The Mystery 5th Disney Train

I told you the story about the Four Baldwins so I could tell you this one. Part of the credit for this comes from fellow engineer and train enthusiast Robert Jacks (represent!). We were discussing trains and railroad history and got on the topic of the Merida trains, specifically the fifth train that was brought up and not used, except for parts and whatnot.

Then I asked the simple question: Wait, what kind of train was it? We assumed it was another Baldwin? Was it a 2-6-0 or a 4-6-0? We realized we knew nothing about this train.

Time for research.


I went straight to the source: Walt Disney's Railroad Story by Michael Broggie. On page 323, it reads the final "fire bull" selected was No. 52, a 2-6-0 Mogul built by Pittsburgh Locomotive Works in 1902. It was preserved in a small park across from the Merida train station. On the next page was this picture:

It was not labeled in any kind of way, but because we know the other trains had 274, 275, 251, and 260 painted on the cab this had to be it. Also the wheel configuration was correct.

Since we now had a train number (52), Robert was able to find another picture on the http://railmexico.tripod.com/udey/ website. There, it has this one picture:

This train is obviously on display in a fenced off park so that fits as well.

Robert was also able to find this from the August 22nd, 1969 issue of the Tampa Times:

I was able to obtain a copy of the 1968 book Mexican Narrow Gauge by Jerry Best. He was the one who was contacted by Roger Broggie before his trip to Mexico. In the back of the book it lists the entire roster of the Unidos de Yucatan railway:

In addition to #52, I have highlighted #66 (Roy), 72 (Walt), and 73 (Roger) for my Disney peeps

76 (Lilly Belle) is highlighted, as well as all Disney trains under the train dimensions

There at No. 52 you can see the 1902 Pittsburgh Locomotive Works 2-6-0, but now I even get a builder's number, 2372 (and it even had a sister train!). I must admit I had never heard of the PLW so I researched that as well. It was founded by none other than Andrew Carnegie, and eventually merged with other companies to form the American Locomotive Works, or ALCO.

The train itself presented far too many problems to be refurbished so it was used for parts and the rest was sold. As a matter of fact, look at the stacks of the No. 52, and the Roy O Disney. Yep, same one.

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