How did your love of railroads start.

[eolafan]

Lodich, you may want to see if you remember another train name that you may have taken to Ohio, as I believe the California Zephyr went from Chicago to CA but never stopped in Ohio, but perhaps you took the Zephr to Chicago and then transferred to another train at Chicago Union Station for the remainer of your trip to Ohio?

[eolafan]

Lodich, you may want to see if you remember another train name that you may have taken to Ohio, as I believe the California Zephyr went from Chicago to CA but never stopped in Ohio, but perhaps you took the Zephr to Chicago and then transferred to another train at Chicago Union Station for the remainer of your trip to Ohio?

[Anonymous]

I know of someone who's love for trains started after he knocked off his first boxcar. It was a boxcar full of beer. (Pabst Blue Ribbon) This someone hit it while the train was in the siding waiting for a clear signal. Back then beer sold for 99 cents a six pack. These persons would take it to the local High School and sell it for $2.50 a six pack. This person made Boo-Koo bucks. (Boxcars of wine was even a better profit margin). This person would walk around saying "I love railroads". I am sure this person has seen the light, and cleaned up his act. But he still loves trains!!
TIM A

[Anonymous]

I know of someone who's love for trains started after he knocked off his first boxcar. It was a boxcar full of beer. (Pabst Blue Ribbon) This someone hit it while the train was in the siding waiting for a clear signal. Back then beer sold for 99 cents a six pack. These persons would take it to the local High School and sell it for $2.50 a six pack. This person made Boo-Koo bucks. (Boxcars of wine was even a better profit margin). This person would walk around saying "I love railroads". I am sure this person has seen the light, and cleaned up his act. But he still loves trains!!
TIM A

[REDDYK]

I was a war baby(WW II). Mom or mom and dad hauled me across the country to denver and the west coast several times in my first two yrs. of life. Sadly, I don't remember any of this train travel, at least not on a concious level. I have wondered if my inability to pass up an opportunity to watch trains might somehow be traced to that early experience.
Then, many years later while accompanying the wife thru a succession of antique and junk shops in Rossville, Il a female sales clerk recognized the glazed look of boredom on my face, sensed an opportunity about to be lost, and suggested that I might want to visit the towns small RR museum. They had an assortment of old Trains magazines for sale ( 25 cents each, I think) Reading thru these later, I realized that it was all right to feel the way I do ,did, about trains. Until then I thought I must be wierd, now I know , well there is a big bunch of wierd folks out there. Thanks.

[REDDYK]

I was a war baby(WW II). Mom or mom and dad hauled me across the country to denver and the west coast several times in my first two yrs. of life. Sadly, I don't remember any of this train travel, at least not on a concious level. I have wondered if my inability to pass up an opportunity to watch trains might somehow be traced to that early experience.
Then, many years later while accompanying the wife thru a succession of antique and junk shops in Rossville, Il a female sales clerk recognized the glazed look of boredom on my face, sensed an opportunity about to be lost, and suggested that I might want to visit the towns small RR museum. They had an assortment of old Trains magazines for sale ( 25 cents each, I think) Reading thru these later, I realized that it was all right to feel the way I do ,did, about trains. Until then I thought I must be wierd, now I know , well there is a big bunch of wierd folks out there. Thanks.

[Trainnut484]

My father was an engineer on the Santa Fe's old Eastern Division (Kansas City to Emporia, KS)

[Trainnut484]

My father was an engineer on the Santa Fe's old Eastern Division (Kansas City to Emporia, KS)

[tsched]

Growing up on the Illinois Central in Mattoon, IL.. "Mainline of Mid-America"!! Uncle worked in the small switching yard and then in the passenger station selling tickets. New York Central (Big Four) passed through town too, with a yard on the east side of town. My dad and I would park along that yard and watch the black geeps idle and do switching. For my 12th birthday he took me on the Panama Limited to New Orleans.. big stuff for a kid. I got to witness the last-ever passenger train on the NYC (was Penn Central by then) come through town - one engine and one car. Conrail pulled up those tracks in '82... but the IC tracks (CN now) are still very busy! With the IC and NYC and another IC branch coming through town.. and an occasional ride on IC's passenger trains, how could I not become a railfan? I'm thankful for those memories.

[tsched]

Growing up on the Illinois Central in Mattoon, IL.. "Mainline of Mid-America"!! Uncle worked in the small switching yard and then in the passenger station selling tickets. New York Central (Big Four) passed through town too, with a yard on the east side of town. My dad and I would park along that yard and watch the black geeps idle and do switching. For my 12th birthday he took me on the Panama Limited to New Orleans.. big stuff for a kid. I got to witness the last-ever passenger train on the NYC (was Penn Central by then) come through town - one engine and one car. Conrail pulled up those tracks in '82... but the IC tracks (CN now) are still very busy! With the IC and NYC and another IC branch coming through town.. and an occasional ride on IC's passenger trains, how could I not become a railfan? I'm thankful for those memories.

