Hey all, doing a little research here. I was wondering if anyone knew how long the Disneyland railroad was closed while Splash Mountain was under construction starting back in April of 1987?

I take it you don't have a copy of "Welcome Aboard the Disneyland Railroad"? You know that is a requirement around here .

Actually, that particular bit of info isn't in the book!

I sure wish I knew...The Wikipedia article on the DRR states that when the railroad went down for a few months in 2004/2005 for track replacement, that it was the "longest period the DRR was out of service." I always doubted this supposed "fact," because I bet it took longer to build Splash Mtn., and I bet the RR was down for a longer period of time back then...but I really don't know!

All that I can remember was that it was a painfully long wait!

It was so strange doing to Disneyland and not riding the DRR during that time.

Wiki does say it was closed for the longest period during the refurb.

So question, how long was it down when they moved the track in Frontierland for the instalation of New Orleans Square, Pirates, and Hunated Mansion? And was the trestle there originally or was it an addition because of the track movement?

The trestle is not original.

There are actually quite a few additions to the park that must have caused extended closure of the line.

Adding the sheds for the Diorama and then primeval world must have caused some down time.

New Orleans Square expansion. Was the provision for Haunted Mansion made at this time?

Bridges over the its a small world flumes.

Didn't the northern stretch of track run much closer to behind Casey Jr. and then get pushed out during an expansion?

Adding the bridge for the Toontown underpass.

Probably several others too.

Is there a list or timeline online somewhere?

I don't know specifically if it was closed during the construction of Splash Mountain, but I do know that it was closed the morning of and into the afternoon for the grand opening of Splash Mountain on July 17, 1989. In a press release it said the railroad would close at 10AM and Reopen at about 2PM.

When Splash Mountain was being built, I could pin it at about May 1987 to early 1989 when the Railroad was closed. Obviously, this is a reason....



For some of the earlier expansions of the line, like berm push-out to New Orleans and Videopolis, they probably built the new section of track as the railroad continued to operate (since it's not on the same path) and only closed when it was time to join the new section to the line, later ripping up the old section.

Thanks for sharing the photo S. Towler. I vividly remember looking over the then Bear Country construction walls and seeing the tracks suddenly end like that with the trestle completely gone.