LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Two of Disney World’s steam locomotives have reached the century mark. No. 3, Roger E. Broggie, and No. 1, Walter E. Disney, both 4-6-0s, were both built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925. Both have been part of the Disney World roster in Florida since the park opened in 1971.
While the locomotives are currently operational, construction work in the Magic Kingdom theme park has abbreviated their route. Portions of the railroad have been removed in the northwestern part of the park near Frontierland to accommodate several new attractions. The trains run a back-and-forth shuttle service between the two stations that remain open: Fantasyland and the Main Street USA Train Station.
Nos. 1 and 3 were built for the Mexican narrow-gauge line, the United Railroads of the Yucatan. Roger Broggie, one of Disney’s Imagineers, was placed in charge of transportation systems for the developing Disney World attraction. Broggie traveled to the Yucatan in the late 1960s and purchased the locomotives for the new park.
The Broggie went through inspection and rebuilding for five years, returning to service in 2024. The Disney was rebuilt from 2016 to 2020. The Strasburg Rail Road was contracted for this work.
On a daily basis Disney cast members, like 35-year veteran Lou Berkheiser, transportation engineering service manager, maintain the railroad’s equipment. Berkheiser assisted with both rebuilds. He described the process as watching a locomotive come apart piece by piece so it can shine again — a careful and detailed restoration that blends engineering precision with tradition.
“It’s not just a job — it’s an adventure,” says Berkheiser of working on the Disney railroad. “[This is] carrying on one of Walt’s original passions.”
It was no secret that Walt Disney loved trains.
For more information about the Disney railroad and locomotives, look for the books Walt Disney’s Railroad Story by Michael Broggie or Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad! by Steve DeGaetano. Also visit the Disney World website.
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