Some of them are really whacked. This lady thinks she's Phoebe Snow. If you don't believe her, she'll give you a lump of Anthracite to prove it!

Seriously, these guys know the meaning of long hours and hard work.

Back home, the locomotives roll out the door one by one regardless of the weather LNE power and caboose in January.

This Rutland K 2 was custom built six years ago. Owner is retired, and seems to like to run her. I recently installed her third set of side rods. He runs them 'till they're so badly egged that she lopes.

Best known for my work with northeastern steam, I do work four our brethren south of the Mason Dixon line. This, you guessed it, a Southern Ry. Pacific lettered for Crescent Limited.

If you want to get along well with your significant other, you name locomotives after her, particularly the cute ones!

If you want to get along with your significant other, you ask your female apprentice to sit on the far rail when you're studying tender brake rigging!

Your wife may amaze you by stealing a locomotive, just to take a ride.

If you're from Pennsylvania, you simply must adore the Pennsy.

I used to have a customer at the CIA. One night they kidnapped me, and sent me to spy on the Chinese. When I got back, and was being debriefed, the first question was: "What did you see?" I said "Fan wah tsi-teng, chow lai dung pow mancho quo." They got really mad. I said, "what did you expect me to see?"

A Chinese Mikado.

As model railroaders, we want everything to be just so. As a professional rivet counter I discovered that things aren't always just so. Notice the less than perfect work in these prototype shots. Creases, bends where it should be flat, dents and dings. Why even the sides of that F 45 aren't perfectly flat. Most damage to tenders happens at locomotive terminals. Damage to boiler jackets usually results from repair work.

I had to learn railroad safety when I was young. Sometimes even the rules aren't enough. When I entered Flat Rock Tunnel I looked back over my shoulder every few seconds. Half way through light appeared on the rails, then the jumbled roar of Jeeps building speed. I ran out, clearing the bore about 30 seconds before this west bound freight. Good action shot anyway.

The crew of 504 taught me railroad safety. Invited aboard, I rode almost every weekend when I was 15. Got to run her before I had my learner's (auto) permit. They were great guys.

Let my brother or sister take the throttle? I don't think so!