Carolwood Pacific Railroad

The Carolwood Pacific Railroad was a private miniature railway in the garden of a residence in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, with a track length of 797 meters (approximately 0.5 miles). The rails ran through handmade tunnels, over wooden bridges, and along landscaped garden beds around the property.

Walt Disney built the railway on his property in 1949 and tested the steam locomotive Lilly Belle for the first time on December 24 of that year. His experience with this private line later shaped the design of train attractions at Disneyland Park.

The name refers to the Carolwood Drive address and echoes the transcontinental railroad history of the United States. Local engineers and model builders often visited the site to discuss technical details and steam engines with fellow enthusiasts.

The railway operated at a 1:8 scale with a working steam engine pulling freight cars and a caboose behind the locomotive. Many components were crafted in the Walt Disney Studios workshop and assembled on the property.

An S-shaped tunnel runs beneath Lillian Disney's flower garden, allowing the track layout to respect residential landscaping preferences. This design shows how technical hobby and domestic garden planning could coexist in the same outdoor space.