[h42man]

I grew up in the 40's and 50's and we traveled quite often on the IC and Pennsy. We lived 2 blocks from the depot used by the NYC. When the trains left the depot and the Steamer's drivers started slipping, our whole house shook, the windows rattled, smoke shut out the sun and yet somehow it almost went unnoticed.
Now that I look back, my parents were train lovers and often bought train sets and accessories for Xmas and birthdays.
My father built me a tinplate layout in our basement. All the boys in my family near my age loved trains.
And I continue today

[h42man]

I grew up in the 40's and 50's and we traveled quite often on the IC and Pennsy. We lived 2 blocks from the depot used by the NYC. When the trains left the depot and the Steamer's drivers started slipping, our whole house shook, the windows rattled, smoke shut out the sun and yet somehow it almost went unnoticed.
Now that I look back, my parents were train lovers and often bought train sets and accessories for Xmas and birthdays.
My father built me a tinplate layout in our basement. All the boys in my family near my age loved trains.
And I continue today

[johncolley]

In '47 my stepdad was a 22 year conductor on S.P. After he died in May '48 we travelled on pass until I was 18. all up and down the west coast. For a lot of years I was an S.P. fan, but now I've retired in the northwest I model G.N. in HO.

[johncolley]

In '47 my stepdad was a 22 year conductor on S.P. After he died in May '48 we travelled on pass until I was 18. all up and down the west coast. For a lot of years I was an S.P. fan, but now I've retired in the northwest I model G.N. in HO.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scottydog

For me, I guess, it was as a kid and we were leaving on the family vacation. It was during the steam era, after we were settled in the coach, my Dad would take me and my brother out on the platform and up to the head of the train to look at this monster hissing steam and letting out little groans. I guess railroads have always meant something good was about to happen. Maybe I sound corny but that's how I feel. How about you?

My parents used to take me to the railroad station in Brantford, Ontario, when I was a kid to see the big steam engines come lumbering in, stop, and after people & luggage got off and on, start up again heading either East or West. I've never forgotten the sounds, the smells and the earth vibrating as we could stand within 10 feet of the tracks. When I was older I used to ride the train between Brantford & Toronto every weekend while going to school in Toronto. Diesels had replaced steam by then of course. The station is still there and in use today. I should go back and see it again.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scottydog

For me, I guess, it was as a kid and we were leaving on the family vacation. It was during the steam era, after we were settled in the coach, my Dad would take me and my brother out on the platform and up to the head of the train to look at this monster hissing steam and letting out little groans. I guess railroads have always meant something good was about to happen. Maybe I sound corny but that's how I feel. How about you?

My parents used to take me to the railroad station in Brantford, Ontario, when I was a kid to see the big steam engines come lumbering in, stop, and after people & luggage got off and on, start up again heading either East or West. I've never forgotten the sounds, the smells and the earth vibrating as we could stand within 10 feet of the tracks. When I was older I used to ride the train between Brantford & Toronto every weekend while going to school in Toronto. Diesels had replaced steam by then of course. The station is still there and in use today. I should go back and see it again.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chazmort

When I was only 3 or so, we would take the MBTA subways across the Boston area. I only remember being on the Orange and Blue lines. Then, in Michigan, we lived across a vacant lot from the Ann Arbor RR, long before it became the TSBY. My Dad was from Wyoming and my Mom from Nebraska. Both grew up in towns right on the UP line. A few years ago I visited that town in Nebraska and was awake much of the night listening to freights blow through town. It was great.

Going to take a stab at this an ask if it was Alliance NE?

Mook

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

QUOTE: Originally posted by Chazmort

When I was only 3 or so, we would take the MBTA subways across the Boston area. I only remember being on the Orange and Blue lines. Then, in Michigan, we lived across a vacant lot from the Ann Arbor RR, long before it became the TSBY. My Dad was from Wyoming and my Mom from Nebraska. Both grew up in towns right on the UP line. A few years ago I visited that town in Nebraska and was awake much of the night listening to freights blow through town. It was great.

Going to take a stab at this an ask if it was Alliance NE?

Mook

[Anonymous]

When I was three or four we moved next to the UP tracks in Hastings,NE. Steam was still present but those yellow diesels were making appearances at an ever increasing rate. CB&Q and Missouri Pacific also were here. My grandparents ran a railroad hotel called the Big Four where railroad crews would layover. What the fourth railroad was I don't know for sure but think it was CNW. Later we moved to quite a few different states but the most memorable was moving to Fargo, ND on a very cold January day in 1965. We were headed north on Broadway and the crossing gates came down. Soon the Empire Builder rolled to a stop right in front of us. That cold, fridgid air and the steam from the generators and that orange and green paint scheme just grabbed ahold of me. Little did I know how little time there would be to enjoy that color scheme but will never forget that image!

