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For the next in our series on the Walt Disney World Railroad, we examine a locomotive and a man, both with the same name: Roger E. Broggie.
Roger Broggie worked in the Disney Studios machine shop, when in the early 1950s, he was approached by Walt Disney for help with the Carolwood Pacific Railroad Walt wanted to build in his back yard. Roger used his vast mechanical knowledge to supervise the design and construction of Walt's Lilly Belle engine, as well as the installation of the railroad tracks at the Disney home.
After the success of the Carolwood Pacific, Walt again asked Roger for his help, this time in designing and building a park, which we all know now as Disneyland. Roger was one of the first Imagineers at WED, now better known as Walt Disney Imagineering. Roger oversaw several aspects of the design and construction of the park, but of course particular attention was paid to the building of the two locomotives of the Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad.
After the opening of Disneyland, Roger continued his duties at WED. He was responsible for all the transportation systems developed, and he played a large part in the exhibits Disney designed for the 1964 New York World's Fair. When Walt Disney World was under construction, Roger was again responsible for locating the locomotives for the Walt Disney World Railroad. He also worked closely on the development of the railroad that ran at the Fort Wilderness Campground for several years.
Roger retired from WED in 1973, after working on some of the early designs for EPCOT Center. He was named a Disney Legend in 1990, and he passed away in 1991. Roger could probably be considered one of the most influential people in the Disney Railroads. More about Roger can be found in the book Walt Disney's Railroad Story written by Roger's son, Michael Broggie.
It is quite fitting, then, that engine No. 3 of the Walt Disney World Railroad is named Roger E. Broggie because of Roger's contributions to the Disney park railroads. The engine is a 4-6-0 under the Whyte Classification System. Like all the engines, the Roger E. Broggie is an actual steam engine, burning diesel fuel to boil water to create the steam. An onboard generator powers the electrical system, responsible for the lights and the sound system on each train.
A maintenance system is in place to make certain the engines look and perform their best. Many times, one of the four locomotives is in rehab to keep it in top shape. Everything is also kept polished, receiving attention most every night, to keep things gleaming.
The Disney park railroads are wonderful reminders of the transportation system that helped to build America as a nation in the 19th and 20th centuries. Trains in general, and the Transcontinental Railroad specifically, opened the western states to settlers and businesses, creating a great expansion of the country. Perhaps Walt liked trains because it reminded him of his job on a train as a youngster. Or perhaps they reminded him of his train ride after one of his business failures from Kansas City to California, where he eventually found success. Or perhaps they reminded him of his train ride from New York back to California after losing his cartoon character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. So it is quite appropriate that one of the railroad engines be named for someone who worked so hard to help Walt realize his dreams.
- Story and Photos by Steve Burns E-mail Steve at steve@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this article in the StartedByAMouse.com Discussion Boards or use the Talkback feature below. |
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