Grew up near IC, CNW, RI, CGW, M&StL, CMStP&P, FtDDM&S, and a handful of small traction lines back when everyone in Iowa was within 8 miles of a railroad. There was no Amtrak but there were still enough passenger trains to give me a taste of their former glory. Seemingly endless freights of grain cars, scheduled freights of reefers carrying products from Rath Packing, Armour, Swift, Decker's, etc... And a family who indulged me and my slightly older but equally train-crazed uncle by taking us to see, witness, ride, and experience a now completely different industry and way-of-life.