| (June 26, 1957–Sept. 15, 1958) BACKSTORY: A narrow gauge, miniature train that operated alongside parts of the Disneyland Railroad main line. It was billed by as “the fastest miniature train in the world.” Two separate trains, designed and built as scale replicas of General Motors’ futuristic Aerotrain, traveled along a figure-eight track through parts of Tomorrowland & Fantasyland. Conceived as a way to take up the space vacated by the Mickey Mouse Club Circus, Bob Gurr was tasked with designing this train of the future. He sketched an engine design “inspired by” General Motors’ 1955 Aerotrain. Gurr changed the front end slightly by intersecting two ovals to house the headlights (The Aerotrain had all its lights in one oval) and streamlined the sides of the passenger cars with channeled chrome that ran the length of the train. The engine and top of the passenger cars were painted in matching colors; the Tomorrowland Train in red, the Fantasyland one in blue.
The Viewliner’s passenger cars were built by outside vendors while Gurr built the engines using Oldsmobile “Rocket” V8 gasoline engines and the parts from two 1954 Oldsmobiles. Oldsmobile also furnished the windscreen, doors, and instrument console for each of the two 5,000-pound (2,300 kg) locomotives. Gurr was still putting out fires (literally) the morning of the Viewliner premiere. For the inaugural trip, the band played while Walt jumped in the engine and drove off, with Gurr in a new uniform sewn together the night before.
The Tomorrowland train featured cars that were named for the planets, while the cars of the Fantasyland train were named after various Disney characters. The trains were placed into service to represent the future of rail travel, in contrast to the steam-powered DLRR which represented its past. The attraction operated until construction began on the Matterhorn and Submarine Voyage; the Disneyland Monorail System ultimately took the place of the Viewliner in June of 1959, making it one of the shortest-lived rides in Disneyland history.
Most photos available for purchase as enlargements; email your request. To view photos, allow popups in your web browser & click thumbnails below. |
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
