I was born in 1932 and lived across a field from the Southern's St. Louis division main line...saw lots of Consolidations and Green, Gold and Silver 4-6-2 passenger engines. (Beautiful!). As a young teen, we moved to Chicago. The rear of our house backed against the NYC/Pennsylvania main line...hard to believe now, but I actually got to see the NYC Century and Pennsy streamlined Pacifics racing out of Englewood...every day. Later, a move to California allowed me to see cab-forwards on the SP, GS-4's, and ride behind SD&AE ancient 4-6-0's between San Diego and Yuma. 50 years of residence in El Paso followed, where early on SP's cab forwards, AC-9's, and Mountains were plentiful...to be soon replaced by diesels. Also, lots of beautiful Texas & Pacific engines, and well-maintained Mexican big steam across the river in Juarez. As a teenager I also got to see steam on the B&O, L&N, C&EI, Rock Island, Illinois Central and many more. I wish now I'd paid more detailed attention...but at the time I saw them they were common everyday sights. (But they were impressive big machines and I did appreciate them as such). I had the opportunity to see a lot of iconic railroading sights...but I missed most of the Pacific Northwest and the industrial Northeast. Thanks to some great photographers and authors I got to see those in pictures.
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