History: Disneyland Railroad E.P. Ripley Locomotive #2
The appearance of the E.P. Ripley was based on the Baltimore & Ohio No. 771, a stately American 4-4-0. Walt Disney liked the appearance of No. 771 so much that every effort was made to emulate her likeness with E.P. Ripley. Construction began at the WED Enterprises (Walter Elias Disney; now Walt Disney Imagineering) in 1954 and entered service at Disneyland on July 17th, 1955. On opening day, E.P. Ripley had the honor of pulling the first train into Main Street Station under the command of Walt Disney himself. The locomotive was named after Edward Payson Ripley who was the fourteenth president of the Santa Fe Railway which sponsored the Disneyland Railroad from 1955 to 1974.
Boiler Serial Number 1255-55
Boiler Diameter 33.5”
Cylinder Dia. / Stroke 10” x 15”
Pressure 125 psi
Weight 22,500 lbs.
Tractive Effort 4,427 lbs.
Fuel Capacity 250 gallons
Fuel Consumption 12-14 gph
Water Capacity 550 gallons
Water Consumption 140 gph
Boiler Serial Number 1255-55
Boiler Diameter 33.5”
Cylinder Dia. / Stroke 10” x 15”
Pressure 125 psi
Weight 22,500 lbs.
Tractive Effort 4,427 lbs.
Fuel Capacity 250 gallons
Fuel Consumption 12-14 gph
Water Capacity 550 gallons
Water Consumption 140 gph
The Model
The G Scale representation of the Disneyland Railroad E.P. Ripley started out with an LGB 2-6-0 Mogul. While not an American 4-4-0 like the prototype, this base model is a reliable platform that I chose to loosely model the E.P. Ripley. Decals for the project were created by Stan Cedarleaf. The following paint colors were used to replicate the prototype and its abundance of trim details: Burgundy, Hunter Green, True Red, Gold, Metallic Gray, and Semi-Gloss Black.
Frame
The ~20 year old LGB gearbox and mechanism was cleaned and lubricated before painting the frame and wheelsets. Flickering red and orange LEDs were mounted under the firebox with aluminum foil used to reflect the light down onto the track. The pilot cut levers and screw holes were removed and filled. Green fabric flags were created from craft supply Hunter Green bias tape and fitted over the gold flag poles.
The ~20 year old LGB gearbox and mechanism was cleaned and lubricated before painting the frame and wheelsets. Flickering red and orange LEDs were mounted under the firebox with aluminum foil used to reflect the light down onto the track. The pilot cut levers and screw holes were removed and filled. Green fabric flags were created from craft supply Hunter Green bias tape and fitted over the gold flag poles.
Smokebox
The LGB headlight was modified to resemble the prototype by making a new base out of polystyrene and applying a 4-color paint job. A 5mm warm white LED is mounted in the headlight. Plastic trim was wrapped around the top of the smoke stack to simulate the distinctive crown piece on E.P. Ripley. A non-prototypical custom number plate with the locomotive name, number, and year of manufacture was added to the front of the smokebox.
The LGB headlight was modified to resemble the prototype by making a new base out of polystyrene and applying a 4-color paint job. A 5mm warm white LED is mounted in the headlight. Plastic trim was wrapped around the top of the smoke stack to simulate the distinctive crown piece on E.P. Ripley. A non-prototypical custom number plate with the locomotive name, number, and year of manufacture was added to the front of the smokebox.
Boiler
The generator and bell were removed from the boiler and the holes filled. The bell was relocated between the steam dome and the cab, and pull cables were added to both the bell and whistle using thread that was then painted gold. An HO Scale eagle was mounted to the sand dome to resemble the eagle statues that each of the Disneyland Railroad locomotives feature.
The generator and bell were removed from the boiler and the holes filled. The bell was relocated between the steam dome and the cab, and pull cables were added to both the bell and whistle using thread that was then painted gold. An HO Scale eagle was mounted to the sand dome to resemble the eagle statues that each of the Disneyland Railroad locomotives feature.
Cab
The cab and firebox had the most significant modifications. The rear portion of the cab was cut away to reveal more of the cab interior. The LGB firebox was shortened and a new floor added to support the shortened firebox and hide the wire harness running from the tender into the locomotive. After the firebox was shortened, flickering red and orange LEDs were mounted above the hatch in the firebox with aluminum foil to reflect the flickering light. The gages on the firebox were relocated and a LED for cab lighting was added to provide illumination at night. Fabric curtains for the rear of the cab were made out of craft supply Hunter Green bias tape.
The cab and firebox had the most significant modifications. The rear portion of the cab was cut away to reveal more of the cab interior. The LGB firebox was shortened and a new floor added to support the shortened firebox and hide the wire harness running from the tender into the locomotive. After the firebox was shortened, flickering red and orange LEDs were mounted above the hatch in the firebox with aluminum foil to reflect the flickering light. The gages on the firebox were relocated and a LED for cab lighting was added to provide illumination at night. Fabric curtains for the rear of the cab were made out of craft supply Hunter Green bias tape.
Crew Figures
Woodland Scenics and American Diorama figures were used in the cab. Disneyland “cast-member” name tags were painted onto their overalls and the Disneyland Railroad logo patch was painted onto their caps. The engineer is wearing a lanyard with Disney Pins on it that can be traded with visitors at the park. Finally, both crew members are wearing a hidden Mickey – the conductor on his overalls and the engineer on the pin lanyard.
Woodland Scenics and American Diorama figures were used in the cab. Disneyland “cast-member” name tags were painted onto their overalls and the Disneyland Railroad logo patch was painted onto their caps. The engineer is wearing a lanyard with Disney Pins on it that can be traded with visitors at the park. Finally, both crew members are wearing a hidden Mickey – the conductor on his overalls and the engineer on the pin lanyard.
Tender
The LGB tender frame was shortened by a half inch and a storage box was added to the rear platform. The original coal load and tool boxes were removed, and a new top plate was made from polystyrene. New hatches from Ozark Miniatures were added for the fuel and water, and a single toolbox on the engineer’s side was added. A body-mount Kadee 830 coupler was added to the rear. Electronics inside the tender include power pickups that supply track power to the locomotive, as well as a bridge rectifier / capacitor to feed constant polarity to LEDs in both the locomotive and trailing train cars via connectors at both ends of the tender.
The LGB tender frame was shortened by a half inch and a storage box was added to the rear platform. The original coal load and tool boxes were removed, and a new top plate was made from polystyrene. New hatches from Ozark Miniatures were added for the fuel and water, and a single toolbox on the engineer’s side was added. A body-mount Kadee 830 coupler was added to the rear. Electronics inside the tender include power pickups that supply track power to the locomotive, as well as a bridge rectifier / capacitor to feed constant polarity to LEDs in both the locomotive and trailing train cars via connectors at both ends of the tender.
