Retired LtCol of Marines, lifelong love for the outdoors, and, of course, trains.  Finishing my first layout, N Scale, roughly built around the the region in which I live, central Alabama;  Norfolk Southern, CSX and UP and the local industries, lime mining, lumber, and coal.  I do not attempt to model the actual mining operations just simple movement of freight (with a steam loco hauling a "excursion" train around the area.  Really simple and focused primarily on the late '50's to the '90's.