Born & raised in Chicago (far-Northwest side), saw a lot of yellow & green C&NW trains, they ran real close to W.H. Taft HS. Spent a lot of time going to really great Hobby shops & the big layout at the Science & Industry Mus. Also remember the old "red" street cars on some of the main streets, and of course the famous "EL". Had HO trains & slots in basement layout. Joined USMC Oct 67, {mostly Helicopter Operations & Maint} stayed in until Oct 2003 (manditory retirement age 55 or I would still be in!). Rode the "brown" IC pass from Memphis to Chicago and back, while on "liberty" weekends summer of 68. (in Aviation training at Millington TN.) Saw a lot of "steamers" on the "private owned" lines in and around Iwakuni JA. in the early 70's (national lines were mostly elect.). They were really cool, used to pace them on our Honda 90's when the tracks ran along side of the highways. We would visit the switch yards and watch the turntable work, the Japanese engineers were very friendly and extremely proud of their trains.. Started picking up "O" gauge items around 82 or 83, with an idea for a empty double bedroom layout. Saw the last operations of the Camp Pendleton/Fallbrook railroad (early 92). There was a USN yellow 44ton mid-cab for locomotion. Retired from The Corps 2003, now working (planning stage) on a 13 x 24 pike, one more son to move out of the space, and it will be "full speed ahead". Working for a Fork-lift dealership as a road-service tech in and around Orange Co. CA. Big Train goal: to hike into the mountains North of Campo, to enjoy up close the large curved wood trestle on the old San Diego railroad that connected to El Centro. Small train goals: It would be great to set up an "O" gauge operational club in North San Diego Co. ( the club at Balboa Park is too far away, considering San Diego traffic.) A group of folks have a really great HO club layout above "Boney's market in Oceanside,but so far, no "O"!