[Anonymous]

When I was three or four we moved next to the UP tracks in Hastings,NE. Steam was still present but those yellow diesels were making appearances at an ever increasing rate. CB&Q and Missouri Pacific also were here. My grandparents ran a railroad hotel called the Big Four where railroad crews would layover. What the fourth railroad was I don't know for sure but think it was CNW. Later we moved to quite a few different states but the most memorable was moving to Fargo, ND on a very cold January day in 1965. We were headed north on Broadway and the crossing gates came down. Soon the Empire Builder rolled to a stop right in front of us. That cold, fridgid air and the steam from the generators and that orange and green paint scheme just grabbed ahold of me. Little did I know how little time there would be to enjoy that color scheme but will never forget that image!

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Philadelphia just a few blocks from both the Pennsy and the Reading and not too far from the B&O. Also there were streetcars in front of our house. So there was pleanty of action to keep a kid interested. And when we would go to visit relatives upstate we would travel on "The King Coal" to Shamokin. Seeing all of the passing coal trains, and the huge yards full of hoppers at Pottstown, Reading, St. Nickolas, Locust Summit, and Shamokin was fascinating.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Philadelphia just a few blocks from both the Pennsy and the Reading and not too far from the B&O. Also there were streetcars in front of our house. So there was pleanty of action to keep a kid interested. And when we would go to visit relatives upstate we would travel on "The King Coal" to Shamokin. Seeing all of the passing coal trains, and the huge yards full of hoppers at Pottstown, Reading, St. Nickolas, Locust Summit, and Shamokin was fascinating.

[Hakuhatsu]

I think I can count myself as one of the "whombers," as I, too, don't know how my love of trains started. My hometown of Preston, MN was on the old Southern Minnesota and Iowa Division of the Milwaukee Road (Reno, MN to Isinours, MN). I was born in December of 1976 but unfortunately the tracks were torn up three or four months before. My parents both taught at the elementary school (which has since moved to a new building next to the middle school) which was close to the tracks, so I probably was exposed to trains via the whomb, listening to the SW-1s idling at the depot or enginehouse.

I've been a train nut ever since then. I ride/watch them whenever I can. I took the trains everywhere when I was living/studying in Japan and also took the Empire Builder to commute home for the hollidays when I was going to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. I'm also starting a new HO scale layout so I can do some psudo train watching in the comfort of my own home.

- Hakuhatsu

[Hakuhatsu]

I think I can count myself as one of the "whombers," as I, too, don't know how my love of trains started. My hometown of Preston, MN was on the old Southern Minnesota and Iowa Division of the Milwaukee Road (Reno, MN to Isinours, MN). I was born in December of 1976 but unfortunately the tracks were torn up three or four months before. My parents both taught at the elementary school (which has since moved to a new building next to the middle school) which was close to the tracks, so I probably was exposed to trains via the whomb, listening to the SW-1s idling at the depot or enginehouse.

I've been a train nut ever since then. I ride/watch them whenever I can. I took the trains everywhere when I was living/studying in Japan and also took the Empire Builder to commute home for the hollidays when I was going to the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. I'm also starting a new HO scale layout so I can do some psudo train watching in the comfort of my own home.

- Hakuhatsu

[Anonymous]

Trackside in the fifties, Larchmont NY watching the New Haven evening rush hour parade while we waited for my Dad's MU to arrive from Manhattan.

[Anonymous]

Trackside in the fifties, Larchmont NY watching the New Haven evening rush hour parade while we waited for my Dad's MU to arrive from Manhattan.

[Anonymous]

My love for trains stated at A very young age. I grew up not to far from the tracks so every time I heard A train coming into town there I was ( AT A SAFE DISTANCE OFCOURSE) even today when my son (12) and I see or hear A train there we are[:D]

[Anonymous]

My love for trains stated at A very young age. I grew up not to far from the tracks so every time I heard A train coming into town there I was ( AT A SAFE DISTANCE OFCOURSE) even today when my son (12) and I see or hear A train there we are[:D]

[Anonymous]

it was probably about 2 or 3 for me two. My dad and my brothers would stop at porter junction in indiana on our way to our grandparents house. we would camp out in our minivan, all five of us to watch the endless parade of conrail piggybacks. i will never forget my conrail

[Anonymous]

it was probably about 2 or 3 for me two. My dad and my brothers would stop at porter junction in indiana on our way to our grandparents house. we would camp out in our minivan, all five of us to watch the endless parade of conrail piggybacks. i will never forget my conrail