Q. What inspired you to work at the Disneyland Resort?

A. In 2005, I was going to college, and I figured this would be a great place to work. My family came here every year, and I always saw all the smiling cast members, so I figured I’d give it a shot. I applied and of course, the first thing I wanted to do was work on the steam trains!

Q. Where did you start and how did you make it to steam trains?

A. I started off working in stores, and then became an attractions cast member. I was a conductor, and later became a lead and a trainer. Then, I put my application to transfer to the Round House almost a year after working here. When I finally got that phone call, I couldn’t believe it myself, but here I am!

Q. What does a day in your life look like?

A. I clock in and see what locomotive I’m pulling for the day. Then I’ll get it ready, which includes putting a fire inside the firebox and getting it heated for the day. We build it up to about 150 pounds of pressure. The steam train engineer will oil everything and make sure that everything is functioning correctly. Then when we get the word, we head out to the main line, which is the Grand Circle Tour. Every one of us does about 12 laps in a day. It’s a lot of fun, and being the engineer, it’s our job to make sure it stays fun but also remains safe.

Q. What’s your favorite part of your job?

A. My favorite part of this job is that I get to work on vintage equipment. I like old cars; I listen to old music. I also own a house that is from 1931 that my wife and I are trying to restore. At the park today, we have a locomotive that was built in 1894, and it’s still kickin’! I also love the history of this place. Walt Disney operated four of these locomotives himself, so to be in the same seat that he was sitting in on a weekly basis… there’s a lot to live up to, and knowing that I’m part of that history is really cool!

Q. What advice would you give to someone who is looking to be a steam engineer?

A. I would recommend getting your hands around anything mechanical. I started off taking apart old cars and putting them back together, and then in college, I worked on automotive motors. Another recommendation would be to volunteer at a railroad museum. The barn at Griffith Park is the best way to learn some railroading Disney history. On top of that, I would say to get your foot in the door, because most of the folks in our department are transfers from other departments.

Q. What does making magic mean to you?

A. To me, making magic means upholding the history of this company and the equipment that I work on, while also being there for our crew and guests. That means having that train ready to go at every stop and every station.