I have read that a very high percentage of those with an obsession with trains, be they models or real ones, are somewhere on the Autism Spectrum. I myself have been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, a form of high functioning autism. I have been obsessed with trains, both kinds, for my whole life. To the point that everything else came second to trains. While I learned that cannot always happen, job and paying bills come first unfortunatly, plus I need money to buy more trains. Not asking anyone to "out" themselves if they know they are on the spectrum. But I know for myself it is very hard to make and keep friends. The one I have where I live is much older than myself and in ill health. I am currently building a nice outdoor G scale railway using LGB track, Aristocraft and Lionel Large Scale trains. I also have my father's Lionel set from 1948 that I plan to build a new indoor, postwar style layout for. I hate seeing that train just sit in the china cabinet. My one big regret is not being able to get him to talk about his childhood layouts much, not sure why but its like a part of his life he wont discuss. What I know came from what my grandfather told me when I got to take that train set home to keep when I was 12. Anyways, I would love to hear from others that are on the spectrum or have children on the spectrum that have a fasination with trains. Mike
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