The Disneyland Railroad is a 3-foot (914 mm) narrow-gauge heritage railroad and attraction in the Disneyland theme park of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, in the United States. Its route is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) long with four train stations, encircling almost everything in the park. The rail line, which was built by WED Enterprises, is operated with two steam locomotives built by WED and three historic steam locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. The attraction originated as a concept created by Walt Disney, who drew inspiration from the ridable miniature Carolwood Pacific Railroad built in his backyard. Since 1955 when the Disneyland Railroad first opened to the public at the park's grand opening, it has been consistently billed as one of the top attractions, and for many years visitors had to buy a top-tier ticket to ride the train. It is one of the world's most popular steam-powered railroads, with an estimated 6.6 million passengers served each year.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Railroad

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1461:

Ming general Cao Qin staged a failed coup against the Emperor Yingzong. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebellion_of_Cao_Qin

1782:

The Badge of Military Merit, the precursor to the United States' Purple Heart award, was established as a military decoration in the Continental Army. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badge_of_Military_Merit

1933:

An estimated 3,000 Assyrians were slaughtered by Iraqi troops during the Simele massacre in the Dahuk and Mosul districts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simele_massacre

1942:

World War II: U.S. Marines initiated the first American offensive of the Guadalcanal Campaign with landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tulagi_and_Gavutu%E2%80%93Tanambogo

1987:

Lynne Cox became the first person to swim across the Bering Strait, crossing from Little Diomede to Big Diomede in 2 hours and 5 minutes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lynne_Cox

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

nene: The Hawaiian goose, Branta sandvicensis, which was designated the state bird of Hawaii in 1957. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nene

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

When the country goes temporarily to the dogs, cats must learn to be circumspect, walk on fences, sleep in trees, and have faith that all this woofing is not the last word. What is the last word, then? Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith rules through ordinary things: through cooking and small talk, through storytelling, making love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and flowers, through sports, music and books, raising kids — all the places where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through. Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people.   --Garrison Keillor https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Garrison_Keillor