How did you get into the hobby.

Got a gift of a Lionel set as a kid, and when someone gave me some issues of TRAINS magazine from the 1940's and 1950's a few years back (I was about 10 at the time),  I was hooked. Haven't stopped since.

Steam locomotives fascinated me, particularly the Union Pacific's.  The timeless era of the 30 to late 50s,  steam powering long trains up Sherman Hill, passenger trains approaching the century mark on open plains, the mechanics and maintenance of those beasts-incredible.

And, it was done without computers, micro chips or internet.  Back when man had to think and be creative to solve daily problems and rely on mechanical ability/aptitude-Have we really progressed or regressed...? 

I moved to Bristol, Rhode Island many years ago and learned there was a railroad from Bristol to Providence, Rhode Island (i.e., the Providence, Warren & Bristol RR).  The PWBRR was founded in the 1850's and, at its peak in 1922, the 15-mile long road carried 1,000,000 passengers per year.  It was acquired by the New Haven in the 1890s and finished its life in the early 1980s as part of the Providence & Worcester RR.

There are a few interesting things about the PWBRR: For example, the right of way passed through a 1-mile long tunnel underneath the city of Providence, RI and the PWBRR was one of the New Haven's first major electrification projects, etc.

I truly enjoy collecting all sorts of memorabilia related to the PWBRR (and its cousin, the Fall River, Warren & Providence RR) including stock certificates, canceled checks, invoices, conductors' uniform pieces, postcards, photographs, leases, etc.  We will use these to decorate the walls and display cases in the Lionel postwar layout we are building on the 3rd floor of our home.  I also own the original, handwritten articles of incorporation for the PWBRR which will be front and center in the display case.

Here's a Facebook page that caters to the PWBRR and a somewhat primitive version from our family's website first published 12 years ago.

Nice thread, thanks.

Steven J. Serenska

Like 86TA355SR, I have always been fascinated by Steam locomotives, with UP being my road of main interest, outside of modeling, I read a lot. And running the real thing on the rare chance I get.

In 1982 between my sophomore and junior years in high school, I was riding my bike past the depot in Troutdale, OR and saw the locomotive idling on the siding, and was looking at it from a distance, I noticed the crew in the lunch room and went in and started talking with them, the engineer introduced himself and invited me back the next day to go out with them. After several days of being invited back, and going out with them, one day after leaving the mainline, heading to the aluminum plant, Al stopped and had ME sit in the engineers seat, I got to run a GP38-2 for a short while with about 9 cars and a caboose, talk about thrilling!

A close friend of my Mom's Father owned a Machine shop and had a Love of old Machines, Clyde had bought many things at scrap, and his collection was simply amazing, in his collection was an H.K. Porter 0-4-0T. Clyde never finished the loop of track around his 6 acres, but did have about 400 feet of track laid. Sadly, my only chance to run the little Porter, was at the Final Steam Up in Clyde's Honor, after his passing. Fortunately, I did meet Clyde before that, he was a Very Interesting Man to say the least.

In 2007, I went to the Nevada Northern, in ELY, NV for their Engineer for a day program, and I ran their 4-6-0 #40 and their SD9 #204.

In 2008, I did another EFD program at the Sumpter Valley Ry, in Sumpter, OR. I ran their 2-8-2 #19, and unlike the light engine running on the Nevada Northern, at the SVRy, they have you pull a complete(if maybe short) train of about 6-8 cars and a caboose.

In 2009, My PLANS were originally to return to the SVRY, and run their wood burning Heisler, but somewhere along the way, I got Side Tracked, and went to Maui, and Married my Wife.

Since getting married, the Engineer for a day programs have been put on hold, but that Heisler is still in Sumpter, waiting for me. I did get a cab ride in that same Heisler back in 1995. I was on the Cycle Oregon, Bicycle tour, which overnighted in Sumpter one night, and the road ran parallel to the tracks, I saw the Heisler coming with an excursion train, so I stopped to watch it go by, when they STOPPED, and offered me a ride into town IN THE CAB, that short stretch was the piece of the tour that I didn't honestly pedal on my own, but I wasn't going to pass up THAT opportunity.

