A JPEG Blueprint of the Walt Disney 1950 " The Brave Engineer " Train Station that I have " Drawn " by Editing the GRIZZLY FLATS Station Blueprint.

[norman]

A JPEG Blueprint of the Walt Disney 1950 " The Brave Engineer " Train Station that I have " Drawn " by Editing the GRIZZLY FLATS Station Blueprint.


Hello,


I am extremely surprised that the Walt Disney Brave Engineer Cartoon Train Station is exactly to Scale to the " So Dear To My Heart " Walt Disney Movie Train Station Prop which later became the Ward Kimball Grizzly Flats Train Station .

The only difference that I can find, other than the brickwork obviously, is the Much Steeper Roof Pitch of the Brave Engineer Cartoon Train Station .

Walt Disney - The Brave Engineer 1950

ALL IMAGES ARE AT THE SAME IMAGE SCALE AS THE CARTOON IMAGE OF
THE LADY WAVING HER HANDKERCHIEF WHILE HOLDING HER UMBRELLA
AT TIME 1:17 AND AT TIME 1:18 .

The PDF Page 2 of 2 is Blank.


Norman Bourgault

 

[Paradise]

I recalled an online article I read some time ago by fellow Large Scale train modeler Scot Lawrence regarding the possible design origins of the Grizzly Flats depot.
The building design was originally used for the flag-depot on the Pottsville Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad among others circa 1890.
The plan was later published in a 1946 Model Railroader magazine which seems likely where Ward Kimball who was working for Disney sourced it to use in the Disney Film 'So dear to my heart' (1948).
I managed to dig Scot's article up on Google: Grizzly Flats Depot and the LVRR.

 

[Paradise]

norman, I suspect the design concept of the building in the Disney cartoon 'The Brave Engineer' (1950) came from the same place as it did for the Disney movie 'So dear to my heart' 2 years earlier in 1948. Likely sourced by Ward Kimball working for Disney either from a plan published in Model Railroader December 1946 just before the movie was about to go into production or from the book 'Buildings and Structures of American Railroads' 1893.

The roof being steeper is just how it is in cartoon land where the bullies are fatter, the larrikins are skinnier and the damsels cry a lot more etc.

Ward Kimball circa 1948

 

[norman]

Hi Mr. Paradise,


I am certain that you are correct.

Given that the Cartoon locomotives are drawn out of proportion, it really amazes me that the Station Cartoon Drawing is exact to the dimensions of the Grizzly Flats Depot .

The LVRR Architect was an amazing person. While editing the Grizzly Flats Depot Blueprint it is revealed how each detail " clicks " into place just like a jigsaw puzzle .


That is a very nice Tinplate Standard Gauge 4-4-0 Ward Kimball is holding .

My guess is that the toy 4-4-0 is from the German Manufacturer who had his Factory in France .

Other than the fact that the Frame is shortened to run on Sharp curves with the Piston Rod connected to the Rear Driver, that is a very realistic looking 4-4-0 .



Norman Bourgault

 

[Gavin Sowry]

Great watch of that movie. My Dad had a record of Jerry Colona's when we were kids.... sort of thing you don't appreciate until you are older.
Walt, and Ward (and a few others on the Disney team) were model railway fans... of course, you already knew that.

 

[MajorMark]

My first post, reading my first thread on this forum. The Disney reference is what led me here, for I am currently charged with maintaining the Epcot Germany train garden, (and am overwhelmed as a novice railroader). I've been an employed as a Ride and Show Technician with Disney since 1981; as a matter of fact I met Ward Kimball in 1982 while building Epcot's "World of Motion" (now "Test Track"). I hadn't realized he had so much to do with the Disney train legacy. Anyway, I am inspired by this current role and hope to remain doing this until I retire in a few years. I need help though, and hope to find it here. Oh, and that's some fantastic work reproducing the station from the animated film!

 

[PhilP]

Welcome Mark!

We will help where we can..

 

[Paradise]

Given that the Cartoon locomotives are drawn out of proportion, it really amazes me that the Station Cartoon Drawing is exact to the dimensions of the Grizzly Flats Depot .
The LVRR Architect was an amazing person. While editing the Grizzly Flats Depot Blueprint it is revealed how each detail " clicks " into place just like a jigsaw puzzle .
Norman Bourgault

Norman, I think the building as originally designed for use on the LVRR and others has a ton of character as it is, that's what probably inspired it's use in the Disney film in the first place.
It is common for props and sets in Disneyland (and to some degree on their film sets) to be scaled to more human proportions and the characterizing features to be more exaggerated as in a cartoon. This gives a more friendly effect for the patrons rather than being overwhelmed by the sheer size of reality. The friendly little mouse and all that...
Ward Kimball probably sketched up that building many times during it's reconstruction on the Disney set and afterwards. The proportions are in the artist's eye but would need little exaggeration for a cartoon because it was already full of charm and character as it once stood.

 

[Paradise]

My first post, reading my first thread on this forum. The Disney reference is what led me here, for I am currently charged with maintaining the Epcot Germany train garden, (and am overwhelmed as a novice railroader). I've been an employed as a Ride and Show Technician with Disney since 1981; as a matter of fact I met Ward Kimball in 1982 while building Epcot's "World of Motion" (now "Test Track"). I hadn't realized he had so much to do with the Disney train legacy. Anyway, I am inspired by this current role and hope to remain doing this until I retire in a few years. I need help though, and hope to find it here. Oh, and that's some fantastic work reproducing the station from the animated film!

MajorMark. I've been to Epcot many years ago but not sure if the train layout existed then. I am familiar with it though from YouTube videos.
I always wondered who looked after it. Welcome aboard!
Are you able to give some first hand details regarding the running of a busy daily exhibit. Layout set-up, common issues and remedies etc?
I'm sure others here would be interested.

 

[norman]

Hi Major Mark,


Thank you very much for the compliment .

" I met Ward Kimball in 1982 while building Epcot's "World of Motion" " , I envy yourself to have met Ward Kimball .


Mr. Paradise, yes the Brick Siding Cartoon Train Station must certainly be a LVRR Design .

Possibly the LVRR Train Station had Wood Siding and Brick Siding was applied to the Cartoon Train Station .



Norman