Being a project manager at a regional multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm doesn't leave a whole lot of time for all of my hobbies (photography, railfanning, history, cycling, model railroading, target shooting, and archery) so I try to divide my time among each.  Time of the year plays a big role in scheduling time for each.  

My interest in railroads started when I was child. Sometimes I would accompany my father to his office and on the way we would have to cross a set of KCS and ICG tracks outside of New Orleans, LA. Sometimes we would catch a train at the crossing and I'd look out the window in amazement as all the cars rattled, clapped, and squeaked their way past us and would disappear into the night as the grade crossing bathed our faces in blinking red light.   On my eight birthday my father surprised me with an HO scale model train. It was a Tyco Steel Hauler and to my amazement the locomotive included in the set was an ALCO Century 630 painted in the orange and white of ICG.  I was hooked. We built a 4x8 layout in my bedroom and it would eventually grow to 4x12. The Tyco kit, while a great tool to inspire a child, was eventually replaced by more hobby grade models by Athearn.  

Today, as an adult with a small home of my own and with limited space, I switched to N scale.  My interest in railroading is just as strong today as it was when I was kid. My dad grew up near a set of old Southern Railways tracks. I think that birthday gift of the model train was as much for him as it was for me. That's ok. Since his passing, it's one more thing that provides me with wonderful memories of my father.