Doug

If I understand the question correctly I got into the hobby when I was 15 days old and continued up to this day with a layout in a separate building.In the non modeling aspect,I have ridden trains here in the USA from UP 844 from Denver to Cheyenne,the Amtrak Ca Zephyr from Sacramento to Reno and back,the Cumbres & Toltec,the Essex Steam RR in Conn,the Durango & Silverton,the Royal Gorge,the Skunk Train,etc plus Many trains in France,Germany,Italy,Austria,Hungary,Spain,Czech Republic,Switzerland,Belgium,Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Mikey

I never really was a modeler or considered my self one. Yes I have made a layout and made a so call tunnel but I'm more of a runner/collector now what really got me going I guess I was about 9 we lived in Mississippi at the time, my mother and father and I took a trip to Natches, Mississippi and spent the night ( don't remember why) anyway I was already playing with O gauge trains. We were out walking it was dark so I guess it was like 8 P.M. any way they where doing some switching ( southern Railroad) with a switcher and dad somehow got us on it to ride back and forth a few times I was sold from that point on. 

I grew up in Lewistown, PA at the mid point of the PRR's Middle Division between Harrisburg and Altoona.  On Sunday afternoons in the '50's, Dad and I would stop at the old Royal Dairy and get chocolate milkshakes and then head to the station to watch trains.

I've had an interest in prototype railroading since then; probably the main reason I've made my career in rail transportation.

Curt

I can trace my interest in trains back to a specific day - July 6, 1976.  That day, my dad had the whole family over and took us down to the tracks, just a small-town block from my house, in order to watch American Freedom Train #1 (the Readling T-1) come through town on its move from Harrisburg, PA to Pittsburgh, PA.

Prior to that, I had seen hundreds of diesel-headed trains roll through town, but while a little fascinating, diesels just didn't excite me.  And my exposure to steam locomotives at that point consisted only of my small 1930's Lionel 2-4-2 #1664 that my grandfather had given to me for Christmas in 1974 and visits with my mom & dad to the PRR I1sa 2-10-0 #4483 on display at that time outside of Westinghouse Airbrake in Wilmerding, PA.

The sight, sounds and smells of that locomotive operating under its own power really impressed me.  You might say it lit the fire under my boiler that still burns to this day.

Ever since, and beyond the model RR interests, I've been reading books and magazines on the specific aspects of railroading that interest me, collecting a little bit of railroad memorabilia, and seeking out operational steam as time, budget and circumstances would allow.  I've even developed an appreciation of diesels enough that I go on railfanning trips with my club and will stop and watch them when circumstances permit.

Andy

Good morning, my interest in trains started when my Mom and Dad would go to Altoona to go shopping downtown (1964 thru 1968 period.

This was long before the Logan Valley Mall and the shopping district that is no longer downtown.

My dad was never, and still is not into to shopping so he and my mom would set a time to come back to the store and pick her up.

While waiting we would drive down a  parking lot along the tracks and watch trains to pass the time.

I remember early diesels but it was usually in the evening and the lighting was not the best back then. I just remember trains going pass, but at the time this was thrilling for me.

I also remember family trips to the Horseshoe Curve on a Sunday afternoon. I recently came across a picture of my sister and I standing next to the K4 1361. You can only see the drivers of the K4 since my mom which most likely took the picture was more focused on my sister and I.

I went to Catholic school so field trips were always planned for the end of the school year.

We went to the Horseshoe Curve one year and just could not wait to get there. Actually I got in trouble with the nun because I did not want to leave,

I remember buying postcards in the gift shop of steam engines on them, I wish I still had them today.

We went to a wedding in Cresson and it was in the summer months and standing outside listening to the trains and their whistles.

Got scolded for that to because my Mom did not know where i went to.

As High School days come along it was always a thrill to see a coal train go thru Patton and get caught behind the train on the school bus. There was always a large snow plow and track work cars always parked in Patton.

My aunt lived just a block away so if we were visiting I  would always asked if I could walk down and take a look. Just be careful was always the words I heard.

I have a friend that his Grand pap worked for the PRR on a Saturday evening I would go over to his place and if there was no where to go we would sit on the porch and listen to the adventures his grand pap had working for the PRR

I think my buddy found it boring because more than likely he had heard them all before.

