Additional information
by David Leaphart (Author)
Thanks for your interest! Please forward any comments/questions to dkleaphart@gmail.com. Travel with me to visit and learn about the former Fort Wilderness Railroad. This unique steam railroad traveled the Walt Disney World campground resort back in the 1970's. The first half of the book covers reasons why Walt Disney loved railroading followed by the history and people of the railroad and Fort Wilderness. The second half covers the track plans and the engineering behind the railroad.
Please note: This book is an independent work of history and commentary. This is not a Disney product or associated with The Walt Disney Company.Author Biography
Davy Crockett was my name growing up in the 1950's. My family did and still does call me Davy. Yes, I was one of the Disney kids with the complete outfit: coonskin hat, Old Betsy, moccasins, and all. I didn't miss an episode of the Mickey Mouse Club, and little did I know life on a ranch and the horses I saw on "Spin and Marty" would later enter the picture in the form of a book. I was a young fan of Walt Disney and his creations, and that has never stopped. Watching the Wonderful World of Color on Disneyland was a dream at the time. I had longed to experience Disneyland as a kid, but living on the East Coast made that dream pretty distant. But, dreams do come true, and I finally made it to Disneyland at the young age of 45. Along with my childhood passions of Disney were my passions about trains. My grade school was across the street from the Atlantic Coast Line's Bennett Yard in Charleston, SC. Instead of paying attention in the 1st grade, I kept constant watch on the train yard. I knew everything about how the rail yard worked! My trek home usually included visiting the yard and getting to know the crews, much to my mother's chagrin. My first train ride was with Engineer Fred on a purple and silver GP7 yard switcher. I was on top of the world! My train interest, like my Disney interest, started young and has never ceased. I have always had an art interest and knew it. But, my outward passion was technology and science in my school days. I went on to gain a Master of Science degree in Physics and Astronomy. After school, I started a career in the computer networking and technology fields. My big claim to fame is my work on the team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that created the first GPS system for small airplanes. That was neat work. Later in life, my daughter was ready to go to college. At the time, a parent college student helped the family financial situation and improved her chances for aid. I became a college student again and enrolled in the visual art program at a local college. I finally got to learn and do art studies. Although I started late, my art work plays a big role in my life. I live in Greenville S.C. with Sue, my wife, and our two girls. Our girls are Molly and Mandy. They are Burmese cat sisters. They keep our household interesting. My daughter is in the medical field. She started riding the rails as a young girl with her dad, and we are still taking our train trips to this day.
