trains. The book was a replica and had clearly been looked through by many Guests. As we carefully looked at the old photos as we circled Disneyland, sitting on this historic coach, I felt a special nostalgia; I imagine I felt similar to how Guests felt during the early days of the park.

As we arrived back at Main Street after our twenty-five minute tour, we were able to take some last minute photos before we stepped off and the next tour came on. For our final surprise, the Cast Member at the station exit gave us our very own Lilly Belle ticket to commemorate our special journey.

When the Disneyland Railroad reopens in a years time, the track will have been altered and the journey we took on this last day will never be the same again.

* Information about the history Lilly Belle taken from a variety of sources.

Video of the Lilly Belle interior

The Ward Kimball locomotive arriving at the station.

Since 1998, the Lilly Belle has been in and out of service, sometimes available for public rides but often only available for private, VIP rides and for Club 33 members.

A black and white portrait of Walt and Lillian Disney.

Hand woven pattern made by Lillian herself.

This sign was originally used to split the carriage between smoking and non-smoking Guests.

Three books including Time Machine by H. G. Wells.

This is the ticket we received as we left the Lilly Belle. The carpet in the carriage is the same as Walt's apartment from above the fire house on Main Street and includes hidden Mickeys within its pattern.