After High School I went to the surface coal mines and at times I  would help load unit trains at our load out. I thought it was always great to talk to the train crew and back then we would have to walk the train to make sure all the hopper doors were latched shut and in some cases still there.

Got a way from the trains for a while due to some dumb martial decisions which stretched finical resources to the brink.

Remarried to a great Lady and after 28 years we are still together.

My oldest son was born just about the time Thomas the Tank Engine came on the scene.

With this the railroad bug had bit me again, and now 24 years later I am still watching and playing with trains.

I had a chance to go to work for Conrail and I turned the it down. There are days I ponder my decision.

Maybe working around the railroad might have spoiled my enthusiasm for trains I guess I will never know !!!!!!!

I was drafted.  The walk from my house to my first school meant that I had to cross a double track line.  The road crossing was guarded by a real gateman ala the Lionel #45 complete with a small guard house with a potbelly stove.  Since a lot of kids had to make the same trek across the tracks to attend school the gateman's primary responsibility was to make sure of our safety.  This was during the very last years of mainline steam so the sight of a steam engine, often with two men standing on the step plates on either side of the pilot (I assume this was another attempt to insure our safety but that is only conjecture on my part) was a common one.

 These daily observations of the real world were only reinforced when I went down in the cellar at home and ran my Lionel Scout freight set around a loop of track and watched the #45 gateman pop out every time my train rolled past. The end result was a lifelong interest in all things train - models, toys, the real thing, books containing first person accounts of working on the railroad, books on various aspects of the history of railroads, rail photography, etc.

The railfan bug bit me on May 31, 1986 when I went with some other people on an excursion behind the NKP 765.  Now I am an active member of the Mahoning Valley Railroad Heritage Assn. & hope the railfan bug never lets go.

       My first experience with trains was also my first criminal record at 6 years old. I grew up or well grew older in Turtle Creek on Maple Avenue and when you would look down my street you could see the Union Rail Road coming through town down in the valley. I told my mother I was going on the back street to play with friends. When I got there no one was home and I heard the train whistle blowing as the train came through town. I rode my bike to the end of the block crossed the street and saw the train going by down over the hill. I thought to myself I need a closer look so I stashed my bike in the weeds and over the hill I went. By the time I had made my way down to the tracks the train was almost ending. The caboose came buy and a man was standing on the back of it so I waved to him and he waved back. Well I was messing around picking up bits of steel and throwing rocks and was starting to get board. I started back up the hill when I heard another train whistle blowing I turned around and another train was coming in the other direction. I ran back down the hill and was waving to the engineer and he waved back. I thought to my self this is great so I hung around waving to engineers and the guys in the cabooses. When the 4th train went by after it had passed a guy was hollering for me to come up from down there. I got up the hill and he was asking me where I lived and I told him over there as I pointed in the direction of my house. He sais can you show me where you live and I tell him yes. I grab my bike and take him to my house and he tells me he needs to see my parents. I go in and tell my mother some guy at the front door wants to see you. She comes to the door and the guy tells her that he is a Union Rail Road police officer. He tells her that I was on there property and was not supposed to be there. Well my mom had to wake up my dad (he worked night shift) and they had to sign all kinds of paperwork saying that if I was ever caught on Union Rail Road property again I would be put in jail. After the man left dad got out the belt and beat my but and I was grounded for a month in my bedroom. I sat in my room for 30 days just dreaming of going to the edge of the hill to watch the trains go by but not be on Union Rail Roads property. Now you know the story of my love for trains started. Choo Choo Kenny

My first real memory of being taken down to the the Central Railroad of New Jersey yards in Cranford, NJ by my dad, was the Reading Crusader. The stainless steel streamlined passenger train, pulled by one of the Reading's streamlined Pacifics, must have been running close to 90 MPH, as it sped westward. It was moving so fast that the running gear was just a blur. Must have been 1944 or 1945. My dad took me to that yard many times, as he could park the car near the yard office, and we could still look north toward the main lines, plus watch the big 0-8-0 yard locomotives switching.

From that point on I was hooked!

