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On today's show, Steven talks with Michael Broggie about the efforts to restore Walt Disney's favorite rail car and place it on display for all to enjoy.
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Steven spoke with Michael Broggie back in July. Michael was representing the Carolwood Foundation, the non-profit part of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society. CPHS is the organization that saved Walt Disney's train barn from his backyard in Holmby Hills and relocated it to Griffith Park. The organization is named after Walt's backyard railroad, which he called the Carolwood Pacific Railroad because his home was located on Carolwood Drive. The organization also saved Disney Legend Ollie Johnston's backyard depot and moved it next to Walt's barn.
Disneyland's original train set, or consist, was called the Retlaw-1 (Retlaw, or Walter spelled backwards, was the company Walt set up to run the railroad at Disneyland). The yellow consist was originally six cars. One car still runs on the Disneyland Railroad as the Lilly Belle. The other five cars were owned by Bill Norred, one of the founders of CPHS. After Norred passed away a couple of years ago, his family sold four of those five cars to a private collector, but held on to the combine car, which was so named because it combined passengers and baggage in one car. Walt insisted that the original consist should include a combine car because during his days as a news butcher on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, he would frequently hang out in the combine car. Because of this, the combine car was Walt's favorite. Norred's family has notified the CPHS that it is finally ready to sell the car, and will sell it to the CPHS if they can raise the necessary money.
It will take $100,000 to buy the car and restore it, and as of the interview back in July the CPHS had raised about a quarter of that money from the Disney family and another society member. The Carolwood Foundation is raising money by selling merchandse that will be exclusive to contributors. You can find out more about the merchandise and the fundraising efforts at the Carolwood Foundation Web site.
Michael told stories of how Bill Norred came to own the consist in the first place, and also some stories about Michael Jackson's love of Disney.
Since Steven and Michael talked in July, the Carolwood Foundation has now raised a total of $50,000 toward its goal. Also, they have received formal approval to locate the car next to Walt's Barn. They're working with several people to develop designs for a structure, and it sounds as if it will be reminiscent of the Main Street train stations from the parks.
Helping to support the preservation and restoration of the car, and receiving some of the exclusive merchandise for that support, would be a great holiday present for the Disney fan in your life. Check it all out here.
What do you think? Let us know by sending us an email or calling our toll-free feedback line (1-866-939-2278)!
Here are the responses to some questions that Mark was asking on Twitter and Facebook in the last week. If you'd like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.
Hey, Disney fans! What's your favorite Disney thing about the holidays? It doesn't have to be parks-related, just Disney. What do you think?
Mike's holiday Disney favorites include the magical transformation of the resorts while he sleeps (at WDW) and watching the Christmas Parade on TV (at home). While there isn't a whole lot of Hanukkah Disney stuff, of the Christmas stuff Mark loves seeing the decor around the resorts (at WDW) and watching the Christmas Parade on TV (at home).
Again, if you'd like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.
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The MouseStation crew (@MouseStation) currently consists of Mark Goldhaber (@MPMark) and Mike Demopoulos (@MPMike).
