Jerry would like to share these memories of the New York subway and writes:

I grew up in Brooklyn NY and my mom and I would take the subway to run errands and visit with some friends. I remember the most exciting ride I took was taking the Lexington Ave Express from Brooklyn to Woodlawn Rd to visit friends up there I was 9 years old and went with my mom. The train was very old for it had slats for the destination signs. It was a long and interesting ride.

As I grew older I started exploring the NYC subway on my own and have ridden every line that was in service since 1964. For more info go to http://www.nycsubway.org/ there is info on the system and old pictures.

My interest in trains have grown since. I rode the LIRR from Brooklyn to Montauk and from Brooklyn to Greenport. I also road the eartern corridor of amtrak to Boston and Florida and Albany NY. My other riding experiences was riding Metro north to various destinations in Conn. and NY.

Out here in California I have taken Amtrak from SF to Reno on the Zephar and have ridden the local Capital corridor service from Sacramento to SF and to Fresno. Both are nice rides. I hope to ride the Coast Starlight up to Seattle when I am feeling better.

Joe has sent in these photos and interesting story for publication:

When I was born, we lived less than a 1/2 mile from the Southern Pacific “Alhambra Yard” in the eastern part of L.A. (Not East LA). It was the last half of the 40’s and steam was nearly all there was. I loved, and still do, the steam engines. They ran 24-7 and their “noise’ was a way of life.

My buddies and I would walk down to the yard and then walk the mile and a half east to the Alhambra station once or twice a week. We were 8 or 9 years old.

I particularly remember the “Cab Forward” SP engines. They were the biggest, noisiest most wonderful engine around. Yes, there were the diesel yard and switch engines and the streamlined diesel “passenger engines” but we detested them!

Our home was only about 10 miles from the Union Station in Los Angeles and travel by train was the #1 means of travel in those days. There I got to see the “Daylight” train that ran to San Francisco daily. THAT was the most beautiful train of them all!

By the early 50’s, the diesels were taking over most of the passenger service but the SP yard still had steam running ’round-the-clock. Every night, I’d go to bed hearing the sounds of the steam trains and falling asleep happy.

When they were gone, I’d talk Dad into going to Knott’s Berry Farm so i could just sit for hours and watch their old steam train run the circuit. What a blast! (That was long before they turned it into a major amusement park.

I still love steam, have been able to ride some and we are planning to ride the “Toltec & Cumbres” some time next month.

Went to “RailFair” in Sacramento in 1981 for the Grand opening of the California Railroad Museum and took lots of pictures of the engines there.

Long live steam!

Larry is happy to share his childhood memories of growing up near the rail yards in St Joseph, Missouri and writes:

As a boy growing up in the 40s, 50s and 60s in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and living just three blocks east of the rail yards, I had a lot of opportunity to watch the switchers do their jobs and I loved to watch the steamers stop to fill with water, and load with coal.

My friends and I would go up to the round house and watch the engines being worked on. As long as we stayed back out of the way, no one would say anything to us, of course there was times when we would be told to leave but most of the yard workers were very friendly and would let us watch.

My mother would always have to make sure the wind wasn’t blowing, or was out of the east when she hung the washing on the lines or she would have to rewash them because of the soot from the steamers!

When my oldest son was born, we lived about five blocks from the main line and he was used to the noise of an engine and the blare of the horns very early. As he grew older I used to take him down to the yards to watch and if I was working, he would go get one of his grandfathers to take him down. He could sit and watch all day if you let him!

We built him a model train set up, which he still has today, 30 years later, and his son is now having to be taken to the yards and watch the trains.

So the torch has been passed and we all still love the blare of the horns and the rumble of a passing train

Steve tells of his days watching a steam locomotive pass under a bridge just a few feet away:

I remember back in 1950 or so living on Gates Ave in Jersey City and at the foot of my street was an iron truss roadway bridge leading to the Lehigh Valley rail yards on the waterfront.

The Central Railroad to the Jersey Shore ran its line under that bridge. I used to stop on the section of walkway over the southbound track and watch the CNJ camelbacks pulling out of the Danforth Ave station about 1/2 mile north. As they would approach, we boys would hold on tight to the bridge while the engineer blew the HELL out of his whistle and great clouds of black smoke poured out the stack!! I was really scared the first time I did that as the bridge was only a few feet above the smoke stack!! And it had a wooden deck with large spaces between the boards. Well after going through that black tornado I’d walk the 1/2 block home and my mom would chastise me for smelling so bad with coal smoke!! I told her I just “Happened” to be there when the Locomotive was passing under!

Sadly both my MOM and the bridge are gone but not the memories!!!

