E. P. Ripley

The E. P. Ripley is steam locomotive #2 on the Disneyland Railroad. E. P. Ripley is a 4-4-0 locomotive built by the Walt Disney Studios in 1954, and went into service at Disneyland on July 17, 1955. It was named after Edward Payson Ripley, the fourteenth president of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, which was the sponsor of the Disneyland Railroad from 1955 to 1974. The locomotive is designed to resemble the Baltimore and Ohio No. 774 locomotive, per advice from Gerald Best.
The steam engine was converted to burn biodiesel in 2007, as it is less polluting than oil. Mechanically, it is identical to the C. K. Holliday locomotive. It was also Walt Disney's favorite locomotive.
From 2016 to 2023, the #2 was out of service due to what was reported to be issues with its in-cab signalling system on the railroad's new alignment. For some time, there were no updates forthcoming, and speculation arose regarding the state of the locomotive, including one rumor that the locomotive had been scrapped to reduce the railroad's operating costs. However, in 2021, it was reported that the locomotive was at Hillcrest Shops in Reedley, California, receiving a top-to-bottom overhaul. After this lengthy overhaul, the locomotive returned to service on March 6, 2023. The locomotive is also currently the only one to still have its original whistle, although upon returning from overhaul, the locomotive was given a new bell, as the original 1955 bell was reportedly given to Bob Iger as a retirement gift. The locomotive also had a new front headlight and tender.
Ripley, E. P.
Category:Transportation
Category:Trains