WDWRR Locomotives

[Raineman]

Something I've always wondered about the locomotives they use on the WDWRR-are they specifically made for a narrow gauge railway, or have they been modified to run on a narrow gauge railway?

 

[DisAl]

The locomotives used in WDW were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works as narrow gauge and were used in Mexico before being purchased by Disney. The oldest was built in 1916 and the "newest" in 1925.
Narrow gauge works better where you have (for a railroad) sharper turns. For this reason Disney actually wanted narrow gauge locos and built the railroad to match.
This link will take you to an article with a lot of information on the locomotives:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World_Railroad

 

[Captain Barbossa]

Something I've always wondered about the locomotives they use on the WDWRR-are they specifically made for a narrow gauge railway, or have they been modified to run on a narrow gauge railway?

When Baldwin built these locomotives, they built them so that the wheels could be adjusted so they could run on standard or narrow gauge track. I’m not sure if the locomotives ran on standard or narrow gauge when they were in service on the United Railways of the Yucatan. Disney has fixed that feature, unfortunately, so they can only run on narrow gauge.

 

[DisAl]

When Baldwin built these locomotives, they built them so that the wheels could be adjusted so they could run on standard or narrow gauge track.

Well, you learn something new every day. Now if I could just remember it.
I never knew they made convertible gauge locomotives.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

When Baldwin built these locomotives, they built them so that the wheels could be adjusted so they could run on standard or narrow gauge track. I’m not sure if the locomotives ran on standard or narrow gauge when they were in service on the United Railways of the Yucatan. Disney has fixed that feature, unfortunately, so they can only run on narrow gauge.

According to Wiki, it was a 3ft narrow gauge on Ferrocarriles Unidos de Yucatan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrocarriles_Unidos_de_Yucatán

 

[Captain Barbossa]

Well, you learn something new every day. Now if I could just remember it.
I never knew they made convertible gauge locomotives.

Yeah, I don’t think they were common. Baldwin is the only manufacturer that I know of who made them.