On this date in 1969, Imagineers Roger Broggie and Earl Vilmer (a railroad superintendent with over 20 years experience) arrange for the purchase of 5 railroad engines (and miscellaneous spare parts) from the United Railways of Yucatan, Mexico. These will be shipped to the Tampa Ship Repair and Dry Dock Company, rebuilt (with the exception of one locomotive – found to be in poor shape), and later used for Disney’s new Florida theme park. (The Mexican government originally opposed the idea of Disney buying its “railroad technology.” A law on the books forbade the export of the equipment, but since the engines
were originally built in Pennsylvania and later imported to Mexico – the law did not apply and permission was granted to buy and move the equipment to Florida.)

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Source: ThisDayInDisneyHistory