What is interesting to me is how many people (including myself) saying their first experience involved 4449 and/or the AFT. Quite a tribute to that locomotive and to the American Freedom Train, that they could be responsible for getting so many people hooked.

Gee, TJ, you're really getting people to bare their souls! I guess it's my turn. My Mom said the first words I ever said were "See ChooChoo!" My Dad was great at encouraging each of us kids (I'm one of six) in whatever interested us. The first steam experience I remember is riding behind a 1/2" scale pacific built by a man who did machine work in Rahway,New Jersey. The next steam I remember is watching the engine change from GG-1s to K-4s at South Amboy. I do remember a trip to the Rahway Valley shop in Kenilworth, but the 15 was cold in the shed.
But the most vivid memory is when I was 8 and became an 'Honorary Engineer' on the Pine Creek RR. It was on Route 9 north of Freehold, NJ, and we would stop on the way back from visiting my Uncle Ed. I was in second grade and wrote a letter to Jay Wulfson telling him I wanted to be an engineer on his railroad. I got a letter back from Kris Miller inviting me to come down a certain day. I brought a friend, and my 5 year old brother HAD to come. I actually sat on the engineer's lap and "ran the train" - actually, I just put my hand on his when he opened the throttle. I was hooked!
I could go on and on about the neat things I saw in New Jersey in the late fifties and early sixties - I didn't realize at the time how lucky I was!

As one of the old farts on the list, I was also one of the lucky ones, steam wise. For several years after I was born (1942), my parents owned a house in St. Matthews, Ky, a suburb of Louisville. The house had a clear view of L&N's Short Line and the St. Matthews depot, about 100 yards behind the house. So, I had daily views of L&N and C&O steam on freight and passenger trains. How could you live there and not become a railfan?

For up close and personal expereinces, my dad would take me to various yards and roundhouses to see steam engines. Perhaps the first cab ride was on a L&JB RR and Bridge Co. (NYC) 0-8-0 on the turntable and into the roundhouse at their yard in Louisville. I remember others such as a cab visit on L&N 407, a 4-8-2 at Louisville Union Station and a lot of diesels.

For hands-on experiences, the first was backing an ICRR 2-10-2 out of the roundhouse and pulling it up to the coal conveyor at the IC's 14th St. Roundhouse in Louisville in 1957. The next one was at Williamson, WV in April, 1960 when a hostler allowed me to run Y6b 2154 from the turntable to the coal dock. Both of these were, of course, under watchful eyes.

Cab rides included ICRR 4-8-2 2613 from Central City, KY to Dawson Springs, KY in 1960. After that things were kind of quiet until I met Bill Purdie. He gave me rides on 4501, 610, 722 and others plus I signed on to cut coal on several trips. Others include Reader 11, D&R 4, 4449, 4960 and more.

-Jim Herron

The only steam I saw in revenue service was on the CB&Q in the vicinity of Virden, IL from 1951 to 1957.

My first steam train ride was on the Strasburg RR in 1963 behind #31.

I got interested in cars and girls and forgot about trains until the summer after my college graduation. I rode behind SR4501 from Alexandria, VA to Front Royal and back. It was a life changing experience. I've been involved with trains ever since.

Until 2003 I only had minor experience with steam. One trip to the Huckleberry when I was 3 or 4, the occasional trip on the Cedar Point and Lake Erie. and then one memorable bluewater trip to Fort Wayne behind the 611 (incidentally the last trip 611 made to michigan).

In 2003 my real steam experience began. My first day at the huck was spent assisting on the cosmetic restoration of Crossroads Lumber #4. It was a great first time experience coming from an all volunteer organization. The increase in productivity is what amazed me the most.