Even better than returning at trackside would be returning as a passenger on the trains of the early fifties.
Johnny
Looks like many of you either grew up near the tracks, station and/or rail yard or had a family member working for a railroad line. Its interesting to hear the stories of how everyone got into the hobby. Thanks for sharing.
Trains Northwest
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7z2SF15sZ3pfV_VymvNf9A
I got bitten by the "bug" about 1947, when I was about five y.o. I had an uncle who was a 'Special Agent' with the Union Pacific. He lived by the U.P. tracks in Adams City, (now Commerce City) CO., about a mile north of Sand Creek Junc. (5mi. from Denver Union Station). There was a morning passenger train and a number freight trains in the afternoon, ALL STEAM! I later learned that the track was the Dent Sub-division, later Dent Branch, which was the eastbound track into Denver during WWII (the DP Main, via Brighton, carried westbound traffic and all other passenger trains). Geo. Ashby was the Pres. of the UP, 1946-1949. Then came the epic '49 blizzards shut down the Overland Route for over two weeks. Wyoming Division boss, A. E. Stoddard grabbed the bull by the horns and took charge of getting the Wyoming Division back on its feet. Ashby, during whose tenure, shuffled the divisional structure, eliminating the Colorado Division, effective Feb. 29, 1948. The Dent Sub became the Third Sub until being re-classed as the Dent Branch, with ETT N0.2 a few months later. Oh, the passenger train was the Columbine, which was annulled in June, 1950, and those steam engines included the 5000 (2-10-2), 38/3900 4-6-6-4, and the 9000 series 4-12-2. The Columbine was pulled buy 8800 4-6-2, then 7000 4-8-2, and finally the 800 (FEF-1, w/ 77" drivers). Today there remains only one mile of the old Dent Line, from CP-5 (Sand Ck JCT.) to MP 6.0, right behind my late uncle's house, where it all started. Oh, the shovel-nosed Denver Zephyr (Q) and the big-grilled (CD-05, -06, -07) City of Denver trains crossed at Sand Creek.
oldyardgoat
Igot started slowly over 50 years ago but really got the bug at the mellinium, reading TRAINS. Lived in West Olive MI. just north of Holland. My interest peaked as I began noticing coal trains traveling north to the J.H. Campbell power generating plant located on the shore of Lake Michigan in our little town. Tuned the scanner to RR frequencys. the plant used PRB, and also from eastern states coal. I got to see many BNSF, and CSX locomotives, pulling up to 124 cars. Then I moved to the Elkhart In. 7 years later. nothing better than watching a lot more trains then ever before.Now I am a fan of Norfolk Southern. I now see Locomotives and trains from all 7 Class1 railroads + 2 Amtrak, both ways. Fun watching consists slowly pulling up to the Fuel Pad for a drink and crew change, listening to thousands of horses waiting to start pulling again. listening to conversations between dispatchers and train crews. I was born and raised in this area 62 years ago, and I miss the days when we could actually drive in the rear entrance of the yard and watch the cars get pushed over the hump.I have watched it as NYC,PC,Conrail, and now NS
I've been a train fanatic since I was one. I'm 15 now and my dad would say the same thing about me as you say about your son. Just encourage him to pursue his love even if his peers think it's ridiculous.
Been a fan since birth with both parents working for Frisco. Mom quit when she married Dad but also grew up as a railfan with her father being Frisco conductor and riding trains with her family. So it was natural for me to love trains too when I got old enough to see and ride them. Can't imagine being any other way, I'll be a railfan forever. But I'm always fascinated by how many are railfans who have no connection to railroading. That makes me feel good to know many people love trains like I do.
Yep no connection to the railroad that I'm aware of; other than having a train set as a kid and just being inspired by my kids love of trains. I have always been impressed with the size and power of the trains though. It is interesting to see how many people grew up near a railroad compared to those that had family working for the railroad or in my case just getting an enjoyment out of watching them roll down the tracks.
Chrismas Day, 1952, I was four years old and my grandparents gave me a Lionel train set. And we lived close enough to hear steam locomotives whistling on the Grand Trunk Western in Royal Oak, Michigan. At age 11 -- early 1960 -- I regularly went trackside at GTW to watch the final days of steam.
Growing up Fox River Grove IL. I had to cross the CNW tracks everyday to go to school. I would see the commuter and freight and trains everyday.The best day was when the American Freedom Train came thru to go to Crystal Lake with the display train.I dont remember the display train but I remember clear as day the steam loco going by the crossing as we were standing right next to the gates as it passed.Unfortunately I dont have any pictures of that moment.
Glad to see another three model railroders. I got started as a railfan and model railroader in the late 1940's. My family lived in Washington, DC and often traveled to the New York City area to visit relatives. We always traveled on the PRR. I have two memories of the trips-first is the time I was standing at the dutch door watching the scenery go by when the conductor asked my how fast I thought we were going. I replied that I didn't know, I was impressed when he said that we were averaging 90 MPH. What a locomotive the GG1 was. Second was the smell of the oil refineries in northern New Jersey. These trips started me down the road I follow to this day. Ah the memories.
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