Gregory tells how, as a 14 year old, watching freight trains lead to his interest in model railroading. Here is his story:

In the early 1950’s we used to chase and watch the huge consolidations of the Southern Pacific haul freight trains up the Cascades in Western Oregon. It took four (4) 4-8-8-2’s in each of the freight trains of more than 100 cars to pull the huge load up the grade and over the Cascades to eastern Oregon. Unbelieveable power.

What a thrill and site to see them come home, four giant engines, three dead heading engines behind a bearly working lead engine. Then the next day we would hike across the fields to get to the round house to walk around and inspect these huge behemoths.

What an eye opener for a 14 year old train buff. Some forty years later I was able to see that same locomotive in inch and half scale run under live steam with my live steam locomotive. My guess is that that scale locomotive was 12 to 14 feet long. Impressive to say the least.

Jim has sent in this amusing story from his childhood days in Scotland:

My parents and I where on our way to a day out at Saltcoats a seaside resort on the west coast of Scotland when my Dad decided he needed to go to the bathroom (after a few beers in the central station bar) well as there was no toilets on a steam train he decided to nip off at Kilmarnock to use the stations toilet and as the train was pulling out of the station I caught the sight of my dad running along the platform (he never caught up with it) and to make matters worse he had all the train tickets in his jacket pocket so me and mum had to sit on a bench in salcoats station as I think the ticket collector must have thought we were a pair of fare dodgers until dad came through on the next loco from Kilmarnock well as it was everything turned out o.k. as we had left home early enough and had a great day out including the famous Scottish high fish tea (fish and chips with a cup of tea and two slices of scottish plain bread). Well thats it. regards Jim

Kobus has sent in his memories of railway operations in South Africa:

I grew up in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The town is situated on the Main Line between Bloemfontein and East London and had a steam locomitive depot. My father was a boiler maker with the then South African Railways and Harbours. The rail system operates on a 3’6″ gauge.

I have fond memories of visiting my dad at work during holidays, climbing on and in steam locomotives. These were of classes 19D, 14AR and 24AR. I was fascinated by these monsters and went on many rides on the footplate to turn the locomotives on the triangle. I also had the oportunity to use the regulator and stoke the fire even though I could hardly lift the showel with coal. (All done illegaly) My favourate reading was the magazine on trains published by the SAR&H.

I recall the time when the 4-6-4,4-6-4 garret locomotives were introduced. These monsters ran bunker first to East London due to the tunnels on the line. The families’ annual holiday was to travel to my grandparents farm at Welverdient in the Transvaal province.

From Queenstown to Burgersdorp the train was hauled by dubble header steam (2x19D.) I remember getting my face plastered with coal dust as I hung out of the window to get a veiw of the locomotives on curves.

From Burgersdorp to Kroonstad 23 or 15F steam classes were used and then 5E electric loco’s to Johannesburg. From there a motor coach to Welverdient. In this area I had the oportunity to observe many other locomotives of different types and classes. Using my magazines as reference, I learned all I could about them.

In 1960 diesel-electric locomotives were introduced on the Bloemfontein-East London line. These were class 33 General Electric and later General Motors locos. I remember the day I darted of to the station on my bike to have a look at them after I had heard the air-horn. I remember marveling at the powerful sound of these locos that made your insides vibrate.

These locomotives were later replaced by more powerful GM 34 class. Wow, four of these hauling a heavy grain train! The sound was magnificent!

Yes, you have guessed. I did join the Railway Operations department and retired in 2007. If you have the time, there is no better way to travel than by rail! Kobus, South Africa.

Bob has sent in these memories of his days on New York Central:

“My Dad was a dining car steward on the NY Central from 1941 to the end (1972 with AMTRAK). Great trips to Niagara Falls/Chicago/Boston/Cincinnati/and Buffalo on the Empire State Express, the New England States, the Ohio State Limited, the Pacemaker, North Shore and Lake Shore Limiteds.

I got to ride in the F-7 Diesels twice for about an hour each time. Great memory when my Dad opened the dining car service door and I leaned on the safety bar and watched three A units pull the New England States up a snowy Berkshire grade in western Mass.

Also, I would visit every station in Chicago to watch the trains while my Dad slept in the hotel for an afternoon layover. Watching the 20th Century Limited back into LaSalle Street Station in Chicago to get passengers for its 5PM departure–I can still see the blue-white light of the drumhead on the observation car (every train should have one!)as it backed toward me. Wandered around Union Station in Cincinnati taking pictures!

A cleaning crew let me hop on a C&O consist as it made a slow trip trough the car wash. Is there anything like a free orangeade in the club car as you did your homework on a winter day. I think not. Thanks, Dad.”

Thanks to everyone who has sent in their best railroading memories for publication. I am getting lots of amazing feedback from others in the hobby who are thoroughly enjoying the series. It seems that the articles have bought back many memories for everyone.

