Monday, December 26, 2011

Horse Drawn Streetcar, June 1968

One of the many wonderful things about Main Street USA is the presence of a variety of old-fashioned vehicles. Fire engines, Horseless Carriages, the Omnibus, and Surreys (though they are no longer at the park). But the Horse Drawn Streetcars (or "HDC" because I am lazy) are arguably the most famous; internal combustion engines are present on this Main Street, but reliable horses are still around, clip-clopping on the pavement. Hayburners, I calls 'em.

Here's a nice shot of one HDC (the ol' #3) heading down the street. Disneyland's horses always seem so wise and calm! This fellow isn't bothered by the hubbub all around. Looks like that little girl is thinking about hopping on board while the streetcar is in motion.


It's later in the day, but HDC #3 is still out and about, with the same horse as earlier (is he a Clydesdale?)! I think I've read that the horses don't work more than something like 3 hours a day. This is an unusual angle, looking back from in front of the castle towards Tomorrowland. I like the kid with his Donald Duck hat (just like mine!), and his sister behind him with the large shopping bag. What could be in it?

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9 comments:

  1. TokyoMagic!3:03 AM

    I want to run right over to Tomorrowland and go on ATIS....and the COP....and the WEDway PM, of course!

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  2. Chuck7:05 AM

    The shopping bag is full of soiled underwear from an earlier near-miss with a HDC.

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  3. CoxPilot10:32 AM

    He's a Belgian. They had four, and the shift was usually 4 hours, but they were rotated.

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  4. Connie Moreno10:39 AM

    I wanna go back to the Disneyland of my youth....

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  5. Snow White Archive6:36 PM

    Beautiful horse.

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  6. TokyoMagic!7:41 PM

    By the way....I miss those olive trees that used to be in the Plaza (visible in both pics). The Plaza today is just open and bare and ugly!

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  7. Major Pepperidge12:37 AM

    TM! (notice how I shorten your nickname), I think you should do all those things ASAP.

    Chuck, I am trying to get the image of soiled underwear out of my brain. Thanks!

    CoxPilot, did the horses get dizzy when they were rotated? (rimshot)

    Connie, me too...

    Snow White Sanctum, I am not a "horse person", but you can't deny that those are beautiful critters.

    TM! part two, Tony Baxter has some of those olive trees (complete with twinkling lights) in his yard now!

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  8. Anonymous10:14 AM

    Had the opportunity to purchase one of the former D-land horses last year but contrary to the idea that they are always easy going, this one was the 'boss' and needed a more experienced person who had sufficient land and a job for him to do. Great horses though. Now have the right Belgian for me. And I'm 61!

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  9. Nancy1:16 PM

    cute little boy helping to guide the horsey. i agree, its too bare now in the forecourt of the Castle ...give us back our trees!

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