E.P. Ripley, 8-13-1955
Not E.P. Ripley the person, E.P. Ripley the locomotive! This photo was taken about a month after the park opened, and the passenger cars still sport some patriotic bunting. Look at how the "Ripley" gleams with its colorful paint and polished brass. I'm not sure what's up with the wooden structure, and the barbed wire seems a bit out of place at the happiest place on earth! Maybe they were having problems with people sneaking in without paying. There is a man working beside the track (hard to see, but just to the left of the train)...does anybody know where this photo was taken? I would guess that it could be just after the train left Main Street Station. The track splits into two, which should be a clue for those who are in the know.
While I love all of the locomotives, the E.P. Ripley and the C.K Holliday are extra special because they were built at the studio for the park...Walt's ultimate model railroad. Later additions are actual vintage, narrow-gauge engines. The Fred Gurley was originally built in 1894! The Ernest S. Marsh and Ward Kimball were from 1925 and 1902, respectively.
2 comments:
I would say this image is taken from the Frontierland Railroad Station and the EP Ripley is not stopping because at that time it just stopped at the Main Street Station and the CK Holiday would only stop at the Frontierland Station. This was Walt's idea of authenticity, the passenger train only stopping at Main Street and the freight training stopping at Frontierland station.
I would agree with Matterhorn! The track had a switch for a spur line at the Frontierland station where the passenger train could... well... pass. Perhaps the gentleman in the corner of the photo is near the switch?
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