However, for those who have sent in their railroading memories for publication, please note, we have been swamped with submissions and it will take a few days to get them all published. So keep watching the blog as it is updated frequently and your memories will be published (provided they meet the publishing guidelines).

If you haven’t yet sent in your railroading memories, you can do so at http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/memories.html

Peter sent in this story of his early days working for New Zealand Railways:

My name is Peter. In the early 1960s I joined the NZ Railways as a locomotive cleaner in Stratford, Taranaki, NewZealand.

The depot was based on the West coast of the Nth Island. We had branches going East, West North And South.

The steam locomotives at the time were a J class 4-8-2 oil burner, the Ab class 4-6-2 coal burner and a main line K class 4-8-4 mountain type oil burner.

The branch line to the East went to a place called Taumaranui. There were 26 tunnels on this line through some very rugged country.

The line out West, went to a place called Opunake on the coast. This line was serviced by the Ab class engine as the rail was very light.

I gained my firemans ticket within a couple of years and I can vividley remember roaring through one of the tunnels (up hill) at night, with the cab getting very hot and we seem to be fighting for breath all the way. After a while we got used to it as we knew that the end of the tunnel was not far away.

The great thing about working in the loco side of the railway is that there is something different happening every day, and there is always a story to tell.

William has sent in his best railroad memory:

“My first ever wild thing that happend to me as a young man was ride my first hundred truck on my own. The tonnage of that load was nearly ten thousand tons of ore from a station called Rooikop to the end station of Clewer in a steal factory called Transalloys near Witbank in the district of Mphumalang in South Africa. That my friends I can tell you, where out of the top shelfs of anybodys life span.”

Ron has fond memories of his childhood days watching steam engines billowing smoke and writes:

As a child growing up, I would spend time with my Grandfather in Glendale (near Los Angeles), California.

I have vivid memories of the trains, having left LA, heading north through Glendale. Although the house was probably a mile from the tracks, I would run out front to watch as they passed through the crossing.

The power of the giant steam engines “chugging” along with their many cars was a childs delight. I could feel the power of the engines pounding the air around me and see the huge clouds of billowing smoke passing back over the train.

It seemed as the trains were miles long, but you could depend on seeing another hard working engine toward the rear. It’s a shame those beautiful engines aren’t in service today, so powerful and so impressive.

Another special treat was the passing of the “Daylight” passenger trains. They were fast and sleek, moving as fast as a bullet. My only clue that they were coming was the sounds from their horns as they approached our crossing. I knew I had to get outside quickly or I would miss them for sure, which I did a few times.

Oh to be able to relive those days. I am seventy now, but those memories still are there for me to enjoy.

Miguel has contributed this touching story of his childhood memories around trains. Thanks for sharing Miguel.

“Early years of my youth, my grandmother used to take me to see the trains in la habana, cuba at a plant that used to be a nestle and hersey chocolate factory located in an area of habana called el cerro; and I remember looking at those big steam locomotives with all the cars.

I used to get so excited and very happy; there was another plant that used to make soap and gel for the mens hair, it was called crusellas, so all these trains were passing by speacialy in the afternoon, from where I used to live. It was maybe half of a mile and we used to go walking. For me at that time it was a great adventure.

I enjoyed the sound of those engines, the sound of the bell, the cloud of the steam, the little by little seeing the locomotive getting power and velocity, pulling all those cars , which I also use to count with my grand mother. It looked like they will never stop and then looking the last car or caboose dissapearing. I would not leave until the last car was gone!

Some times my grand mother used to tell me, “lets go Miguel” and I use to say to my grand mother; god be with her, “please grand mother lets stay a little longer”. My grand mother used to pull me, but I would fight with her because I loved to walk on the tracks.

From that time my passion for trains started. That is why I want to share with those who like this hobby, my grandmother’s name was Margarita. I missed those years. I hope you like my story because it is something very important and beautiful in my life. God bless you all. Miguel. “

Bob has sent in this story of how he got interested in trains:

“Hi to all. My first railway memory and one of the best was in my home country England. My brother and I would go down to the train yard were we lived and watch the big steamers come in. Standing on that old stone bridge with the steam from the big locos blowing in our faces. The excitment was all to much.

We came to AUSTRALIA at 14yo to work on farms. My brother went onto a farm just out of Corowa NSW and I went onto a place called Daysdale NSW. One day while I was working in a paddock I heard the sound of a steam whistle looked up and I said thank you to the train for helping me to start a new life in AUSTRALIA and one day I will own a train. Well now I do… 32 HO locos… keep on whistling.”

If you would like to submit your train memories for publication go to http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/memories.html