With sadness I report that the early private railroad equipment preservationist Ward Kimball died earlier today. He is reported to have been 87 or 88.

Begining in the late 1930s he and his wife Betty acquired a unique collection of California and Nevada 3-foot gauge equipment that they operated in their backyard in Southern California.

Ward was one of Disney's early principal animators and is reported to have helped develop Walt Disney's interest in railroads. Also Ward was a member of the Jazz group "Fire House Five plus Two."

In the early 1990s Ward, his wife Betty and their family gifted the railway equipment to Orange Empire Railway Museum and helped fund the exhibit building housing the collection. Their gift of money was matched by the labor of member volunteers. More recently they helped fund the consturction of a wooden turntable based upon SP designs and the turntable at Laws, Calfiornia. Last year they were at the museum for the dedication of the turntable.

The OERM exhibit building carries the name of the Ward's back yard railroad "Grizzly Flats Railroad." Also Nevada Central 2=6-0 #2 and Carson & Colorado coach #5 display the name "Grizzly Flats Railroad."

Brian Norden
member Board of Directors
Orange Empire Railway Museum

bnorden49@earthlink.net

I am saddened to hear this news. The most memorable moments I have of the ARM conventions I've attended was when my wife and I met Ward and his wife, Betty. We had a very pleasant, if brief, conversation with them. The seminar by Michael Broggie and Ward was excellent. In the book signing following the talk, Ward in addition to signing our copy of the Disney Railroad Story also drew Mickey Mouse in it.

Kimball Obit
n2xjk@yahoo.com

Here's a nutso idea.. Considering that Ward Kimball's work made a gazillion dollars for the Disney corporation, I wonder if they might somehow be persuaded into establishing some sort of trust fund to help non-profit railway preservation organizations. With the interest of Ward Kimball, Walt Disney himself, Ollie Johnson and Walter Broggie as well, there might be some case for this if the right people knew how to approach the subject.



ryarger@rypn.org

> Here's a nutso idea.. Considering that Ward
> Kimball's work made a gazillion dollars for
> the Disney corporation, I wonder if they
> might somehow be persuaded into establishing
> some sort of trust fund to help non-profit
> railway preservation organizations. With the
> interest of Ward Kimball, Walt Disney
> himself, Ollie Johnson and Walter Broggie as
> well, there might be some case for this if
> the right people knew how to approach the
> subject.

Well, if the Disney Company was making money, maybe. But at the moment, not gonna happen...

Perhaps the better way would be to support the existing efforts in their memories. According to the Disney release on Ward's passing, the family was encouraging donations to Orange Empire among other charities.


rogerc38@aol.com

Would have been an excellent idea when Walt was running the company. Eisner is all about the bottom line. A shame really.

> Here's a nutso idea.. Considering that Ward
> Kimball's work made a gazillion dollars for
> the Disney corporation, I wonder if they
> might somehow be persuaded into establishing
> some sort of trust fund to help non-profit
> railway preservation organizations. With the
> interest of Ward Kimball, Walt Disney
> himself, Ollie Johnson and Walter Broggie as
> well, there might be some case for this if
> the right people knew how to approach the
> subject.


acp19809@yahoo.com

Perhaps Disney could be convinced to donate the "Lilly Belle", the private car of the Disneyland Railroad to join Ward's collection at OERM? Currently, the car is out of service and likely not to return due to deterioration. It would be fitting a fitting tribute to be donated in honor of all of the railroad enthusiasts who have had the pleasure of being associated with the Disney company. Perhaps funding could also be provided to see it preserved along side of Ward's collection.


rogerc38@aol.com

Personally, if the rail preservation movement could do it, I would nominate Ward Kimball for canonization to sainthood! 1)He sought out and acquired pieces that needed preservation long before most anybody even thought about such things. 2) Had the money to carry out the preservation/restorations. 3) Had the foresight to
figure out "when to hang it up", and donated his stuff (with money, even better!) to somewhere where it would be appreciated, and kept from greedy heirs who would have sold it off in a minute! May he rest in peace, and may his example be followed!

> In the early 1990s Ward, his wife Betty and
> their family gifted the railway equipment to
> Orange Empire Railway Museum and helped fund
> the exhibit building housing the collection.
> Their gift of money was matched by the labor
> of member volunteers. More recently they
> helped fund the consturction of a wooden
> turntable based upon SP designs and the
> turntable at Laws, Calfiornia. Last year
> they were at the museum for the dedication
> of the turntable.

> The OERM exhibit building carries the name
> of the Ward's back yard railroad
> "Grizzly Flats Railroad." Also
> Nevada Central 2=6-0 #2 and Carson &
> Colorado coach #5 display the name
> "Grizzly Flats Railroad."



schwartzsj@juno.com

> appreciated, and kept from greedy heirs who
> would have sold it off in a minute! May he
> rest in peace, and may his example be
> followed!

Steve,

I trust that your comment is a general one. Ward's children are great to work with and are rail enthusiasts in their own right. Betty, his widow is as much in love with Grizzly or the toy collection as Ward was.

wyld@sbcglobal.net

> Steve,

> I trust that your comment is a general one.
> Ward's children are great to work with and
> are rail enthusiasts in their own right.
> Betty, his widow is as much in love with
> Grizzly or the toy collection as Ward was.

Thank you very much for sending in this clarification. I don't know Ward Kimball's family, but judging from what I have read about him and his wife Betty over the years, it would have surprised me greatly if they would have been anything other than what you have described. This is a reminder that we all should be careful with our generalizations, no matter how well intentioned they might be.

Les Beckman (HVRM)

midlandblb@cs.com

> Steve,

> I trust that your comment is a general one.
> Ward's children are great to work with and
> are rail enthusiasts in their own right.
> Betty, his widow is as much in love with
> Grizzly or the toy collection as Ward was.

Upbraiding logged and noted! I did not mean any of Ward's children specifically, and I thought about that immmediately after I posted. HOWEVER,
there is a very significant and historic negative collection that's sitting out there gathering dust because the heir's HUSBAND of all people wanted a million dollars for it. When I heard that, I knew that's what was going to happen to it. And, how much more is sitting out there because of the phenomenon I originally described.
When someone thinks that something they inherited
is worth MONEY, greed sets in, no matter how well-off they are. The stuff usually sits around or rots away until they get their (usually unrealistic) price. Sound familiar?


schwartzsj@juno.com