Ridin' the Rails (1951)

As I watched the opening scenes of this short feature as a full-size narrow gauge locomotive made it’s final journey, I wondered just how many westerns it might have graced as it tracked a rocky river amidst some recently blasted mountainous terrain. You could almost imagine Jesse James alighting at the station. Instead, we downsize to some intricate “Lilliputian Locos” including one running on an half mile track on the estate of Walt Disney. Sleeves rolled up, with oily hands, he and his perfectly attired (as sailors!) nephews and nieces tour his garden on a meticulously planned and constructed small scale version of the routes taken by so many larger versions across the globe. Ted Husing's narration is engaging, if possibly a tad sarcastic, as we watch these boys with toys and it’s an easy watch for ten minutes.