I am thankful for many RR experiences.

1) My mom grew up in Harrisburg PA with 13 members of the family working for the Pennsy.

2) When I was in first grade, Mom and Dad took me out of school for a day and drove up to the Mississippian railroad to see the last working steam locomotive in Mississippi. It is a freight only railroad and my first train ride (amusement park or full size) was in the cab of a steam loco working freight for the length of the short line (about 40 miles).

3) I am thankful to have visited so many steam railroads around the country including the Sierra RR, the Southern RR (in early excursion days), Roaring Camp & Big Trees twice, The 15" gauge run at Tilden park overlooking San Francisco Bay, The original Steamtown in Vermont, the original 2' gauge steam operation at Edaville, The Strassburg RR, the Middletown & Hummelstown, the Silverton (both D&RGW in 1974 and the D&SNG), the C&TS, The Great Smokey Mountain RR behind steam and diesel, TVRM, riding on the freight only Gainesville Midland in the tender of S&A 750 during the turning and servicing at Gainesville, and many many more.

3) The thrill I enjoyed when riding in the cab of Goose #2 at CRRM, Behind 346 at CRRM, Goose #5 on D&SNG, riding behind Eureka on both the D&S and C&TS, riding behind D&RGW locos #463, 478, 480, 484, 487, 488, 489, and 497, having met many narrow gauge names such as John Coker and John Bush.

4) Through my family on the PRR/PC/CR, I was allowed to throw the toggle switch to allow a switcher out of a pocket on the eastbound hump, saw Lemo Tower before the tracks were removed and the tower moved, Visited the round house and turntable and diesel shop and concrete coaling tower at Enola.

5) I was able to see but never rode behind the MU Metroliners (not the unpower cars of later years), The GG1s in action, The ED44s in action, Saw the Turbo train when it visited Atlanta in a publicity tour by Amtrak before it went into regular service, was able to travel by sleeper (both Heritage and Amfleet) from Atlanta to Penn Station NYC and then Empire service from Penn Station to Poughkeepsie, NY om business once a month for about 2 years.

6) And finally, I prayed when I was young to be able to own a steam locomotive, have my own business, run the business out of a former railroad structure, and to have a railroad learning center for the young. I own four live steamers of 4.75" gauge and 7.5" gauge (I no longer can run them - with the coal or lp or kerosene, or diesel smoke in my face I can not breathe but I did not have a problem for about 8 years). I followed my Mom's family in the railroad business (sort of) when I was paid for maintaining the Atlanta Zoo Train 15" gauge park ride. In 2004, I lost my job and still have not found another but I have published two railroad books and have scanned official guides and ORERs to CD - my own business on Ebay. The City of Dunwoody starts operation December 1. The Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce has a lease on the 1881 section house. They also want it to be a railroad museum (on a 1/4 acre so not very large) and have asked my to be head of the Museum effort. They gave me a small place to put one of my business PCs there in the section house so that I can work on a new line of models for HO. I am in the very early stages of contacting the board of education and Boy scouts to offer historical seminars, section gang demonstrations (using 7.5" gauge track), and merit badges. I am also looking for a caboose or freight car for the property. The wanted a historically correct car for the museum (1881-19xx as NG and 19xx -1921 as SG). Who knows what will happen, but my life seems to be blessed with my hobby.

Doug vV

I am thankful for the Maryland State Highway Administration;
Bill Purdie and Graham Claytor for those great excursions in the 1960s and 70s including CP 2839;
Al Savage - VP at DC Transit who worked behind the scenes to save what became the DC collection;
and a host of others who would take me all day to list....


Wesley

I'm thankful to have had a successful career in this industry - my third career - despite its very limited market comprised of players with few resources and not always realistic dreams. It was a hell of a ride. Hope my fourth (last?) career is as rewarding.

dave

I am thankful for having the day off! Thanks CSX!

...thankful for all the freinds and wealth of knowledge I've gained through them, my parents and relatives for encouraging my obsession. I've met some really great people, and have been given many boosts along the way.

Last but not least, I'm thankful everyone I've worked with thus far has gone home the same way they came to work--in one peice.

-Jeffrey

I'm grateful for LIRR #39's boiler going to Strasburg for rebuilding, and bring the big ten-wheeler that much closer to being fired and run once more.

I am thankful for the RAILWAY PRESERVATION NEWS!! I have learned a great deal from the participants here in both historical and mechanical subjects.

I am thankful for my father, Matthew M. Knox, taking me to see the steam that was still running in New Jersey in the 50's and 60's. I got to see GG1's exchanged for K4's at South Amboy(and the hand cramked crossing gates), 565 run on the CNJ in Chester, Porter no. 3 and Shay 6 run at the Pine Creek, the Centreville & SouthWestern, the Upper Saddle River RR with it's flathead Ford powered Baldwin 0-4-0T, and 2124 on an Iron Horse Ramble. I am thankful Earle Gil and the MCC crews for running 385 and 4039. I am thankful for Ross Rowland and all the High Iron Co./AFT crews for running 127, 759, 2102/302, 2101/AFT 1, and 614. I am thankful to Scott Lindsay for teaching me to fire 611. I am thankful to the Project 1225/SRI crew for their friendship and the chance to fire 1225. I am thankful for the chance to work on D&RGW 464 and Alaskan Engineering Commission 152 at the Huckleberry RR. And, I am very thankful I no longer have to work the Huck's Christmas trains!

i missed this the first time it went by so a bit late:

I am greatful for the narrow gauge steam museums from the big ones in Colorado to the little ones lik the old time Edaville and the newer WW&F Museum in Maine.

I am thankfor for the electric museums that preserve so much like Seashore Trolley Museum and my own Western Railway Museum where I celebrated 20 years as a volunteer this year; several more years to go yet before I retire and move back East.

Ted Miles

I'm thankful for a Dad who was an engineer for the Frisco, loved steam and instilled that in me.
I'm thankful for the 1522 and all the folks I met while involved with her.
I'm thankful for decent health at my age and an understanding wife for the last 46 years.
I'm thankful I can still see good enough to build HO gauge brass steam and car kits.
I'm like to be thankful that the market has come back and boomed so my IRA will stop swirling around the toilet bowl waiting to go down. That one can't happen soon enough for the country.