Donald Duck's Garden Railroad

[Mr Fixit]

Way back when (when television was new) the Disneyland show had an episode titled "Where do the Stories Come from?"
This show Walt's backyard railroad as inspiration for the cartoon.
There were at least 3 others on his staff who had backyard railroads (If you count Ward Kimball whose railroad was 3' gauge and ran into the front yard).

Yes I have read about Ward Kimball's railroad in TRAINS magazine, many credit it with being the inspiration for the Wild West mountain train at Disney World.
Walt Disney visited several times and operated the train under Wards supervision. The Wards collection is now safely preserved at a railroad park.
Mark