Glad to see another three model railroders. I got started as a railfan and model railroader in the late 1940's. My family lived in Washington, DC and often traveled to the New York City area to visit relatives. We always traveled on the PRR. I have two memories of the trips-first is the time I was standing at the dutch door watching the scenery go by when the conductor asked my how fast I thought we were going. I replied that I didn't know, I was impressed when he said that we were averaging 90 MPH. What a locomotive the GG1 was. Second was the smell of the oil refineries in northern New Jersey. These trips started me down the road I follow to this day. Ah the memories.
Growing up Fox River Grove IL. I had to cross the CNW tracks everyday to go to school. I would see the commuter and freight and trains everyday.The best day was when the American Freedom Train came thru to go to Crystal Lake with the display train.I dont remember the display train but I remember clear as day the steam loco going by the crossing as we were standing right next to the gates as it passed.Unfortunately I dont have any pictures of that moment.
Chrismas Day, 1952, I was four years old and my grandparents gave me a Lionel train set. And we lived close enough to hear steam locomotives whistling on the Grand Trunk Western in Royal Oak, Michigan. At age 11 -- early 1960 -- I regularly went trackside at GTW to watch the final days of steam.
Yep no connection to the railroad that I'm aware of; other than having a train set as a kid and just being inspired by my kids love of trains. I have always been impressed with the size and power of the trains though. It is interesting to see how many people grew up near a railroad compared to those that had family working for the railroad or in my case just getting an enjoyment out of watching them roll down the tracks.
Trains Northwest
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7z2SF15sZ3pfV_VymvNf9A
Been a fan since birth with both parents working for Frisco. Mom quit when she married Dad but also grew up as a railfan with her father being Frisco conductor and riding trains with her family. So it was natural for me to love trains too when I got old enough to see and ride them. Can't imagine being any other way, I'll be a railfan forever. But I'm always fascinated by how many are railfans who have no connection to railroading. That makes me feel good to know many people love trains like I do.
I've been a train fanatic since I was one. I'm 15 now and my dad would say the same thing about me as you say about your son. Just encourage him to pursue his love even if his peers think it's ridiculous.
Igot started slowly over 50 years ago but really got the bug at the mellinium, reading TRAINS. Lived in West Olive MI. just north of Holland. My interest peaked as I began noticing coal trains traveling north to the J.H. Campbell power generating plant located on the shore of Lake Michigan in our little town. Tuned the scanner to RR frequencys. the plant used PRB, and also from eastern states coal. I got to see many BNSF, and CSX locomotives, pulling up to 124 cars. Then I moved to the Elkhart In. 7 years later. nothing better than watching a lot more trains then ever before.Now I am a fan of Norfolk Southern. I now see Locomotives and trains from all 7 Class1 railroads + 2 Amtrak, both ways. Fun watching consists slowly pulling up to the Fuel Pad for a drink and crew change, listening to thousands of horses waiting to start pulling again. listening to conversations between dispatchers and train crews. I was born and raised in this area 62 years ago, and I miss the days when we could actually drive in the rear entrance of the yard and watch the cars get pushed over the hump.I have watched it as NYC,PC,Conrail, and now NS
I got bitten by the "bug" about 1947, when I was about five y.o. I had an uncle who was a 'Special Agent' with the Union Pacific. He lived by the U.P. tracks in Adams City, (now Commerce City) CO., about a mile north of Sand Creek Junc. (5mi. from Denver Union Station). There was a morning passenger train and a number freight trains in the afternoon, ALL STEAM! I later learned that the track was the Dent Sub-division, later Dent Branch, which was the eastbound track into Denver during WWII (the DP Main, via Brighton, carried westbound traffic and all other passenger trains). Geo. Ashby was the Pres. of the UP, 1946-1949. Then came the epic '49 blizzards shut down the Overland Route for over two weeks. Wyoming Division boss, A. E. Stoddard grabbed the bull by the horns and took charge of getting the Wyoming Division back on its feet. Ashby, during whose tenure, shuffled the divisional structure, eliminating the Colorado Division, effective Feb. 29, 1948. The Dent Sub became the Third Sub until being re-classed as the Dent Branch, with ETT N0.2 a few months later. Oh, the passenger train was the Columbine, which was annulled in June, 1950, and those steam engines included the 5000 (2-10-2), 38/3900 4-6-6-4, and the 9000 series 4-12-2. The Columbine was pulled buy 8800 4-6-2, then 7000 4-8-2, and finally the 800 (FEF-1, w/ 77" drivers). Today there remains only one mile of the old Dent Line, from CP-5 (Sand Ck JCT.) to MP 6.0, right behind my late uncle's house, where it all started. Oh, the shovel-nosed Denver Zephyr (Q) and the big-grilled (CD-05, -06, -07) City of Denver trains crossed at Sand Creek.
