The Carolwood Pacific Railroad was a ​7 1⁄4-inch (184 mm) gauge ridable miniature railroad run by the American animator and producer Walt Disney at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. It featured the Lilly Belle, a 1:8-scale live steam locomotive named after his wife Lillian and built by the Walt Disney Studios' machine shop. It pulled a set of freight cars, as well as a caboose that was built almost entirely by Disney himself. The railroad, which became operational in 1950, was 2,615 feet (797 m) long and encircled his house. It attracted visitors who rode and occasionally drove the miniature train. In 1953, after a guest was injured in an accident, the railroad was closed to the public. It inspired Disney to include an encircling railroad in the design for Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Railroad attractions in Disney theme parks around the world are now commonplace.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1831:

Aboard HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin left Plymouth, England, on the expedition to South America that made his name as a naturalist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_voyage_of_HMS_Beagle

1932:

New York City's Radio City Music Hall opened with the world's largest auditorium at the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_City_Music_Hall

2008:

In response to rocket attacks from Palestinian armed groups, Israel launched a surprise attack against the Gaza Strip, opening the three-week Gaza War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_War_%282008%E2%80%9309%29

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

trice: Now only in the term in a trice: a very short time; an instant, a moment. [...] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/trice

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

The greatness of human actions is measured by the inspiration that it brings. Blessed is he who carries within himself a God, an ideal of beauty and obeys it: an ideal of art, ideal of science, ideal of country, ideal virtues of the Gospel! These are the wellsprings of great thoughts and great actions. All reflections illuminate infinity.   --Louis Pasteur https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Louis_Pasteur