Back in the mid 80s I made my first trip West to the Eugene Or. NMRA convention with my youngest (6 year old) son. I rented a car and we drove north to Seattle Wa. I found a brochure for the Mount Rainier RR. We stopped there in Elbe. There I picked up a brochure for Camp 6 Tacoma WA.
We drove there. Talking to the Crew of the Shay. They asked if Me and my son would like to ride in the cab. My son said he never seen me move so fast. I was up in. (guess what, I broke my video camera at the convention). We got to ride the cab for two trips around the circle.
We drove back to Elbe spent the night. Talking to the Engineer of the Mount Rainier. He Said we could ride the cab up the mountain. Great watching an engine working.
I went back to the West coast for the mid 90s convention. I picked up a brochure for the Chehalis RR and drove out after the convention.
After arriving, I met an old man dressed like an old railroader. I just thought he was attending the convention also. We talked a lot.
Just as the train was about to leave. He motioned for me to follow him.
Up into the cab he want. He looked back to see me standing there jaw dropped. He said, "Come on or i will leave you." with a BIG SMILE.
I rode the whole day in the cab, video rolling all the time.
I met the most friendless man (engineer) Harold Borovec.
At the close of the day he asked where I was heading. I told him Elbe to ride the Mount Rainier tomorrow.
He suggested a place to stay there. I did.
The next day I was early at Mount Rainier RR.
Standing there was Harold. He invited me to ride the cab with him.
I am in a lot of photos in Japan. About 10 bus loads of Japanese tourists stopped there. It seamed like everyone one of them wanted a picture of Harold and me.
Harold sort of smiled, he said, All they do is stop take a lot of pictures and leave. They never ride.
See his picture in April 2007 TRAINS brought a BIG SMILE to my face.
He looks exactly the same as he looked out the window back then. I see him sitting on the window sill as he ran the engine backwards.
I wanted to see him when I went out for a "G- gauge convention 2001. Problem I was also going North to Alaska to ride there rails.
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