My mom did NOT want me to follow the "family tradition" of working on the railroad. She wanted me to attend college, and "get a good job".  Thus, I jumped at the chance when offered a job in the field service organization of EMD, right out of college: June 1, 1962. Thus, I had the best of both worlds, i.e. learning/working around/on steam locomotives while working on EMD diesel units and training customer's operating and shop personnel. I even would up in Mexico, where there was still quite a lot of mainline steam operating, delivering new GP35 units and narrow gauge GA8 units to the N de M RR.

After two years in the U.S. Army, I returned to EMD on January 2, 1967 and continued my career. I was fortunate to be assigned to the American Freedom Train "project" as lesion to the Chief Mechanical Officer & Engineer of 4449, in the spring of 1975, and am still a crew member on 4449 (40+ years now). During that time, I also assisted, as a Contract Fireman, the UP Steam Crew for some 17 years until retirement from that operation in December 2010.

Since my retirement from EMD in late 1998, I has still done come consulting related to EMD diesel engines as well as steam locomotive operations, maintenance and overhauls.

MarkStrittmatter posted:

Good morning, my interest in trains started when my Mom and Dad would go to Altoona to go shopping downtown (1964 thru 1968 period.

This was long before the Logan Valley Mall and the shopping district that is no longer downtown.

My dad was never, and still is not into to shopping so he and my mom would set a time to come back to the store and pick her up.

While waiting we would drive down a  parking lot along the tracks and watch trains to pass the time.

I remember early diesels but it was usually in the evening and the lighting was not the best back then. I just remember trains going pass, but at the time this was thrilling for me.

I also remember family trips to the Horseshoe Curve on a Sunday afternoon. I recently came across a picture of my sister and I standing next to the K4 1361. You can only see the drivers of the K4 since my mom which most likely took the picture was more focused on my sister and I.

I went to Catholic school so field trips were always planned for the end of the school year.

We went to the Horseshoe Curve one year and just could not wait to get there. Actually I got in trouble with the nun because I did not want to leave,

I remember buying postcards in the gift shop of steam engines on them, I wish I still had them today.

We went to a wedding in Cresson and it was in the summer months and standing outside listening to the trains and their whistles.

Got scolded for that to because my Mom did not know where i went to.

As High School days come along it was always a thrill to see a coal train go thru Patton and get caught behind the train on the school bus. There was always a large snow plow and track work cars always parked in Patton.

My aunt lived just a block away so if we were visiting I  would always asked if I could walk down and take a look. Just be careful was always the words I heard.

I have a friend that his Grand pap worked for the PRR on a Saturday evening I would go over to his place and if there was no where to go we would sit on the porch and listen to the adventures his grand pap had working for the PRR

I think my buddy found it boring because more than likely he had heard them all before.

After High School I went to the surface coal mines and at times I  would help load unit trains at our load out. I thought it was always great to talk to the train crew and back then we would have to walk the train to make sure all the hopper doors were latched shut and in some cases still there.

Got a way from the trains for a while due to some dumb martial decisions which stretched finical resources to the brink.

Remarried to a great Lady and after 28 years we are still together.

My oldest son was born just about the time Thomas the Tank Engine came on the scene.

With this the railroad bug had bit me again, and now 24 years later I am still watching and playing with trains.

I had a chance to go to work for Conrail and I turned the it down. There are days I ponder my decision.

Maybe working around the railroad might have spoiled my enthusiasm for trains I guess I will never know !!!!!!!

Mark,

 Nice story. My interest began as a youngster with a 1960's Lionel hodgepodge of equipment. At the same time, every summer for around 10-12 years, my mom would take us out to Western PA. I had an aunt in Wilmerding (overlooking the WABCO plant) and grandparents in McKeesport. I remember the times we would pass Horseshoe Curve in daylight, always a treat. In the late 1970's as I was meeting with my Catholic high school guidance counselor, I asked about possibly working for Penn Central. He correctly said that the railroad was not in good shape so that probably would not be a wise move. 

 I got out of the hobby around 1980 as girls and cars became more interesting. My wife got me back in to the hobby in 1994 with a beaten up Lionel #2037 steamer. Since then I wrote a book along with 1 article for the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society, with a few more articles currently in the works. Besides all of my Lionel steam switchers I collect Pennsy related stuff like this odd (very, very heavy) box that was apparently some type of equipment used in a test lab.