oldyardgoat
Looks like many of you either grew up near the tracks, station and/or rail yard or had a family member working for a railroad line. Its interesting to hear the stories of how everyone got into the hobby. Thanks for sharing.
Even better than returning at trackside would be returning as a passenger on the trains of the early fifties.
Johnny
For me it started in a little town called Portage PA. My Grandparents, both sets of whom were next door neighbors, and they lived across the street from the four track mainline of the PRR. The Portage station was also located here. My Mom told me once I was old enough to see what was going on it started a love affair that is alive and well to this day. Many hours day and night spent on the front porch's. Altoona was about 20 miles to the east, the parade of first generation diesels and the survivors of steam seemed to be endless. Back then to see 160 trains daily of which about 40 of them passenger trains, was not uncommon, and I seen it all and have a vivid memory of it.
I had several relatives who worked for the PRR in various capacities that went back three generations. Today my son is an engineer for NS so the connection is still there. My layout is the PRR in the 1950's, the decade it started for me. I have always said a railfan who dies knows he went to hell if he returns as a gondola car, if he went to heaven he returns trackside in the 1950's. In time my appreciation for the history and study of not only the PRR but other railroads grows more and more each day.
I have been interested in trains all my life. I'm 66. The Lehigh Valley mainline ran thru our farm near Batavia, NY and I never missed watching the trains go by. I'm a model railroader and have over 50 years of Model Railroader and all the issues of Trains Magazine. I started taking pictures of trains in 1968 and have thousands of prints and slides. Always wished I had been born 10 years earlier so I could have seen steam on the mainlines, but I did see all the great Alcos on the Lehigh. A lot of relation on my father's side worked for the railroads, but all were gone before my time. My Great Grandfather worked as a fireman for the New York Central and I have his last pass from 1940 and his Hamilton watch which still keeps perfect time. Also many rule books that he saved. My Great-Great Grandfather was the engineer on the Buffalo & Erie Railroad's New York Express that derailed on Dec. 18, 1867 near Angola , NY in which 49 people died. I never knew about this until I read his name in a book about train wrecks.
I'm retired from driving dump trucks and plan on lots of railfanning the next few years.
I grew up in Mandan,ND, which was the HQ for the Northern Pacific 's Yellowstone Division. We had a family friend who worked for the NP, and probably as some sort of open house, he took me into the cab of a locomotive. I was two, and totally hooked. Imagine my bliss heading off to college in Colorado, and being an hour or so away from Sherman Hill, the D&RGW's Moffat Line, or the BN/AT&SF/D&RGW joint line...Good times! My wife doesn't get it, but allows me to pursue (at times) my addiction.
Great responses guys. I appreciate you guys sharing. Its neat to see how different people have found their way into the hobby.
My father had worked for the Monon before I was born, so I claim it to be genetic. My earliest memory (or manufactured memory) is going to the Monon yard in Lafayette and sitting on the lap of the engineer (a friend of dad's) of their only FM locomotive (H10-44 #18) when I was about 2 years old as we moved around the yard.
We later moved to the south suburbs of Chicago and on Saturday mornings, to give my mom a break, dad would take me out for a drive and we would usually end up along IC's Markham Yard on Dixie Hwy to watch the action over the hump.
Whenever we would drive anywhere and cross a railroad track (this was north east Illinois, so there never very far to go before crossing one), I would always ask what railroad it was and my dad always had the answer. I learned to navigate by railroad.
