I was born and raised in Oakland CA and grew up railfanning the Southern Pacific, Western Pacific and Santa Fe including their marine operations on San Francisco Bay.  I graduated from San Francisco State University ( BA History '65 ), UCLA  ( MA History '67 ) and the University of Delaware ( Ph D History  '79 ).  I taught History, Geography  and International Relations at Delaware State University, Dover, DE From 1968 until retirement in 2004.  I've published one book in the railroad field (  The Iron Horse at War, Howell-North, Berkeley, 1977 ) and several articles in various publications.  I model the Pennsylvania Railroad in HO scale and am a founding member of the First State Model Railroad Club ( www. fsmrrc.org ).  I have two grown children and reside with my wife Myrna in Dover DE.   In addition to my railroad interests I research and write articles on maritime and naval history topics.