 Conversely, after returning from WWII, with help from a friend, my dad became a fireman on the New Haven. He would always tell me how he had all these paychecks stuffed in his front pockets and never had time to spend them. So, his employment for the railroad did not last long and he quit before I was born.

 Tom

It was predestined. I was born with a fatal attraction. My Grandfather, Father (and all three of his brothers) all worked in engine service for the B&O. I heard nothing but railroading from the time I was old enough to listen. Heck, I knew the air "set up" (actually train speed responded) quicker on empties and released (again train response) quicker on loads, before I was 3 years old. Some of my earliest memories are of the roundhouse, diesel locomotives in the stalls being serviced, noises and smells, and a steam fired "big hook" stationed there. Rode passenger trains frequently, often in the cab with one of my uncles as engineer. Powerful machines that moved with speed, what could thrill a young boy more?

When the time came to graduate from high school and I voiced a desire to work for the railroad, my father vowed that no son of his would work out there. College was the plan. One year later, against his wishes, I hired out. 40 years later I retired.  Make no mistake, it was not always fun (after all it was a job),  but overall I had a grand time and a very successful and satisfying career. 

Still a fan.

During WWII, which I was totally oblivious to, except for an M-1 toting watchman patrolling the city reservoir behind one of the houses we lived in,  in a later house on an unnamed gravel "depot road",  my brother and I hung around the station.  (the Southern must have had a more lenient policy than that descibed above about the Union Railroad, as I, too, got to ride back and forth on a caboose platform while they switched coal hoppers, or, it was an earlier time).  Either shortly before that or afterwards, I asked for and received an "electric train".  My grandfather had a 1940's Kalmbach photo book on Colorado railroads, I did a seventh grade termpaper on the state of Colorado, probably influenced by the cap pistol era and all the "westerns" on b&w TV , (Using my aunt's grossly out of date 1929 encyclopedia, but still got a passing grade), so I was hooked on railroads, and Colorado.  Even though then moved away from proximity to a railroad, I had continued with three rail, went into HO, but still had a fixation on Colorado railroads.  I talked my mother into a trip to Colorado, we made several while I was in high school, rode the then D&RGW to Silverton, and have had an interest in narrow and standard gauge Colorado roads ever since.  I only recently rode a standard gauge train, for transportation,  in the U.S., and that was in Alaska.  I have ridden trains in England and Scotland,  teakettle steam in Wales, a train across Scandinavia and up from a fjord in Norway (the Fla'mbann) , and around Switzerland on the Glacier Express.  But I have really not ridden very many, nearly as many real trains, or as soon enough, while they still existed in steam, as I wish.

Really not sure exactly where and when I became a train nut. Possibly the 1948 and '49 Chicago Railroad Fairs. Or trips to the Norwood Park (Chicago) C&NW train station to watch steam powered commuters in the late '40's with my Grandfather. Or a trip to Englewood Union Station courtesy of a NYC civil engineer neighbor, wherein saw NYC 4-8-4 #6018, in 1949. Not only steam locomotives inflammed my passions, but the whole railroad scene of intriguing wooden freight cars, beautiful streamliners, echoing train callers in the North Western station, and a general air of decrepitude and linkage to the historic 19th century still visible in all of the structures employed by railroads in the late '40's, early 50's. Back then, railroads remained a powerful empire astride the land, so most impressive to a small lad.

 Age 70; will remain a train nut until I "bite the dust" !

Christmas present when I was 3 years old.  Sure, they were for me.  lol

Kindergarten field trip our class rode in a caboose all of 12 miles to the next town where we took the bus back.  I can recall the back door being open and watching the tracks behind us.  On the C&NW.  Much later I was able to get hired out of Sacramento to work on a gang up in Truckee Ca.  Each day we would ride the truck up to some picturesque spot overlooking Donner Lake.  There I learned pretty quickly how to avoid breaking the handle on a spike maul.  I also learned how to work around creosote and oilers all day and not get it all over you.   Shed 47,  the big curve at  Andover, or Track 1 up through tunnel six.  The shed at the top of the big hole.  I've always been lucky though. 

In 1955 we were living in Reidsville, NC and the main line of the Southern ran a block behind the parsonage.  I would ride my tricycle and my sister was in the stroller and mother would take us to walk.  I got to watch the switch engine (green, 2 stack SW) work the American Tobacco Co..  