Spent a couple summers during college working for the MP at Yard Center in Dolton during it's major expansion and construction. This was the period where the MP/L&N had just taken over the C&EI and I remember seeing 2 car passenger trains running by with the E unit having large L&N painted on the side and the C&EI logo's painted out. Wish I had a camera then, but it is hard to take a picture while swinging a spike maul. Did get some photos of the power around Yard Center later.
Have been working for railroads for 42+ years and having a great time.
My dad was interested in trains and had an American Flyer set. I must have picked up the bug from him early because as soon as I could walk I would sneak out of the apartment and go the half block to Chester Blvd and watch the trolleys on Route 13. My mother was exaspirated with me because I did that so often.
After his service in WWII my dad was assigned to duty in Louisville,Ky. For some time we continued to live in Memphis. His regular ride between those points was on trains of the NC&StL, L&N. Where we lived(in Memphis) our house backed up to the MoPac local line between their yard, and their local service lines. Trains were part of my environment. Our first model railroad layout was an American Flyer. I was hooked. As a teen and later adult I modeled in HO, and railfanned at every oportunity. Thru H.S. I worked in a local Hobby Shop; built layouts, repaired trains,and was involved with, the then new, M.T.M. and enjoyed listening to others who shared similar interests.
As an adult, I used to tell people, I was a professional tourist, and railfan; while driving OTR for 20+ years. As Paul,(CSSHEGEWISCH) indicated: "...I never outgrew trains.."
I couldn't help it. Our back yard looked out on the South Shore Line where it passed over the CWI and NKP and also looked out on those lines before the houses across the alley were built. Grandma's house (where Dad grew up) was across the street from the PRR Bernice Cutoff.
My late aunt (Mom's sister) once opined that I never outgrew trains, which is about what happened.
DeggestyIn later years, my mother told me that from the time we boarded the train in Plant City, Florida until we reached Lakeland (about fifteen minutes), I screamed.
Reminds me of a youngster (about the same age) who wanted nothing to do with getting on one of our trains. If he could have reached both sides of the door, they'd have had a fight on their hands.
Once he was inside the car, all was good, and I think he enjoyed the ride.
My granddaughter (18 months at the time) wanted nothing more that to stand at the gate of our baggage car and watch the scenery go by when she rode with us.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
The beginning of my first trip by train, when I was two years old, did not thrill me. In later years, my mother told me that from the time we boarded the train in Plant City, Florida until we reached Lakeland (about fifteen minutes), I screamed. I did get over what ever caused my uneasiness. The first thing that I ever remember was looking out the window that night after we left Jacksonville, with a coat on my head to block the light inside; I do not remember anything I saw--the novelty of looking out in that manner is what I remember.
My second trip was three and a half years later, when my mother, my oldest brother and my youngest brother went up to Virginia to visit relatives; I liked the trip.
Ten years later, my sixteen year-old brother and I took a trip which Amtrak would not allow, for I was only fifteen, and we traveled by ourselves--bus up to Charlotte (no adult to put me on the train), train to Atlanta, change in Atlanta (no changes now permitted without an adult); overnight to Birmingham (no overnight trip without an adult); change; and down to New Orleans; and a bus to Baton Rouge to visit our oldest brother and his family. After two weeks there, we headed for Chattanooga to vistit an uncle and his family; our brother did take us to New Orleans because the bus we planned to take was canceled; overnight to Chattanooga--while we were on our way to the diner out of Birmingham, the conductor talked with us when he looked at our pass, but our traveling without an adult did not bother him in the least. Our uncle did meet us in Chattanooga, and took us back to the station when we left; down to Atlanta and change for our overnight trip to Charlotte; then a bus home. This trip hooked me on travel by train, especially as we spent twelve hours going from Birmingham to New Orleans, and I stood at the rear of coach most of the time, looking at where we had been and watching the northbound semaphores clear as we passed them.
After that trip, I began visiting the station at home and talking with the agent, who became a long-term friend, even after he was transferred to two different stations. I was delighted to discover Trains magazine at a newstand the spring after that trip, and have subscribed ever since.
Two years later, I spent two months in Baton Rouge, and went home by myself, again riding a pass--this time from Baton Rouge to New Orleans to Birmingham to Atlanta and then to Charlotte (but hitch-hiking home from Charlotte). Amtrak would have allowed this trip, for I was seventeen.
