Ride the rails and hear some great Disney-related tales on Walt’s Sierra Adventures

Jim Hill

13 years ago

Since JHM seems to be on a run of Christmas movie and
holiday-related stories lately, I thought that I’d ask how many of you are fans
of the 1954 version of “White Christmas.”

And you may recall from a December 2002 story that ran on
this website, Nancy and her sister Kathy are huge fans of this Paramount
Pictures production (if only because two used to love to perform this film’s “Sisters“
number for their parents).

But me … I guess – because I’m such a film history buff – “White
Christmas” really appeals to me because it’s so obviously a movie of its time.

To explain: You have to remember that – back in the mid-1950s
– Hollywood was really going to war with television. At that point, so many
people were opting to stay home and get their entertainment for free on the
boob tube that the major studios felt that they had to genuinely step up their
game. Which is why – in order to counteract the appeal of TV’s teeny-tiny black
& white screen – major studio releases of this period were shot in
Technicolor and then screened in widescreen formats like VistaVision.

And “White Christmas” definitely has all of that going for
it. Plus – of course – Irving Berlin’s score for this Michael Curtiz (Yes, THAT
Michael Curtiz. The same guy who directed that cinematic classic, “Casablanca“)
film. Which is loaded with very hummable standards like “Heat Wave,” “Blue
Skies,” “Count Your Blessings instead of Sheep” and – of course – this movie’s Academy
Award-winning title song.

But one of the other reasons that I really love “White
Christmas” is that a big chunk of this movie is set on a train. And because
Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) has given away their tickets to Drawing Room A on that
Pullman Car to Judy (Vera-Ellen) and Betty Haynes (Rosemary Clooney), Phil and
his partner, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) are forced to spend the night sitting up
in that northbound train’s dining car.

Eventually Bing, Danny, Rosemary and Vera-Ellen all come
together in that dining car and perform their first musiocal number as a group,
“Snow.” Where this quartet of entertainment legends then sings about they long
to see ” … a mountain covered with a quilt of snow.”

Well, if you’ve ever dreamed (like I have) of taking a train
trip through a snow-covered landscape, have I got an event for you: Walt’s Sierra
Adventures.

Roger Colton and his group, Private Car Service, are putting
together a weekend of travel that Disney history buffs and rail fans are just
going to drool over. Where you’ll first climb aboard a vintage Vista Dome
railcar in Emeryville, CA and then journey across the snow-covered Sierra
Nevada en route to Reno. Then – after a night of fun in the Biggest Little City
in the World – it’s back on the train for a return trip through some of the
most spectacular scenery that you’ll ever see.

“Well, that does sound kind of cool,” you admit. “But what
is there about this Private Car Service event that’s supposed to be so
appealing to Disneyana fans?” Well, did I mention that there will be guest
speakers on this train? People who shared some great winter-related tales when
it comes to Walt Disney Company history. There will be talks about the opening
& closing ceremonies at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, CA. which
Walt Disney (as this event’s Head of Pageantry) personally oversaw …

You’ll also get to hear from a former Imagineer who’ll then
walk you through the development of Country Bear Jamboree, that theme park
favorite which originally started off life as the centerpiece Audio-Animatronic
attraction of Mineral King.

And as for that never-built Disney-designed ski area, your
truly has been tapped to tell the tale of this amazing project. Which can be
traced all the way back to those skiing vacations that Walt & Lily used to go
on in the 1930s.

Movie mogul helps mouse
to his feet after (ironically enough) Mickey was felled by a
mogul. Copyright
Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

It was Disney’s love of this alpine sport – coupled with his
friendship with Olympic skiing coach Willy Schaeffler – that led Walt to
explore the idea of working with the U.S. Forest Service to turn the Mineral
King Valley portion of Sequoia National Forest into a $35 million ski resort.

Concept art for Disney’s
Mineral King project. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All right reserved

As for the specific reasons that this particular project
went off the rails (More importantly, the long term implications for Walt
Disney Productions when both the Mineral King & the Independence Lake ski
resort that the Imagineers designed failed to make it off of the drawing board) … Well, that’s a story that
I just can’t wait to share with people who sign up for this Private Car Service
event. Which will be held on March 17 & 18, 2012.

The Union Pacific
steam locomotive 844 chugs past
Mount Disney at the Sugar Bowl ski resort
on
Donner Summit.

By the way, I don’t mean to make it sound as though Walt’s
Sierra Adventures will be just one long Mouse-related history fest. If you’re a
Disney railroad fan, there’ll be plenty of you to do as well. You’ll be able to
sit in on Roger Colton’s talk about the California Zephyr – including some
tales about how the Imagineers recreated this iconic train as part of Disney
California Adventure.

Coach seating (and
dining) aboard the Silver Lariat

Or – if you prefer – you can just look out the window and
just enjoy the route that the modern day version of Amtrak’s California Zephyr follows.
As this trains travels along the shores of San Pablo Bay before it then crosses
the Sacramento River delta and heads up into the Sierras. You can even dine on
a fine lunch which is prepared by an on-board chef as the Zephyr crosses Donner
Summit, following along the 1869 route
of the Transcontinental Railway.

Of course, you won’t want to over-indulge at lunch.
Otherwise you might wind up looking like this quartet from “White Christmas” …

… who certainly would have been popular with members of the
Donner Party.

Now for the details. The price per person to take part in
Walt’s Sierra Adventures? $600.00 double occupancy. That includes round-trip
travel aboard the private railcar, meals and beverages aboard, transfers
between the Reno Amtrak Station and the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino, hotel
room overnight at the Circus Circus Hotel, an ice cream social event at the
Circus Circus Hotel, and some special event goodies, too. And if you’re the
type of guy or gal who likes to fly solo … Well, a single supplement is
available upon request.

Donner Summit west of
Truckee, CA

So if you’d like to spend a weekend in March riding the
rails with myself, Roger Colton, Davy Crockett Feiten, Leo Holzer, Paul Barrie,
Shelly & Noe Valladolid plus a few surprise guests, you’d best make tracks
for the Private Car Service website. Or – if you’d prefer to deal directly with
Roger – you can contact Mr. Colton via e-mail at rcolton@mac.com or by phone at 925-321-0023.

Your thoughts?