The first toy or model was a wooden floor set, Strombecker ?, then a Marx windup and in 1958 a Revell HO set.

In 1970 before high school graduation I saw 4501 in Ashville and was REALLY hooked.

Been at it ever since.

George Lasley

Growing up in Pittsburgh in the early '50s exposed me to a lot of chooch, mostly older traditional  type steamers that my family members were sort of mildly interested in.  I OTOH, was a Diesel lover, and so it stayed until I discovered the "Big Jay" 2-10-4...first briefly at Rt.48 /  Pitcairn, and later on W.Carson St. in the 'Burgh. I had a major encounter with this beast at the Pittburgh Coke & Chemical picnic in the summer of '57, which scared the living %$#@*+ !  out of me.  I would later see more of the whole  PRR collection from the Rt. 48 bridge with my older cousin (a true SPF).  A trip out west in 1960 with my Dad involved the PRR, the MILW. U.P., and some lesser roads on the side. This event locked it all up from my POV !

I've always loved trains. 

Watched Thomas (Shinning Time Station) as early as I can remember. 

Had wooden/push/windup trains. 

Got my first Lionel set, an Amtrak 0-27 set. I destroyed it soon after that Christmas morning - you CAN'T go full speed on 0-27 and expect the train to not launch into orbit!!!! I know it was an Amtrak set....I seem to remember it being an F unit or FA Alco diesel (maybe a powered and dummy combo, can't remember) and 3 0-27 cars. Would love to get another. 

Had several other sets, Lionel 4-4-2 sets, etc all spread out on the basement floor. Also had an MTH Amtrak Genesis starter set. PS1 Genesis and 3 Superliner cars. What an awesome set that was. That disappeared after some family "issues!" I remember one of my Lionel sets was the Santa Fe Special. It had a 4-4-2, air whistle tender, flat car with two automobiles, flatcar with truck trailer, log dump car and I think a boxcar. Also a caboose of course, track trans, etc, etc. This also disappeared due to previously mentioned family issues as did all of my trains. I saw one, new the in the box at York a few years ago for $100. Didn't buy it, been kicking myself ever since! Hope to find another one day. 

Later got into HO, N Scale, and G scale and had layouts in each of those gauges. Largest was a 4x12 HO layout - lots of action. 8 track yard, 2 turntables, roundhouse, etc, etc, etc. 

Got back into O Gauge Christmas 2004 with a Lionel Pennsylvania Flyer. Still have it and have been in O Gauge since. Still have all of my HO, N and G equipment acquired after family issues. 

Big thing - I'm very lucky to have a world class Parks department in our county. Two 500+ acre parks have 2 foot gauge railroads running through them. I was the engineer on these trains for many years after literally growing up around them. Got to know the old guys running them and later took over. Did it for many years. Interest in other things and lack of maintenance and care in the railroads sent me down a new, very different path in life. Of course, I go to the B&O Museum often, trips to Strasburg, etc. 

Volunteered for a few years at the Walkersville Southern Railroad in Maryland. No longer volunteering but had a great time, great people and learned a lot. Stopped doing it last year so I could do new and exciting things...even got to be the fireman shoveling coal and checking water, etc on the steam train there. Did 3 roundtrips as the fireman. Great experience. Would love to do it again. 

The park trains. Ran all of these locos several (hundreds!!) of times. The Black/Silver/Red #378 arrived after I left: 

#126 is a Vulcan Iron Works 0-6-0T. Coal fired. Built circa 1930. Owned by the Gramling family of Indiana. They own several other tankers that they truck around the east coast. Great group of people. Very kind and willing to teach those that don't know about steam all of the "secrets"! I learned a lot from them when I fired the #126 on 3 round trip runs, about 24 miles in total. 

Some other Walkersville Southern photos...great group of people. Take a ride if you are ever nearby. www.wsrr.org 

MKT's mainline was along from Houston to near Sealy, SP mainline Columbus to Schulenburg TX before I10 was finished.  When is was young, trains on these lines were a distraction on road trips to see relatives.

My maternal grandfather was mostly responsible for my lifelong train enthusiasm; he was a lifelong fan of railroads in the Boston,Mass. area, particularly the New Haven. He ran a movie theatre in Foxboro, Mass., and so was able to shoot trains with the then-new Kodachrome movie film during the 1940s, he would continue to take movies of trains throughout his life. For the last 55 years of his life, he lived very close to the New Haven line running thru Foxboro and kept tabs on the line into the Conrail years.
I was his first grandson, and before the start of my school years, I was exposed to various amusement park trains, and had a train set. Our family moved to Maryland when I was very young, but I have faint memories of B&O trains in Hyattsville,MD. and B&O passenger train rides when we moved to the Western part of Maryland. When I was in second grade, our class took a passenger train ride from Cumberland,MD. to Keyser,WV circa 1966.
As I grew older, our family's annual summer vacations at my maternal grandparents' home became filled with visits to the original EDAVILLE, the original SteamTown in Bellows Falls,VT., the Valley RR and Branford Trolley museum in Connecticut, along with many trips to nearby Cape Cod, and also up to the White Mts. in NH.
I think all these RR visits were just tolerated by the rest of my non-enthusiast family, but my grandfather and I always had a great time!
During my growing-up years in Frostburg,MD., we lived close to the Western Maryland trackage that is now the Western Maryland Scenic RR and the Great Allegheny Passage Rail-trail. I spent much time observing the last years of WM operation, and my HS buddies and I backpacked to Sand Patch along the future trail right after the tracks were abandoned in 1976.
During high school, I joined the local NRHS chapter in Cumberland just in time to see and ride the Chessie Steam Special, my grandfather never forgot the time we sat at Mance,PA. on Sand Patch in pouring rain to see the Steam Special.
For a number of years my friends and I camped on Sand Patch grade at Falls Cut Tunnel, of course it is illegal to trespass there now, but the B&O and Chessie were remarkably tolerant of railfans and visitors 30-40 years ago.
My grandfather and I were able to ride the later Chessie Safety Express with #614 together, along with trips to the B&O museum, East Broad Top, and Horseshoe Curve.
I was on Chessie System's hiring list for several years; 1978-1981, but Chessie wasn't hiring then. 
I was very casual about photography until after my grandfather's passing, but by 1989 I became more interested in photographing the RR scene, chasing the N&W #1218  really sealed my interest, by 1993, I had a NIKON SLR 35mm, and started shooting slides, which I still do today (mostly steam).
Digital photography came along about 5 yrs. ago, along with a renewed interest in experiencing as much steam train action as possible, if it's happening in PA,MD,WVA, or VA steam-wise, I want to be there.
My childhood dabblings in HO and N gauge persisted into my 30s, but never really resulted in a completed layout...
I would add that I also have an extensive library of RR books and periodicals, this includes my grandfather's collection which I inherited.
I have also been a member of the Western MD. RWY. Historical Society since 1987.

For me it's partly in the genes-- my Great Grandfather and Great Great Grandfather were both Erie Railroad engineers. I really caught the bug after riding the Chessie  Steam Specials and NS steam trips in the 70's and 80's. 

I began volunteering in 1985 while an undergrad at UC Berkeley with the Pacific Locomotive Association at what used to be called the Castro Point Railway in Richmond, California, and later the Niles Canyon Scenic laying track in the canyon. I was a steam locomotive fireman at the Valley Railroad in Connecticut during summers in the late 80's and had the privilege of working with Mr. J. David Conrad. In the early 90's I volunteered at the Illinois Railway Museum ( track work mostly) when work took me to Chicago. Later when I moved to Minnesota I was privileged to be a member of the Milwaukee Road 261 team. I now live in Leesburg, Virginia and as a member  of the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum I've made the trek to Maine a number of times for their fall work weekends laying rail on the original right-of-way. 

I'm not a modeler but I do enjoy reading the Ogauge Forum posts. My main interest is being active in historic railway preservation which is so incredibly important for the education of younger generations. Thanks so much to all who have guided me along the way!

John

I didn't know it was optional? By the time I was born, my folks had moved the family to a house in Richfield, MN across the street from the Minneapolis Northfield and Southern's "high line". Growing up, I thought everybody had a train running in front of their house and like watching trains.