In succeeding years, I rode trains as often as I could, and came to know many men in road service and in station service (and I was known to men in road service whom I did not know).
Best of all, my wife, who was hooked on train travel when she was a little girl, and I met on a train that we were both riding because it was to be discontinued after two weeks and a day after we met. We took trips together as often as we could, and enjoyed not only the scenery we passed but also simply being on a train together.
Riding on a pass? My father, whom I do not remember, worked in the ACL shops in Tampa, so, even after he had died, my mother was able to get a pass in the South for herself and her dependent children. The penultimate trip we took together, she had a pass from Washington to Birmingham over the RF&P and SCL; when the conductors came through after we left Washington, I told them, "Here is my transportation and our space; my mother has her transportation," and she showed them her pass.
My father used to take me for walks along the old PRR Trinway-Morrow OH Zanesville Branch when I was very young, and I could see the one train a day head east each night just after dark. Hooked forever.I have the newest generation firmly on the True (Rail) Path - my 3 year old granddaughter loves nothing more than to pull over and watch =real= trains when we see one when we are out and about. She even spent two hours with me at the Marion (OH) station museum last weekend.
BOB WITHORNSo, Tree68, C&O, GTW, what town in Mich.? I grew up in Flint, born in Romeo.
Milford, on the (now) CSX Saginaw Sub. Shopping trips to Pontiac were regular events. I left right after high school (USAF), so missed out on some great railfanning back in the late '60s.
It's my uncles fault. He worked for the GTW at the Pontiac yards as a loco electrician. He got us a ride on a geep in the early 60's and we were hooked. He moved to CA. and worked for ATSF then SP at West Colton.
So, Tree68, C&O, GTW, what town in Mich.? I grew up in Flint, born in Romeo.
For me it was pretty simple - a rail line ran across the street from my house. It was the Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern "high line" currently operated by Progressive Rail. That coupled (pun intended) with the fact that the top local (Mpls-St.Paul) kid's TV show was "Lunch with Casey" featuring Roger Awsumb as railroad engineer Casey Jones, it was pretty natural I'd be interested in trains.
My dad had an American Flyer when he was a kid (mid 1950's) and still has it today. When I was a kid I would play with it every once in a while; usually when we would clean out the storage closet. As a kid I had a train set for a while too, but eventually got rid of it. Now that my kids have there own sets; I really wish I would have stayed with it as a kid. Its lots of fun and a great hobby. My kids have had a chance to play with my dads American Flyer too which is what got them wanting a train set a few years ago. The kids now have their own American Flyer from the early 1960's as it was given to them by my wife's uncle. He found his old train set from when he was a kid while cleaning out his dad's house. It was a great gift and it still runs great!
The sister in-law got my one son a subscription to Trains Magazine two years ago for Christmas and it was renewed last year. Need to renew it again though. My son likes looking through it for the pictures (eventually he'll start readind the articles), and now I'm going back and reading different articles here and there. There's a wealth of information in there.
My one kid also has some different train DVDs and he's been watching them off and on for the past several years. I find myself being drawn into them as well. Lots of great history and cool images. My favorite is the Clinchfield Challenger video from the 50th Anniversary of the Santa Clause Special. The UP Challenger is an awesome steam locomotive and the video was very well done. So over the past several years I've slowly become more of a fan trains and the hobbies of model railroads and railfanning.
No One in my family worked on trains. I got involved in Trains Last August when I noticed trains parked on the tracks in Sandwhich, Il. I had seen them before but started taking down the loco numbers, then I looked them up and then found out what rail roads they belonged to. Next I found out they were on the Mendota Sub. I got a bearcat scanner for Christmas and really enjoy the Defect detectors and Main line dispatchers. Have been researching maps and going to train stations. Discovering how a 4400 Hp loco operates and how the switches work and everything else involved in railroading makes for a great railfan experiance. Only wished I had been interestedin trains 40 years ago.
Was out of work in 1979, bored out of my mind, picked up a copy of TRAINS magazine and was hooked. Have been a subscriber ever since.
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