The Ward Kimball

<p>The Ward Kimball: The Story of Disneyland Engine No. 5</p><p></p><p>Steve DeGaetano</p><p></p><p>From Plantation to Theme Park</p><p></p><p>For Disneyland's 50th anniversary the company had a great idea: add a fifth train to the Disneyland Railroad and name it after Ward Kimball a Disney Legend and like Walt himself a railfan. This is the story of how a locomotive built in 1902 became part of the Happiest Place on Earth.</p><p></p><p>The story begins not in a theme park but at a Louisiana plantation where a small locomotive called the Maud L. was first put to use over a century ago hauling cane sugar through the hot humid fields. As the Maud L. ran down over the years she was destined for scrap-but then her life took a change for the magical.</p><p></p><p>Disneyland Railroad expert Steve DeGaetano tells the tale of how the Maud L. became the Ward Kimball:</p><p></p><p>The early years of the engine destined for Disney including its quiet decades at a theme park in Ohio</p><p></p><p>Disney's acquisition and rebuilding of the Maud L. and its rebranding into the Ward Kimball</p><p></p><p>The inaugural run of the Kimball at Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration</p><p></p><p>A fascinating look at how Disney tests operates and maintains its steam trains</p><p></p><p>Plus an account of Walt Disney and Ward Kimball's lifelong friendship a bond forged from animation steam trains and theme parks</p><p></p><p>The whistle blows. A puff of steam rises over Main Street Station. The Kimball has come. All aboard!</p><p></p>