Report: A Visit to Ollie's Railroad
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Before and after the luncheon, Ollie and Marie Johnston graciously opened their yard to the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society on Saturday March 18, 2000 for a live steam-up party to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their La Canada Valley Railroad, where their motto is: “We can handle it”.

Back in 1947 Ollie Johnston began to embark on a journey that would lay a foundation for the beginnings of the La Canada Valley Railroad. This railroad was to develop and encircle his sprawling ranch style home and yard. It was in 1947 that Ollie began building his first steam engine along with the help from some close friends. This was the Pacific, a B&O 4-6-2 live steam engine #515. This engine was completed in 1949.

In the early 1950’s Ollie began building, on his own this time, his live steam Shay Gear-Drive engine #2. This was a more daunting effort, then he imagined. But the Shay remains his favorite due to these efforts.

Imagineer Tony Baxter ready for a ride

Both are genuine steam powered engines. The heat is actually generated from coal that is placed into the tender. This coal is brought in from Pennsylvania. The trains and track are considered 1/12th scale, which is 1 inch to the foot.

The journey on the La Canada Valley Railroad begins in the backyard of Ollie and Marie’s home and continues around the perimeter of the yard. As you travel along the back of the yard there are views of a small tree studded gully and a stream that traverses it. Then along a small bend you disappear from view and continue through a small canyon that Ollie actually carved himself through the limestone. Walt was amazed by Ollie’s efforts, which took him about 2 - 3 weeks to complete. To complete the journey, you then continue along the front of the house, along the front walk, across the driveway and returning to the backyard .

Ollie’s love of the rails began at an early age, when he gained an appreciation for these mighty but beautiful machines. Thinking back on why he loved the rails, for him they are filled with moments. Moments of: the sights, the sounds, the train disappearing around a bend, disembarking at a small town depot, riding in the observation car, watching the rails disappear from underneath you, and the sound of the side rods clanking. The rails evoke all of your senses.

Like Walt Disney, Ollie Johnston shared a love of the rails along with fellow animators: Frank Thomas and Ward Kimball. This love was to grow inside of them and also laid a foundation of greater things to come, then a back-yard railroad. It was the love of the rails that inspired Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom: Disneyland.