Earliest memories . . . lying in bed on a still, humid, Windsor Ontario night listening to the trains that were a mile or so away. Diesels 'loodleing' (my word at a young age). Steam engines making that strange sound as they huffed under load then huffed faster and faster. (I never knew then what wheel slip was.)
Somewhat later memories . . . driving by the yards at the waterfront and being enthralled by the train ferries between Windsor and Detroit.
Thanks for starting this, it gets an old guy's nostalgic juices flowing.
Growing up in New York City I suppose you could say my earliest memories of trains was riding with my mom on what was then the GG line in those old black trains with wicker seats and open fans.
Then I remember Dad taking us to Florida on the Seaboard Coast Line in 1970 just before Amtrak was born.
Joe Staten Island West
Back when I was four or five years old, I remember seeing long strings of tank cars on a low viaduct at the west end of Casper, WY, waiting just outside the gates of the Standard Oil Refinery. That's always stuck with me.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton