I had several friends who had trains in my younger days. Only one, besides myself, had a permanent layout. He had HO and I had Lionel O gauge. We would spend our summer days train watching at various locations around town. We made it a point to be on hand when the local came to switch the grain elevators in town. When the weather wasn't fit to be outside we went to one of our houses and ran trains. I remember sitting at his kitchen table perusing the Walthers catalog and dreaming of our ultimate layout. He and I are the only ones of the group still involved in the hobby. After high school we each followed our own paths and didn't really stay in touch. About ten years ago I ran into him at a train show and we reconnected. He has gotten me involved in operating sessions with a group of local HO guys. We get together about once a month to run trains and catch up.
Tom
