| Gurley Story
(continued)
In a
fitting close to this story, here is a photomontage by Matt Walker; Captions are
unnecessary as Matt's lens perfectly captures the beauty and detail that is
Disneyland's third locomotive, the Fred Gurley:
So--the next time you visit Disneyland, and happen to board a train pulled by
the Fred Gurley, you will now know something of Leon Godchaux, the
engine's first owner; you will know something of the mighty Baldwin Locomotive
Works--her builder; you will know something of Walt Disney--the engine's savior;
and you will know something of contractors Mission Tool and Machine Co., and Boschan Boiler and Restorations.
Enjoy your ride around the Magic Kingdom as
this illustrious engine pulls your train. She was nothing more than a mechanical
mule in 1894. But in 2008, here, in Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom, she's your
conveyance into a world of fantasy and imagination--a world her builders at
Baldwin, 114 years ago, could hardly have imagined.
This article could not have been produced without the talent and generosity
of a number of individuals. I would like to thank Paul Boschan of Boschan Boiler
and Restorations, Inc., and also Tom Gazsi of Mission Tool and Manufacturing Company,
Inc., Matt Walker, Richard Harris, Maurie Seymour, "Mowsefan" and Wayne James
for allowing me to use their photos.
Much of the information contained in this series was gleaned from Michael Broggie's seminal work, Walt Disney's Railroad Story. I would also like
to thank Michael for generously allowing me to use photos from his book.
If you would like more information on plantation locomotives, there has been
no better book written than Down Among the Sugar Cane, by W.E Butler.
It's out of print now, but can often be found at such rare book sites as Alibris.com. And still more information can be found in Little Railways of
the World, by Frederick Shaw, which includes a chapter on Disney's trains,
with rare photos. It turns up on Ebay occasionally.
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