I had no family connection to trains whatsoever. My parents recognized my excitement over trains at an early age, and supported it in various ways. Usually, it was dad who would get involved by stopping at various spots around town so we could watch them. Deep down, I think he kind of liked them too. I want to say that it was the real trains that came before the toys and later models.

I never got into the hobby. 

The hobby got into me.

It started with a Lionel train set when I was a toddler and has been downhill from there.

Rusty

Two American Flyer trains sets for Christmas 1954.

Rusty Traque - That's kinda like "men don't watch television; they become the television!"

I never had a "Choice" !!!!  1948.  Two of us have nice layouts and the other brother we would NEVER let have a hammer in his hand. Our Dad worked for the Post Office and he would take us to the Train station in Warren, PA with him, at times, when he put the mail on the train (RPO)

My wife made me do it.  She makes me spend hours roaming around train shows and forces me to spend lots of money on new trains.  She makes me take up every available space in our home for layouts. I wanted to collect stamps for a hobby...but nooooo, I'm forced to play with trains! Its madness I tell you.  :-p  

Conductor Earl posted:

My wife made me do it.  She makes me spend hours roaming around train shows and forces me to spend lots of money on new trains.  She makes me take up every available space in our home for layouts. I wanted to collect stamps for a hobby...but nooooo, I'm forced to play with trains! Its madness I tell you.  :-p  

Wish I had one like that Earl!

Great stories here......love them all!

My reason began with "real trains" as documented in the 1st paragragh of this thread...

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...have-you-archived-it

Peter

Probably one of my earliest memories of anything. I recall riding in the back of the car while my dad was pacing Reading 2101 as AFT #1 along the ICG RR an hour south of Chicago.

I wasn't quite 3 at the time but my first sight of an operating steamer is still vivid. Somewhere there are some old photos, but division in my family has put them out of reach.

Dads not a rail fan, just a fan of anything nostalgic. I believe I inherted this nostalgia for steam locomotives which developed into an interest. When I view an operating steam I can almost "feel" memories of a time gone by, even though obviously, its well before my very existence.

BESSEMERSAM,

    Our family has worked in RailRoading for many generations, my Great Grandfather was one of the Engineers, for what is known today as the Wellsville, Addison & Galeton RR (WAG) Railroad "Sole Leather Line",  he lived in Galeton, Pa, and drove the Logging Engines/Trains when Timber was king here in Pa.  My Father worked for the Union Switch & Signal, for 50 years, as both an Engineer/Inventor and Internal auditor.  Part of our Christmas family Tradition, passed down for generations, is our O Gauge Train layout, that I still set up each Christmas season.    

PCRR/Dave

A Clark Photo of my Great Grandfather bringing his Shay Engine/Logging Train down the Switchback just outside of Galeton, Pa on the old B&O Logging Rail Line.  One of Clarks most famous original Photo's, taken with an old Hooded Tri-pod Stand up Box Camera.  The hand written name & note on the historical photo, is Clarks. 

Back in 1956 Santa made me very happy with an American Flyer train set.  Only got to play with it for a year before we had to move to Florida, but those happy thoughts stayed with me till I graduated out of college.  Now, I am blessed to have the trains and layout I always wanted.  What makes it even more special now is my wife, children & grandchildren seem to like it MORE than me!!

I knew how to plug in and play with my grandfather's G scale trains before I could walk, so I suppose that would be where I got started.  My dad also had his father's postwar Lionel trains that got put around our Christmas tree until I received my first set when I was 3.  I lost interest in that set for a short while, but got back into things around 2007 which is when the collection grew pretty rapidly.  In 2011 I took over the duties of setting up the annual Christmas Train display at the Redford Theatre and have been doing that ever since.  We also visited Greenfield Village several times a year where I always spent much of my time visiting, riding behind one of (at the time) their two steam locomotives.  Eventually I started as a volunteer on the railroad shortly before I graduated high school and got hired on as a fireman the following season.  The day I finished high school I went to watch a test run of the newly restored 1897 Baldwin 4-4-0 that had been under restoration for as long as I could remember.  The shop crew let me run it light back to the shop after the tests were completed.  Pretty cool memory for that day.  Last year I got promoted to an engineer position and now operate and fire the locomotives I rode behind when I was younger.  I guess that's history