My family lives in Austin TX.  I always wanted a train set for Christmas...and never got one.  Took a few train trips with my folks, last one in 1961, then not again until 1982, after marrying a lady whose Granddad worked as a brakeman and switchman for the Illinois Central in Centrailia IL.

We rode that last complete round-trip of the D&RGW Zephyr in 1983, barely making it through the Thistle UT mudslide, and having to return to Denver via the UP the next day.

I served as a Car Host for the Austin & Texas Central (Hill Country Flyer) from 1999-2005, and began again in 2017 and got to ride in the cab as fireman a number of times.  

Still planning to build a model layout...looking for the time to do so.